Love Endures Forever pt. 4

In this message, Pastor Josh continues our Love Endures Forever series, looking at 1 Corinthians 3:1–23. Paul calls the Corinthian church immature, and Pastor Josh says the same warning applies to us today. The question is simple: who’s really at the center—Jesus, or someone else?

God’s Wisdom vs. The World’s

Paul talks about two kinds of wisdom. The Corinthians lived in a culture full of smart-sounding ideas and philosophies. But Pastor Josh reminded us, “If you are in the center of it, we’re the same as Buddhism, Islam, anything else. In Christianity, Jesus sits on the center seat.”

The world’s wisdom might look impressive, but Paul says it will “pass away.” It can’t answer the biggest questions—where you will be when this life ends, who you will be when no one can stand with you. Pastor Josh said, “We all know it, but we conveniently ignore it.” God’s wisdom might seem like foolishness to the world, but it’s eternal, powerful, and “far better than the wisdom of the world.”

Still Acting Like Babies

Paul told the Corinthians they were still living “as people of the flesh”—full of jealousy, fights, and division—despite all their gifts and knowledge. Pastor Josh said it’s like being fed milk as a baby Christian, but years later still not ready for solid food.

He told the story of a man who left church after a heated Bible study argument. For years he’s kept his distance from Christian community, doing “just enough to not get hurt.” Pastor Josh’s comment: “That’s the most miserable way of doing Christianity—applying worldly ways to a life that’s meant to follow Jesus.”

Even a gifted, well-organized church can be immature if it can’t love like Jesus. “When someone comes in struggling to feel loved, and we can’t give that love, we’re immature.”

Don’t Follow People

The Corinthians were splitting into groups—“I follow Paul” or “I follow Apollos.” Pastor Josh said, “The moment this church becomes Pastor Josh’s church, you will be misled.” Leaders are servants. “Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

He shared about an elder in another church who told him, “I don’t believe in the Bible. It’s just a good story.” This man had spent decades in church but missed the gospel completely. Even in house churches, if we replace God with our own version of Him, “we create our own kingdom.”

Watch Out in House Church

Pastor Josh warned shepherds that because house church is so focused on loving people, it’s easy to unintentionally replace Jesus with relationships. “Eat all you like, share all you like, but make sure you pray to God together… the moment it’s just a human exercise, it’s dangerous.”

He reminded us that the people who once supported you most can become the ones who hurt you most—and that’s nothing new. Paul saw it in Corinth too. That’s why the focus must stay on Jesus, not people.

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

From baptism stories to service planning, Pastor Josh showed how easy it is to make small things too important. Years ago he would have been upset when the media team didn’t follow his service order exactly—but now he laughs at it. Why? “It’s not the essential thing. The essential thing is that people know Jesus.”

Maturity isn’t about skills, numbers, or smooth programs—it’s about loving like Jesus and keeping Him in the center. “Don’t give up on Him,” Pastor Josh said. “Share your struggle, keep your heart open, and let Jesus stay at the center—because no human power can truly save us.”