June 21, 2026 “Maranatha: A Church That Loves the Lord”(1 Corinthians 16:22-24)

 1 Corinthians 16:22-24 New International Version

22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord[a]!

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.[b]

1 Corinthians 16:22 The Greek for Come, Lord reproduces an Aramaic expression (Marana tha) used by early Christians.

1 Corinthians 16:24 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.

Marantha: A Church That Loves the Lord 

1 Corinthians 16:22-24 

 

The love for God by the church in Corinth had grown cold, and Paul focuses on this. The end of His letter. 

 

1 Corinthians 16:22 ESV 

[22] If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!  

 

When our love towards God grows cold, so does our love for others. We might do many things and do them well, but it is pointless if there is no love.  

 

There is a thinking that if we attend church regularly, we will continue to love God. Paul warns us that church attendance, many good works and sacrifices does not amount to much if there is no love for God.  

 

We should pray that we would love God, and our love would not grow cold. We call to God; we should not feel that it is a burden 

 

Maranatha means, "Lord, come!" Paul says this to remind the church that our hope is in Jesus and he is coming back.  

 

The Book of Revelation is not a scary letter. When we understand who the letter was written to and its purpose, we can be encouraged. Jesus coming should not be a burden. 

 

Maranatha is not a call for desperation but of expectation. Because we love God, we cannot live carelessly. We have to live with hope, love and faith. We have to do all things in love. 

 

When we love Jesus, our attitude changes towards everything. We can see people differently, even difficult people. We can see situations differently despite how bad they are. We can see our true motivation when we serve the church. 

 

We can do all the good works and serve the church fervently, but without love for God, then we are not serving God. We are just keeping busy. 

 

Although a church's love grows cold, it can always return to God. We need to ask if we love the Lord. Service can be joy again. The word becomes hope again. Our love for the congregation will grow again. 

• Never Once
• Who Am I
• Agnus Dei

June 14, 2026 "The One Thing That Matters Most" (1 Corinthians 13:1–13)

1 Corinthians 13 New International Version

1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 

10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 

12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

a. 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages

b. 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames

The One Thing That Matters Most 

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 

 

This chapter is known as the love chapter. We often hear this passage given at wedding ceremonies, anniversaries and other events that celebrate love. Paul puts much emphasis on love. In fact, he says that love is the most important aspect of following Jesus. 

 

In the previous chapter, Paul lists the different spiritual gifts and their importance but ends chapter 12 with saying that there is something greater than these gifts. That, of course, is love. 

 

Paul tells us the gifts may be powerful and do great things, but without love, he is nothing. 

 

1 Corinthians 13:1-2 ESV 

[1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

 

Paul is not saying the gifts are not important, but he is telling us that without love our actions and results become meaningless. It does matter if the work was successful and achieved its purpose but, was it done in love?. Did we do this with right attitude of love? The qualities of love will allow us to do the good works of God. 

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV 

[4]  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

 

Love is patient. It can be very hard to be patient with people or situations. Yet real love allows us to be patient with others. When we are selfish or arrogant, we compare ourselves with others to maintain our ego. Love does not need to protect its ego. We don't want to give or sacrifice because our ego tells us to keep everything for ourselves. Love allows us to be generous. Love allows us to celebrate the good in others and mourn when evil is inflicted on others. 

 

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 ESV 

[8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. [9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part, [10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.  

 

We are nothing and the work we do can be worthless if we do not do these things in love. The actions and work we do will eventually be undone; however, love will transcend time. Our spiritual gifts are precious. We are to use these tools for God's kingdom.  

 

The spiritual gifts are like scaffolding around a building. Once the building is complete, the scaffolding is removed because it has done its purpose. Love will not pass away. It is part of God's kingdom that remains. God is love. 

 

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 ESV 

[11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 

 

Maturity is shown in a person who is able to love. The Corinthian Christians had many gifts and thought highly of themselves. They compared themselves to others and judged. People who are full of love don't do this. Paul knew that the Corinthian Church needed love to be fully mature and do the work of God. 

 

In this passage, Paul does not ask us what we do in church or what gifts we have. He does not ask us what missions we have done or what knowledge we possess. He asks us if we have love -and whether do we do our good work with love. 

 

At the cross, we see what love truly is. Love is practice. It sacrifices to a point of pain. The church cannot mature without love. The love of Christ will mature us. The Lord wants mature followers who do not look down on the weak or on sinners.  

 

Love will remain. Your possessions, family, friends, efforts, and accomplishments will all pass away. But Love will not pass away. 

• To God Be The Glory
• Praise
• King Of My Heart

Jun 7, 2026 “Discern the Body of the Lord”(1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 New International Version
Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 
18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 
19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 
20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 
21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 
22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 
28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 
29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 
30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 
31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 
32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 
34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.

Discern the Body of the Lord 

1 Corinthians 11: 17-34 

Paul addresses the church in Corinth over their church practices. 

 

1 Corinthians 11:17 ESV 

[17] But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.  

 

Paul is not chastising them for not following the rules. They were following communion rules, but they were not doing this for Jesus. The rich were not remembering the grace Jesus gave to us. The poor were being left out. Some were even becoming drunk on the wine. 

 

1 Corinthians 11:20-21 ESV 

[20] When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. [21] For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.  

 

The table of the Lord is a place of grace. It is a place where unworthy people are invited to eat the Lord's Supper. We all understand we cannot live without God's grace. We are all here because of grace that we are saved. The person beside me has shown the same grace as was given to me.  It is Jesus who is the host of this dinner. 

 

1 Corinthians 11:27-28 ESV 

[27]  Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. [28] Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  

 

If you have the Lord's Supper without discerning ourselves. We have to understand what we are taking. We have to remember that our sins kept us from God and put Jesus on the cross. That the cross is a place of humility. This is why Paul considered not discerning the body of the Lord and taking communion seriously. 

 

If we do not take the time to reflect on and understand what we are doing in church. We might not understand the scriptures if we don't try to discern what was written. It is too easy to blindly follow rituals and practices and not understand what is happening and why it has happened.  

 

Communion allows us to re-examine our lives and remember what Jesus has done for us. We should take the Lord's Supper intentionally and respectfully. 

 

The Corinthian Church mimicked the Lord's Supper, but they did not partake in The Lord's Supper. Their actions did not reflect someone who felt gratitude or humility in being saved by the gift of grace. They were not acting as a group that was brought together by Jesus. They were not treating people as the way of the cross. 

 

Our lives should be changed with the understanding that Jesus rescued us from sin and death while restoring our relationship to God. Jesus has made us one and sends us out to love one another.   

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

• Every Move I Make
• Mercy
• How He Loves

May 31, 2026 "Freedom That Loves"(1 Corinthians 10:23-33)

• 1 Corinthians 10:23–33 New International Version

  
  

  The Believer’s Freedom

  23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 

  24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

  
  

  25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,

  26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[a]

  
  

  27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 

  28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 

  29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 

  30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

  
  

  31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 

  32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 

  33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
• Freedom That Loves 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

Through Jesus Christ we have been given many things. We have freedom; however, Paul addresses this truth with a deep question. What are we using our freedom for? Paul shows that even if everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial.  

 

1 Corinthians 10:23 ESV

[23]  “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.  

 

The world will ask the question, "How does this benefit me?" Paul tells Christians to ask, "How does benefit others?"

 

1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV

[24] Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.  

 

We like to build ourselves up and take care of ourselves. We protect ourselves and focus on what we want to do. However, Christians need to ask what is going to please God. We should use our freedom to help others. We need to look at others before making a decision.  

 

My faith affects the person next to me. My faith can build someone up or tear them down. That is the power of faith. We can make our choices in love. The love for God and our neighbors will help us the make the right decisions.

Then we will have the freedom to make the right choices. We also need to ask whether or not our decisions promote love.

 

The church has been called to act as a union of followers. The church should build up the community. We need the strong standard of love of God. Will this choice show the heart of Christ? Will this choice promote God's love?

 

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

[31] So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  

 

We know this verse very well. It is also misused. Paul has been talking about everyday choices, even food. Paul tells us that whatever we do, we must do this for the glory of God. We must always ask if this choice glorifies God, not simply satisfy ourselves.

 

Paul is not telling us to only think about doing big things for God's glory. He tells us that all things should be considered for glorifying God.  

 

When we use our freedom and it makes God look small then we need to change. If someone is hurt or the community has been damaged, this is not to the glory of God. Yes, we must correct people who speak heresies or who are living destructive lives, but it must always be done in love.

 

We are truly free in Christ. We do not have to be slaves to Christ. We do have the freedom to lay down our rights for others. We are free to serve others without expecting anything in return. We are free to forgive others. We are free to sacrifice—even to lay down our lives.

 

The world sees freedom as building oneself up. It looks at the cross as punishment. With Jesus, we have genuine freedom the world cannot give. We can see freedom in the cross. Our freedom that loves, serves and sacrifices brings us closer to God.

• Praise
• O Praise The Name
• In The Garden (I Come To The Garden Alone)

May 24, 2026 "A Church That Does Not Hate Sinners, Yet Does Not Ignore Sin" (1 Corinthians 5:1–13)

1 Corinthians 5 New International Version

Dealing With a Case of Incest
5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
² And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?
³ For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this.
⁴ So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,
⁵ hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,^[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
⁶ Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?
⁷ Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
⁸ Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—
¹⁰ not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
¹¹ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister^[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
¹² What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
¹³ God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”^[d]

A Church That Does Not Hate Sinners, Yet Does Not Ignore Sin

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 

 

Sometimes we do not deal with problems immediately. Like a little yeast, it moves into the entire loaf of bread. 

 

In 1 Corinthians, Paul brings up a case in which the church did not deal with the sin. Paul asks why the church did not grieve over this sin. This should be the first response when the church finds sin in its community. Sin keeps us from God. It damages and breaks the relationship between us in God 

 

We should not mock people who have committed sin. We should not judge lightly people for their sin, but we, as a church, need to deal with the sin. Nor should we condone the sin or ignore the sin pretending it did not happen. 

 

We need to love one another. We need to love sinners. However, we need to hate sin. 

 

Paul's response in verse 3 needs to be emulated by us. True love involves responsibility and this can require firm correction.  

 

1 Corinthians 5:3 ESV 

[3] For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.  

 

When the church deals with sin, it must not be done to shame someone. It should not be done by our emotions or personal standards. We should not also use these sins as an excuse for fun or play. Gossiping can be fun and build up our weak egos, but it is not the nature of God. 

 

1 Corinthians 5:4 ESV 

[4] When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,  

 

Paul's purpose in verse 5 is to bring restoration. It is not to destroy the person. The church must deal with sin differently than the world does. The church needs to call sin, "SIN!" However, the straight and clear goal must be restoration. 

 

1 Corinthians 5:5 ESV 

[5] you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 

 

We should not take a position in which are superior. We are afraid of conflict, so we call it peace. We take sin lightly and call it grace.  

 

Our church is a new community, and we live Holy lives as a response for what God has done. The Holiness of the church comes from Christ's sacrifice, and we must not treat it casually.

 

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 ESV 

[7] Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. [8] Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

 

We need to ask ourselves, "Do we truly love that person enough to restore them?" True love is not neglect. True grace does not take sin lightly. Jesus did not simply cover our sin. The Lord offered His life to save us. He did not condemn us or push us away. He hated our sin, but loved us and He restored us. 

 

We should pray first when encountering sin with other people. We should find words which will promote correction and repentance. The church is a community that restores sinners to life.   

• You're Worthy of My Praise
• Resurrecting
• How Deep The Father's Love For Us

May 17, 2026 "We are So Smart That We Miss the Cross" (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

 

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 

 

We live in an age of information and powerful tools to search and calculate. We can calculate and find the best deals before we make a purchase or decision. We sometimes do this with the word of God. We are persuaded by the wrong influences when hearing the word. 

 

When Paul was in Corinth, he abandoned human wisdom, knowledge and eloquence while preaching the gospel. Paul knew that impressive sermons, strong logic and dramatic performances can blind us to the cross. 

 

We have to be careful when we hear the word. We look towards the human wisdom that makes more sense. We look to strategies that are stronger than what the Word says. We ignore the power of the cross while we seek out worldly ways and wisdom to succeed.  

 

We often seek worldly wisdom to make ourselves look more important, stronger, more intelligent and more independent. The wisdom of the cross makes Jesus look more important.  

 

When the cross is removed, faith becomes something different. Love without the cross, it is something different. Faith without the cross becomes self-sufficient. Sacrifice without the cross is just a personal investment. With the cross, faith becomes love, love becomes sacrifice and sacrifice becomes joy. 

 

Without the cross, we seek more exciting sermons, bigger miracles, deeper wisdom and anything that will stimulate our appetite for the Gospel. The power of the cross is enough and reminds us of our first love. The cross might look weak and repulsive, but it has the power to bring us to God and transform our lives. 

 

No one wants to look weak or be weak and yet, the way if the cross is to admit our dependence and bring our weakness to the Lord. We can lay down all our failures, all our weaknesses, all our faults.  

 

The disciples abandoned Jesus, they did not understand Jesus' words and they even denied Jesus. Yet, Jesus forgave them and restored them. This was the power of the cross. 

 

Looking at our faults and weakness can depress our minds and stop us from trying. We become ashamed and overwhelmed confronting the truth. 

 

By acknowledging our weakness, the cross can restore us and bring us to the place we need to be. 

• O Come To The Altar
• 10000 reasons (Bless the Lord o my soul)
• Be Thou My Vision (Slane)

June 22, 2025 “ReBorn: Bless Onnuri English Ministry (OEM)” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

• Goodness Of God
• Holy Forever
• Way Maker

May 25, 2025 “God Prepared Everything” (1 Corinthians 2:9, John 3:16)

1 Corinthians 2:9 New International Version

9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

    what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”[a]—

    the things God has prepared for those who love him—

John 3:16 New International Version

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

• This I Believe (The Creed)
• Back To Life
• Rock of Ages

July 28, 2024 "The Mission" (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

The Mission

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

 

When Paul went to Athens, his mission was not very successful. Few people came over to Christ. After his failures, he wrote this letter to the Corinthians.

 

1 Corinthians 2:3 ESV

[3] And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,  

 

Paul had attempted to use his strength of eloquence and knowledge. He had failed and he acknowledged that he needed to rely on God's strength and not his own.

 

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 ESV

[1] And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. [2] For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

 

If we spend too much time preparing and rely on our resources, we will miss the opportunity to see God act. We will not experience God's miracles and works if we do everything on our own strength.  

 

God cares for everyone. Missions are about God's heart. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can be led to use our strengths to do God's work on the mission field.

 

Jonah 4:11 ESV

[11] And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

 

The true power of Missions comes not from our resources and abilities but our obedience to the Holy Spirit. It will only be through the Holy Spirit that God can work perfectly.

  

• Holy Is The Lord

• Good Grace

• There Is None Like You