“But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

1 Cor. 12:31

Description of Love

4. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5. does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6. does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7. bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love is the greatest

8 ¶ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

9. For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

10. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

Love is the greatest

11. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Limits or qualifies a noun

Feeling or showing loveLike a person in loveGreatly enjoys

Modifies meaning of a verb

In manner of a loverLoverlikeLike a loving person

Love is a noun = describes a ChristianLove is a verb = expresses action of love

1 Cor. 13:1-3

All else minus love = Zero Eloquence Faith Good Deeds

We need LOVE in order to live“A baby does not live by milk alone”Without love life is nothing

We are biologically predetermined toward love.

Why?God is Love ! We are made in His Image.

“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” I Jn. 4:8

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him;” Gen. 1:27

1 Cor. 13:4-7

1. Patience - endure without murmuring2. Kindness - gracious and good3. Generosity - is not jealous4. Humility - absence of pride5. Courtesy - not rude to anyone6. Unselfishness - does not insist on own way7. Good temper - not quick to get angry8. Guilessness - Love holds no grudges

I Jn.4:20-21 “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

21. And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

If we think we love God, we must first know that we love our brother !

1 Cor. 13:4-7

“does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.”

Sincerity = genuine love for the truth of GodHypocrisy is the opposite of genuine love.

“If you love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15

1 Cor. 13:4-7

1. Spiritual Strength = “bears all things”

2. Open Mindedness = “believes all things”

3. Optimism = “hopes all things”

4. Faithfulness = “endures all things”

1 Cor. 13:8-13

It is permanentSpiritual gifts are temporaryWere necessary for a while

It is the greatestFaith, Hope, Love - essential in the churchLove will continue after faith and hopeLove will endure because God is love

Love When properly applied

Love God with all the heart, soul and mind.

Love neighbor as self

1 Corinthians 13 is a portrait of Love

Portrait of Jesus Christ

Because He is Love

Christ would like to reproduce His portrait in us and to have His church be a collection of reprints.

We can describe how it functions.

1 Cor. 13:4-7 describes how love acts

Loverly means like, characteristic of, or in the manner of a lover.

Perfect Love - 1 John 4:16-18

God is love Dwell in love Dwell in God

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” v.17

Describes how we ought to live and it is…

“The More Excellent Way.”

1 Corinthians 13 is the chapter on Love1 Corinthians 14:1

“Follow after charity” - KJV“Follow the way of love” - NIV“Pursue love” - NKJV“Let love be your greatest aim” - LNT“Follow the Loving Way” - SEB

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

evanscoc@bellsouth.netevanscoc@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Evening November 17, 2013