Bob Marley in Sunday School

Bob Marley in Sunday School

Our Sunday school lesson on June 21, 2009 was based on 1 Corinthians chapter 13. In yet another timely letter from the Apostle Paul, this one is written to the Corinthian church during a time of discord. The church’s members seem to be in a disagreeing time in their lives.
Paul writes to them about many things including Chapter 13’s LOVE theme.
I have always enjoyed this passage from 1 Corinthians. I particularly take pleasure in Paul’s words about love.
In verses 4 through 7, he puts it so precise.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. “
As the lesson stated, Paul didn’t just list the things love is. He also listed the things that love is not. This, in my opinion is the most delightful parts of this passage.
Another wonderful part of this passage is the first 3 words of verse 8: “Love never fails.”
You can’t get more “right on” than that.
Every marriage counselor in the world should have this on his or her wall. It should be placed on a plaque behind the counselor where the people getting counseled can’t miss it.
Paul’s finishes this thought in a great way. In verse 13 he says: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
As usual in the Sunday school class, we had fantastic discussions on the lesson. The curriculum we use, Gather Round, is so well written. It always provided us with basic questions and thoughts. Then more thoughts and questions seem to arise from those.
One of the questions the lesson asked was “What does love in action look like?”
I honestly feel we could have spent the entire class on that question alone.
The class had so many awesome thoughts and answers on this question. I feel that love in action looks like so many things. From doing the simplest thing for another to meeting together to “saving the world” That is love in action.
During the discussion someone brought up one love. My mind immediately went to Bob Marley and his song “One Love”.
Love in action can be reflected in some of the lyrics to this song.“One Love! One Heart!Let's get together and feel all right.Hear the children cryin' (One Love!);Hear the children cryin' (One Heart!),Sayin': give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;Sayin': let's get together and feel all right.”

Those lyrics, to me, embody Love in action. Love in action when people get together and talk or dance or sing or eat or whatever. People getting together to learn and laugh. The fact that the people are getting together and showing a love for each other is astounding. It “feel all right”. And it is love in action.