Reading for August 6, 2017: 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 12:27-31, 13:1-13
Commentary:
– Paul writes to the church in Corinth to explain: should all believers have identical gifts?
– Speaking in tongues?? The early church had members who “spoke” in unintelligible babbling — usually a prayer or a prophecy. An interpreter was needed to translate. (1 Corinthians 14:1-25)
– Paul echoes Jesus’ many commands to love one another (like Mark 12:28-31 and John 13-15)
– What “gifts” do you see in yourself? What would you add to Paul’s list?
– Where have you heard 1 Corinthians 13 read?
– The theologian C.S. Lewis wrote about four kinds of love: STORGE (family love), PHILOS (friend love), EROS (romantic love), and AGAPE (unconditional love). Which one do you think Paul means? (C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves)
Listen to the improv sermon based on this story & the congregation’s questions: