Got Love?
- Cornerstone Church
- Sep 5, 2025
- 4 min read
There was a commercial for milk that would talk about all the benefits and at the end would close with the question “Got Milk?” Paul delivers a stiff rebuke to the believers in Corinth that it doesn’t matter how gifted you are if you don’t have love. The Corinthian church was neglecting love while getting drunk as others went hungry and seemingly competing to see who could be the most spiritual for bragging rights. As a reminder, Paul heard about these issues in Corinth. He is writing to address several areas the christians are not living in alignment with love or with the Gospel. There are 5 basic sections that are addressed. Two of these were covered last week, and we are picking up on the third. Paul will continue in a section on Food (Ch. 8-10), and then pick up on the Gathering (Ch, 11-14), and finally the Resurrection (Ch 15 & final greeting Ch 16). Love, modeled in Christ, is the foundation of our faith. Love for God and your neighbor is central to living a spiritual life that honors God, rather than religious activity no matter how spiritual. Look for this contrast this week. Love for God and neighbor must be upheld in the cultural norms of the society with allegiance to the commands of God above culture. That is the Big Picture.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Week 37
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Prayer Plan
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2025 to see how Love Shows Up from the Old Testament and into the New Testament. How do we understand so many stories and lessons through the entire Bible while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the book of 1 Corinthians, what is impacting you the most? How has praying daily through the Psalms impacted you? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
R.E.A.D. - Repeated words. Examine & mark. Ask what I learn about God? Do.
STUDY IT.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. How is love defined by Paul? Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 & Matthew 7:21-23. How much value is religious/spiritual activity if it is not rooted in love?
Read 1 Corinthians 11:18, 21. How were the Corinthians perverting the Lord’s Supper? Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Who instituted the Lord’s Supper and for what purpose? Read 1 Corinthians 11:27-30.How are you supposed to take the Lord’s Supper?
Read 1 Corinthians 12:18-26. R.E.A.D. Ask, what do I learn about God? What do I learn about spiritual gifts among the body?
Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-11. What are the essentials of the Christian message presented here, and how do we know they happened (15:5-8)?
Read 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17, 19. Why is the resurrection central to the Christian faith?
SHARE IT.
Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-37. How would you rate your discipline to “winning the prize” in the Christian life? What is the prize and how do you know you are winning?
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13-14 & James 1:12-15. R.E.A.D. What is the “Do” generally here, and how does it apply specifically to your life this week?
Read 1 Corinthians 10:31-33. Why would a person limit their personal freedoms? How is this related to God’s glory and others listening to you concerning salvation?
Read 1 Corinthians 11:1. By observing your life, who would you say you are imitating?
Read 1 Corinthians 14:2-5, 12. What does Paul emphasize is the most important aspect of using a gift? How are you seeking to ‘excel’ in this important aspect with your gifting? (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
FINAL THOUGHT
1 Corinthians 13, is often quoted at weddings with a sweet tone, but the irony is that this was a rebuke to the church, why? Although the church was having spiritual experiences, it was accompanied by a chaotic environment that was confusing to outsiders and difficult to participate for believers. Paul delivers a rebuke to say that we are all one in God, and God has gifted every believer with something to benefit the body as a whole. No single part is better or worse than another part, because it is only as the body that it celebrates or mourns. While spiritual gifts are given to individual believers, it is in their service to others that they begin to take on the deepest purpose. This is why our gifts, the way we gather and worship, sharing of our resources, taking of the Lord’s Supper, eating or not eating of meat sacrificed to idols, etc are all to be done in love for each other and ultimately for God. God is love, and God loved us in this way, that Jesus was obedient to death on a cross for the love of His Father and His people.
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