How can our church community practice love that "rejoices with the truth"? Rejoicing with the Truth: What It Means “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:6) • Love and truth can never be separated; genuine affection for one another reaches its peak when it celebrates God’s revealed Word. • Our joy is rooted in what God declares to be true—about Himself, about salvation, and about how we treat one another. Guarding Our Teaching • Saturate every sermon, class, and small-group study with clear exposition of Scripture. • Insist on context: “The sum of Your word is truth.” (Psalm 119:160) • Test every new idea against the whole counsel of God (Acts 17:11). • Encourage members to bring their Bibles and follow along so the text, not personality, drives conviction. Truth-Shaped Relationships • Speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Correction is an act of compassion, not harshness. • Refuse gossip and slander; they twist truth and sabotage joy (James 4:11). • Keep promises. “Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No,’ no.” (Matthew 5:37) • Celebrate testimonies of repentance and growth, because truth has done its liberating work (John 8:32). Accountability that Restores • Establish gentle, Bible-based church discipline (Matthew 18:15-17). • Aim always at restoration, never humiliation (Galatians 6:1). • When someone repents, throw a welcome-home party like the father of the prodigal (Luke 15:22-24). Worship that Exalts Truth • Choose songs rich in biblical doctrine; sing the gospel, not mere sentiment. • Read passages aloud in services; let the congregation hear God’s voice together (1 Timothy 4:13). • Share brief explanations of why a verse is read or a song is chosen, reinforcing truth’s centrality. Truth on Mission • Present the gospel clearly, without softening its claims (Romans 1:16). • Engage culture with compassion yet without compromise (John 17:17-18). • Equip members to answer questions “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). Celebrations that Spotlight Truth • Host testimony nights where members recount God’s faithfulness. • Mark baptisms as congregational events of rejoicing (Acts 2:41-47). • Share Scripture memory milestones—children and adults reciting God’s Word bring shared delight. Everyday Practices to Cultivate • Start meetings with a brief Scripture reading focused on truth. • Encourage families to read the Bible aloud at mealtimes. • Form accountability pairs who discuss what God is teaching them in the Word each week. • Promote church-wide reading plans so the body travels through Scripture together. The Overflow of Joy When a congregation lives this way, love shines brightly. By anchoring affection to God’s unchanging Word, we become a community that not only knows the truth but rejoices in it—reflecting the very heart of Christ, “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). |
    |