Fix What is Broken

• Paul did this in 1 Corinthians 13. This church was a rocking church, but they had their problems.  They were a healing church, but they had their problems.  They were a holiness believing church but they had their problems, and one of those problems was their lack of LOVE.
• Each church may have its grumpy people. We have our saints who have the standards down pat telling people they can’t be saved until they look like them.  We have Joe Blow delivered from cigarettes, but he is running off all the visitors because he’s always grouchy and doesn’t like them sitting on his seat.
• This was a real issue for the Corinthian church. I know this because Paul devoted an entire chapter to deal with it.

1 Cor. 13:1-3 (MSG) ¹ If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. ² If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.  ³ If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

• Paul does not cut any corners, he does not sugar coat it. He is telling the Corinthian church who has the Holy Ghost that they need to get it together.
• Love is needed, or you don’t have a church.
•  Love is needed or you just don’t have the glue.
•  Love is connected or you just don’t have the power to connect.
• Paul was dealing with specifics concerning the church. You must understand that the epistles were written similar to a message we preach.  Paul dealt with issues that were particular to their situation.
• Today, I think Paul would say, “You speak in tongues, have a ministry in the church and people like to hear you teach, preach, etc…, but no love, you are just noisy.
• You preach well, have a theological degree, obey the standards, have a Sunday school class, sit on the right side of the church….but no love you are nothing but dust!
• You give tithes, give great offerings, always serving, involved in small groups and outreach, and you are willing to do whatever you can for your church….but no love, well it basically hurts the church more than it helps.