Courtesy isn’t a word we use often in church conversations, yet Paul treats it as a central expression of Christian love. In 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 and 14:26–40, he confronts a church whose worship gatherings had become places of rudeness, disregard, and self-promotion. When paired with 1 Corinthians 13:4–5, the message becomes unmistakable:
Love expresses itself in kindness, courtesy, and honoring others — especially in worship.
The Problem at the Table
The Lord’s Supper — a moment meant to unite the church — had become a place of division.
The wealthy arrived early with abundant food and wine. The poor arrived later with nothing. Instead of sharing, the wealthy feasted while the poor went hungry.
Paul doesn’t soften his words: “When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper that you eat.”
Why? Because their behavior contradicted the very meaning of the meal.
Communion is a reminder that we all come to Christ on equal footing. But their actions said, “Some of us matter more than others.”
Rudeness at the table revealed a deeper problem in the heart.
The Problem in Worship
The same spirit of disregard showed up in their worship gatherings.
People were interrupting each other. Prophets were talking over one another. Tongues were spoken without interpretation. Everyone wanted the spotlight.
The result? Chaos instead of edification. Noise instead of reverence. Self-promotion instead of love.
Paul calls them back to order — not to stifle the Spirit, but to honor one another.
Worship is not a stage for personal expression. It is a shared space where we consider how our actions affect the whole body.
Love Is Kind; Love Is Not Rude
Paul’s famous words in 1 Corinthians 13 cut through the noise:
Love is kind.
Love is not rude.
Love does not insist on its own way.
Kindness is not weakness. Courtesy is not superficial. Consideration is not optional.
These are the everyday expressions of love.
Love asks:
“How will this affect others?”
“Does this build up the body?”
“Am I honoring the people around me?”
“Is my behavior pointing to Christ or to myself?”
Love pays attention. Love slows down. Love makes room.
Love Creates a Culture of Honor
When love shapes our gatherings, everything changes.
Communion becomes a place of unity, not division.
Worship becomes a place of reverence, not performance.
Conversations become spaces of encouragement, not competition.
The church becomes a family marked by honor, not hierarchy.
A culture of honor doesn’t happen by accident. It grows when each person chooses kindness over convenience, courtesy over carelessness, and consideration over self-interest.
This is what makes the church beautiful — not perfection, but love expressed in the small, unseen acts of honoring one another.
How Can You Practice Consideration in Your Church Family?
This week, take one intentional step toward honoring others:
Arrive ready to listen, not just speak.
Make space for someone else’s voice.
Welcome someone who feels overlooked.
Be mindful of how your actions affect the room.
Encourage someone who serves quietly.
Slow down enough to notice who needs kindness.
Courtesy may seem small, but in the kingdom of God, small acts of love carry eternal weight.
Love Honors Others
The Corinthians struggled with rudeness because they forgot the heart of worship: We gather not to elevate ourselves, but to honor Christ — and in honoring Him, we honor one another.
May we be a people who bring kindness to the table, courtesy to our gatherings, and honor to every corner of our church family.