Leader Guide Sunday, July 8th, 2018 How Long, O Lord? Sermon Text: Psalm 13 Study Texts: 1 Cor. 13:4-13 Sermon Recap : In Psalm 13, we are confronted with the reality of suffering among the people of God. Being one of God s children does not exempt us from suffering. In fact, it often brings that reality into much clearer view. In this psalm, David is lamenting his own suffering, which he refers to as the hiding of God s face. And while the precise cause of David s suffering and hardship remain unknown, we are able to walk with him through it. When we experience hardship, it can often loom large and controlling if not given to God. And so we see David move from the despair of hardship to prayer for salvation and help. In his torment, he turns to God, and we see the gracious and steadfast love of God in the lifting of David s head, for this psalm of lament ends in praise. David s heart and mind needed healing; he needed to be reminded of the steadfast love of God. And so we see the heart of this psalm: Difficult seasons give way to rejoicing for those who trust the LORD. Sermon Connection: The theme of the steadfast love of God is found all throughout Scripture. It is foundational to understanding both the gospel and the Christian life. In 1 Cor. 13, Paul reflects upon the foundational role of love in the Christian life. He outlines the distinctives of Christian love, showing how it is grounded in the divine love of God. He goes on to show the purpose of Christian love, which is to bring us into maturity, and finally, Paul shows how Christian love teaches us to hope in the gospel of Christ. These are the same movements we see in David s psalm. Lesson Plan Lesson Goal: To see the how the steadfast love of God moves His people, not only from despair to rejoicing but from immaturity to maturity. Lesson Points: Point 1 - Recognizing Mature Christian Love (vv. 4-7) Point 2 - The Purpose of Christian Love (vv. 8-11) Point 3 - The Hope of Christian Love (vv. 12-13) 1
The Context: We pick up in the latter half of Paul s first letter to the Corinthian Church. In this section of the letter, Paul is expressing the supreme value of love in the Christian life. He s just finished outlining and expounding spiritual gifts and their usefulness within the body, but he takes time to remind this Church that without love, all is lost. The supreme characteristic of the Christian life is love: A God-centered love that is extended to others. As Paul says, If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Opening Question: Think of a time when you faced hardship or were enduring struggle; perhaps something you re even going through right now. What gave/gives you hope? Did you ever find yourself losing hope? Transition Statement: The love of God is the greatest hope we could ever have and it is the only thing that can truly steady us in times of hardship and suffering. Let s take a closer look at what the Bible teaches about Christian love... Point 1 - Recognizing Mature Christian Love (vv. 4-7) What are the major characteristics of Christian love from these verses? As we read through these verses, we come away with a distinct picture of Christian love. We note that Christian love is described both positively (the things that are true of Christian love) and negatively (the things that are not true of it). First, we note that Christian love is patient and kind. Second, we note that Christian love does not envy others, whether it be their person or possessions. Christian love does not boast about itself; it is humble, meek, and quiet. We note that it is not irritable, nor is it resentful. Christian love rejoices only in truth; it creates pity and sorrow for wrongdoing. It bears all things and believes all true things; Christian love hopes in Christ and endures for the sake of His Name. How do these characteristics differ from and contradict worldly love? These characteristics of Christian love that emerge from the text present a radically different picture of love than that of the world. The Christian view of love is inherently self-denying; it denies the worldly bent that lives within each of us. Christian love is entirely God-centered. It is founded and built upon the new natures we receive through Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Christian love teaches us a new way of life. It teaches us to love the things of God and to hate the things of the world. Christian love says yes to all the good things about worldly love, and yet, says no to the effects of its fallen nature. Paul seems to be teaching that Christian love is an attitude and not so much a feeling. How does this passage help us understand Christian love primarily as obedience? As we read through this text again, we should note that Paul s descriptions of Christian love fall more precisely in the category of obedience rather than happenstance. The world tends to 2
think love just happens, that people just fall into love. Christian love knows no such foolish idealism. Note, rather verse 7, Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. These are all actions of the Christian who looks continually to Christ and not to him/herself. In bearing, believing, hoping and enduring, the Christian learns to walk with Jesus and to live as He lives. In bearing, believing, hoping and enduring, the Christian becomes patient and kind, he/she becomes humble and patient, a lover of spiritual maturity. So the hope for Christian love is walking with God. That is exactly what David needed, and it is exactly what we need. How can we have the hope of being obedient to this kind of love? Where do we see this kind of love most clearly? (See also Phil. 2:5-11.) Apart from Christ in us by the power of His Spirit, we have no hope of true obedience. It is only by being in Christ through the gospel that we are able to walk in obedience. We learn this first from Christ Himself. In Phil. 2, Paul lays out how Christ Himself became obedient to the Father by humbling Himself, taking on the form of men, and dying in our stead. He is now raised to life and exalted forevermore. It is only through Him that we gain true life, and it is only through Him that we learn obedience...obedience that is more freeing than we can ever imagine. Transition Statement: Now that we have seen the characteristics of Christian love, let s look at its purpose in our lives... Point 2 - The Purpose of Christian Love (vv. 8-11) Based on the characteristics of Christian love in vv. 4-7, why is Paul s phrase, Love never ends, so important for understanding the role of love in the Christian life? Christian love is the most foundational aspect of the Christian life. It is the foundation upon which we relate to Christ. We see this in the gospel. It was for the love of the Father that Christ came for us. John tells us that our love is an extension of God s love which first came to us (1 Jn. 4:19). And because this love flows from God, and because God is eternal, we know that Christian love is eternal. It does not depend on the world, nor on circumstance, nor on feeling. This is great news for you and I because we are fickle, and our natural hearts are easily misled, but praise be to God, that His love never ends, and it will never fail to uphold His people! Based on v. 10, what is the purpose of Christian love now? Does it teach us something? Verse 10 teaches us something very specifically: That something greater is coming. This is a great promise and a great hope for the Christian. While we await His coming, we can know 3
that in spite of all that we endure, in spite of all that we suffer, something greater is coming... namely, Jesus Christ. When He comes, He will right every wrong, and He will take us to be with Him in His perfect love. Therefore, we wait in faith, we wait with patience, and we wait with endurance, for He is coming. Verse 11 seems to speak of maturity. What role does Christian love play in Christian maturity? As we noted earlier, Christian love is learning to walk with Jesus and to live as He lives. It is growing in maturity. Therefore, as we grow in Christian love, we become more like Christ and less like the world. Christian loves teaches us to know and love God, and in doing so, we fall more and more out of love with the world. Do we see this theme echoed in Psalm 13:5-6? We absolutely see this theme in Psalm 13. It was focusing on the world and his worldly situation that led David into despair. But, when David remembers the steadfast love of God, his demeanor changes, his mindset changes, and his focus changes. The true love of God calls David from his despair and reminds him of the true hope of Christian love: God s salvation from sin, for God deals bountifully with His people. Point 3 - The Hope of Christian Love (vv. 12-13) How does verse 12 help us to see the reality of the world now? This verse is clear: We do not yet have the full picture of reality. We do not have God s perspective; we cannot always put all the pieces together and make sense of every situation. And what s more is, what we can see is in a mirror dimly or it s a foggy picture at best. Therefore, we remember that while we do not have the full picture, He that loves us perfectly does. He is working all things together for the good of those He loves (Rm. 8:28). How does verse 12 help us to see the reality of the coming hope of Jesus Christ? Does this sustain us in the midst of suffering? So, in recognizing that we do not yet see the full picture of what God is doing with every detail of our lives and the lives of others, we must faithfully trust in Him as we live unto His glory. He has given us the greatest hope, that in Christ, we are saved and will one day live with Him forever; we have the hope that one day we will see Him in His fullness, and that we will know Him fully. Thus, Christian love teaches us to love and follow Christ, and in following Christ, we learn to be content in the here and now and long for what is to come... Verse 13 is a reminder of love. Why does Paul say the greatest of these attributes is love? Christian love is what brings us to God. We meet God in the love of the gospel. The Christian life is birthed, sustained and finished in the love of God. Christian love teaches us the heart of God. It is what sustains us in this life now, through the sufferings and the hardships, and what will carry us to be with God forever. 4
The Big Picture In this study, we have seen the purpose of Christian love, which is ultimately founded upon the gospel love of Christ. Because God loves and cares for His people, He has made a way for our salvation through Jesus. Although we will experience times of hardship and despair, we are not hopelessly condemned to those seasons. Because of Christ and His great love He has for us through the gospel, we can, with David, rejoice in the coming salvation of the Lord because of His steadfast love! Application Questions How is Christian love present in your life? In what ways is love leading you to be more Christ-like? In what ways are you building your home around Christian love? Are there areas where Christian love is excluded, either intentionally or unintentionally? How is Christian love sustaining you in hardship? 5