The Missing Factor

Hello Friends,

It's day 338 in our journey through the Bible, and we've just read through a church that's...well...a mess!

You rarely hear of a church called Corinth Baptist Church. I just stopped and googled it after typing that, and there are more than I expected, including one not far from me! But it's not common, let's say.

And there's a reason why.

They had more problems than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

But, as you wade through the mess, you come upon a chapter of beauty. It is a chapter used in nearly every wedding. Chapter 13 is a chapter that defines love.

Before Paul defines love (which I'm not getting to in this email), he makes some bold statements.

Statements that make you stop and think.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Imagine a person with the following qualities:

• He's so well spoken it's as if he's speaking an angelic language.
• He has gifts everyone (well, the Corinthians) coveted. He could prophesy and explain all the mysteries of the Bible, and he had faith that never wavered and produced miraculous results.
• He's not all show, though. He also gives up everything he has to feed the poor. Including the starving dogs in the commercials! He even offers himself up as a sacrifice.

BUT...

He doesn't have love.

Paul says that man would be nothing. He profits nothing. He's no greater than useless noise.

Ouch!

Maybe that's why Jesus said,

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Giftedness, talent, faith, knowledge, sacrifice, and giving are great and important–but without the motivation of God's "agape" love, it profits nothing.

This love can't be manufactured. It comes only from God's Spirit as we abide in Him.

John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

If you want to go complete Bible nerd mode (which I love), look up the word "continue" in John 15:9.

It's the same Greek word used over and over again in John 15 and translated as "ABIDE."

As we abide in Christ, Christ's love flows through our gifts, talent, faith, knowledge, sacrifice, and giving to bring forth much fruit and glorify God!

Exodus Study

We have just a few weeks left in our study in Exodus. We aren’t covering the entire book, but we have covered a lot.

This week, Israel found itself fighting an old enemy (within) and a new enemy. (Without)

Our study was more than just facts about Israel’s history. Some lessons are extremely practical and needed in our daily Christian lives.

You can listen here: 🎧 Apple / Spotify / Website

My Substack Page

In the last email and podcast, I talked about a new page where I'll be writing. I probably will also be starting a second podcast.

Pulpit to Pew will continue as a Bible study email and podcast, and the new page will be where I write about everything else.

It will be a Christian living type of information, but it's where I'm writing and discussing many other subjects. No politics, though!

I appreciate those of you who have already signed up and some even paid subscribers. As I learn the platform more and settle into a writing/podcasting routine there, I'll try to have some special things for those paid subscribers.

For now, thank you for the donation.