I’ve been trying to live in 1 Corinthians 13: 1-12 recently. It’s a surprisingly challenging read. A popular verse for weddings, or memorising, this passage about what love looks like brings a deeply challenging conviction if you allow it to sink in.
At this time of year, as most students depart for their long summer break (shout out to the medics and postgrads who remain!) those of us leading in student ministry begin to turn our mind toward next year. The question is often ‘what will we do?’ Today I want to encourage you to consider those plans through a 1 Corinthians 13 lens and ask, instead, ‘how will we do it?’
The start of this passage bluntly claims that wisdom, prophetic insight, the ability to display spiritual gifts, communication and even faith, if they are not executed through the lens of what love is like, are useless. It’s not just about what we do but rather, how we do it.
What are your plans? How will you do them? What impact does asking this question have on the plans you make?
- How will you, personally, lead lovingly - being kind, patient. Without being self-seeking, proud or easily angered (or frustrated)?
- How will you encourage this culture in your student team? What are the things you celebrate and prioritise in your leadership training?
- How does a lens of perseverance, trust, hope, affect the decisions you make around what to prioritise?
Why not read the passage again, highlighting the culture of love, then write out some of your plans and look at them alongside one another.
Singer-songwriter Derek Webb described ‘building the kingdom using the devil’s means’ - another challenging articulation that how we do something is often as important as what we do. What does it look like to build the kingdom using kingdom means, kingdom culture?
How will you do next year?
