Building on a prophecy that was brought a couple of weeks ago, saynig that we are a "Fire Church", Phil looked at 1 Corinthians 13 and how the church needed to demonstrate each of these qualities to each other and to the outside world.

Introduction

• Word from Tim Banfield, Sunday visitor from Wales.

• We are a fire church

• Go and light some fires

Don't know if you have considered what a fire church looks like?

What does that mean?

I have been thinking and praying about it since we had this word. As you we listened to the recording we can get excited about that but what's the reality look like

So what does a fire church look like?

A place where we experience the presence of God?

A place where Gods kingdom breaks into people's lives?

A place where we can expect healing and deliverance to take place?

A place where people are saved?

A church through which God demonstrates his Kingdom rule and reign into every place he has given us influence

As I prayed God led me this one main thing a place where his love in experienced and lived out
Jesus said this to his disciples, that means us.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://www.bible.com/116/jhn.13.34-35.nlt

How are you expressing his love to One another?

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul is writing about spiritual gifts, leadership, and the importance of embracing your gifting. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul continues this line of reasoning as he talks about leaders sounding a clear call.

But right in the middle is 1 Corinthians 13, commonly known as “the love chapter.” If you have ever attended a Christian wedding ceremony, you have most likely heard a verse or two quoted.
1 Corinthians 13 is a chapter on how to love one another in the church, not how to be a great husband or wife.

We cannot be effective as a people if we do not know how to love one another.

What If we applied 1 Corinthians 13 to every area of church life, what difference would that make?

The whole point of Jesus coming was that the world would know the love of the Father.
The whole point of the church is that through the church the world would get to se and experience this love.

Who's this letter to ?

“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/59/1co.1.2.esv

Consider what love is:

• Love is patient.

Am I giving others the same room to make mistakes as I want them to give me?

Do we get exasperated with one another when they don't do what we want them to?

• Love is kind.

Do the people actually like being around you? If you want to know the answer to this question, just ask yourself how much they ask to hang out with you outside of a church meeting.

• Love is not Jealous or boastful or Proud or rude

Are you jealous of someone's gifting or anointing or maybe of who they are and what they have?

Or do you boast or have pride in your heart?

Or are you rude to people, ignoring them even when spoken to? Or brushing them of as though they are nothing?

Do we do want we do out of selfish ambition?

What if you were asked to give up what you do? How would you handle it? Could you do it?

• Love does not demand its own way

Will we only give of ourselves on our terms?

If it's done my way that's ok but if it's not I'm out.

• Love always protects.

Do we have one another's back?

Do we speak well of one another or take opportunity to criticise, moan about them or complain?
In the world It’s discouraging and hard to work for someone who demands loyalty but will not extend it.

• Love always trusts.

Do you trust others enough to share your life with them?

Do you trust those who you perhaps serve with in church life to do their part without your input or interference?

• Love always hopes.

Do I always automatically assume the worst or the best about people?

Particularly if you lead in an area It is amazing what can happen when a leaders believes in the people they lead.

Hope and Faith are linked and people of hope and faith lead others into being full of hope and faith.

• Love always perseveres.

Are we quick to give up on people after they make a mistake, or are we willing to help, support, encourage them through it and to learn from it?

• Love never fails.

I guess one test can be how long do people stick around

Do we have a high turnover or a low turnover in the number of people in and out of this church?
If the number is high then maybe it isn’t others but us who are failing.

People will not remember us for what we accomplish. But they will remember how we made them feel and what we helped them to be the people God called and chose them to be. This style of church is guaranteed to see results.

1 Corinthians 13:8 says love will not fail

Conclusion

Jesus' prayer

“Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.””

‭‭John‬ ‭17:24-26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://www.bible.com/116/jhn.17.24-26.nlt

Questions

1. Who have you encouraged lately?

2. What's your experience of being loved in the church?

3. Are you more interested in who people are and becoming or what they are doing?

4. So what does a Fire church look like and do you want to be part of it?