CELEBRATING GOD’S LOVE
A Letter from a Pastor #8
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Sunday, August 18, 2024
(Acts 13:15–16, NCV) “Brothers, if you have any message that will encourage the people, please speak.” Paul stood up, raised his hand, and said, “You Israelites and you who worship God, please listen!”
We gather to worship God and encourage one another.
(1 Corinthians 11:17, GN) “Your meetings for worship actually do more harm than good.”
(1 Corinthians 14:1–6, NLT) “Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened. Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.”
“Celebrate God’s love by persuading people to become passionate followers of Christ!”
1. We celebrate God’s gift of a new life of love in Christ
(1 Corinthians 1:1, NLT) “Let love be your highest goal.”
(1 John 4:21, NLT) “Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.”
2. We celebrate God’s love for people who do not know the Good News
(1 Corinthians 14:23, NLT) “If unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy.”
(1 Corinthians 14:19, NLT) “In a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.”
(1 Corinthians 14:25, NLT) “As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”
3. We celebrate God’s love by sharing His blessings to us
(1 Corinthians 14:12, NLT) “Seek those [spiritual gifts] that will strengthen the whole church.”
(Psalm 115:10–15, CEV) “Family of Aaron the priest, you must trust the Lord to help and protect you. All of you worship the Lord, so you must trust him to help and protect you. The Lord will not forget to give us his blessing; he will bless all of Israel and the family of Aaron. All who worship the Lord, no matter who they are, will receive his blessing. I pray that the Lord will let your family and your descendants always grow strong. May the Lord who created the heavens and the earth give you his blessing.”
GROWTHWORK
(1 Corinthians 14:6, NLT) “If I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.”
1. Revelation is the illumination of the Word of God; not my imagination
2. Knowledge is what I learn through study and experience
3. Prophecy is for edification not fascination
(1 Corinthians 14:3, NLT) “But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.”
a. Prophecy strengthens believers
b. Prophecy encourages believers
c. Prophecy comforts believers
4. Teaching is truth taught so that it can be understood and applied to my life
5. Attend the Discovery Growth Classes at Woodland
- DISCOVER: Discovering Woodland, September 8 at 6:00 pm
- GROW: Discovering spiritual maturity, September 15 at 6:00 pm
- SERVE: Discovering your ministry, September 22 at 6:00 pm
- SHARE: Discovering your mission, September 29 at 6:00 pm