A Better Way (Community in One #14 of 17)
Channel: The Gathering Christian Church
Date: 2013-10-28

Speaker: Don Vanzant
Title: A Better Way
Series: Community in One, #14 of 17
Full Sermon or Excerpt (w/ Link): Full Sermon
Subject: We often find ourselves envying others for their successes.  But what is a better way?  Is there truly a better one?
Date: October 27, 2013
Sermon Notes:
* The church at Corinth was incredibly gifted by the Holy Spirit, but Paul wanted the church to know that gifts were not enough.   Community was vital.
* He told them, "Don't put your emphasis on gifts.  Put your emphasis on love, because if you use your gifts without love you accomplish nothing."
* The word Paul uses is the word agape.  It's unlike other kinds of love.   Agape is God's unconditional love.   
*  Paul is talking about a set of the mind, an act of the will, a determination that whether I'm dealing with friend or foe I will seek that person's highest good, and I will not return evil for evil.   This agape is from God and is ours when we follow or abide in Christ.  
* The Bible tells us over and over that God is love.   In every story, every lesson, every covenant -- God is love.  When those who have known God best describe him they say: God is love. 
* Patience implies a hopeful contentment with the present rather than an agitated, proud indignation that I don't yet have what I think I deserve. 
* In Corinth we know that they were not following after Jesus Christ, because they were not known for their love, but known for the gifts. 
* In many ways, it doesn't make sense to compare ourselves with others.  But we do.   Often we are okay as long as someone else doesn't do better. 
* Often the things we envy are trivial. 
* Sometimes we can see things the way that God sees them and it is a breakthrough. 
* When love is present and we are part of a group -- the success of others pushes us up.  When they do well we are happy and it gives us encouragement that we can succeed as well.   Our identity comes from the group. 
* "If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we would grab ours back." 
* Love takes practice.  It grows with time.    
 
1 Corinthians 13
1 John 4:7-8
1 John 3:16
2 Peter 3:9 
John 21:18ff
Hebrews 4:12 

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