13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 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. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

As we begin our first series of 2020, Relationship Goals, Pastor Yami introduces us to the core truth of 1 Corinthians 13: love is everything. ANYTHING, no matter how seemingly good, how seemingly holy, how seemingly sacrificial, done without love is empty. But the good news is: Love is where we begin with God. The apostle Paul may sound like he is being harsh, calling our words simply noise; our powers, understanding, faith and knowledge, nothing; our sacrifices and surrenders, nothing more. But he doesn’t mean they are truly nothing, only nothing when they exist outside of God’s intent for them, motivated, fueled, and given by love.

Our next step questions for this week:

  1. What are the things you are doing that are just noise?
  2. How are you defining what love is?