LOVE (1 Corinthians 13)

PRE-EMINENCE OF LOVE—vv. 1–3

A. Speak like angels, but no love, we are nothing—v. 1 (This love must be shown daily toward others)

B. Understand all things, but no love, we are nothing—v. 2

C. Have charity, but no love, we are nothing—v. 3 (May give all we have, but without love, it is nothing)

II. PRINCIPLES OF LOVE—vv. 4–8

A. Never impatient, “Suffers long”

B. Never unkind, “And is kind”

C. Never jealous, “Vaunteth not itself”

D. Never shows off, “Is not puffed up”

E. Nexer self-important, “Seeketh not her own”

F. Never gets angry, “Slow to anger”

G. Never critical, “Thinketh no evil”

H. Never irritable, “Rejoiceth in truth”

I. Never holds a grudge, “Beareth all things”

J. Never self-righteous, “Believeth all things”

K. Never gives up, “Endureth all things”

III. PERMANENT LOVE—vv. 9–12

A. Real love never fails—v. 8 (Other things may fail, but real love never fails)

B. Real love will live forever—v. 8 (Permanent love lives on forever)

C. Real love rewarded by God—v. 12 (Our love toward Him and others will be rewarded) Example of love can be seen in a mother’s love. A child may commit terrible sins, yet the mother’s love never dies

IV. POWER OF LOVE—v. 13

A. Love is greater than faith (A person may have great faith, yet not have love)

B. Love is greater than hope (All people hope to go to heaven, yet all people do not have love)

C. Jesus asked Peter, “Lovest thou me?” He did not ask him, “Do you have faith or hope?”(John 21:15)

“If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us”—1 John 4:12