Sermon Series Part 4 "love"

Opening:

We have explored in week 1 that the Apostle Paul could not treat the christians at Corinth as being mature, he had to treat them like babies and could only give them the milk of the word. THEY REFUSED TO MATURE!

In week #2 we explored the account of the Argument between the disciples at the last supper before christ’s death upon the cross.

Last Sunday we examined what it looks like to begin your Maturity journey/Spiritual Growth:

a. To seek those things which are above! To look at the unseen not those things that can be seen. temporary vs. eternal.

b. to put to death ALL SEXUAL IMMORALITY AND GREED

c. and to put away all Anger, Wrath, Malice, Blasphemy, Filthy Language, and the habit of lying to your brother and sisters in Christ.

AND TO PUT ON THE NEW MAN:

Tender Mercies, Kindness, Humility, Meekness, Long suffering (patience)

Today’s text is 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Very well known chapter that has been given the title of the LOVE Chapter. Paul identifies love as the highest virtue.

13:1 Though I have been given the spiritual gift of tongues of men and angels:

*meaning one can speak in a language that he does not know in order to present the gospel to those who speak that language.

BUT have not Love (a sacrificial love) *you become as a sounding (pompous) (arrogant) brass or a clanging cymbal! (just like a child picking up a cymbal and banging them together!)

13:2 Though I have the gift of Prophecy (a divine message from god to man or a people group)

Though I understand ALL mysteries(truth that is undiscoverable except by Divine revelation) All knowledge (of the scripture)

And I have ALL faith, so I could remove mountains......

BUT have not Love (sacrificial love) *I AM NOTHING! (a person of no interest, value, or consequence)

13:3 Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, AND be willing to die at the stake by fire!

BUT have not Love, it PROFITS (to be successful, to be useful, to have value) ME NOTHING!!

* So what does sacrificial love look like?

13:4-5 IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!! SOUNDS A LOT LIKE THE NEW MAN, DOESN’T IT! (LAST WEEK)

13:6 Love does not rejoice in sin! BUT rejoices in TRUTH (CHRIST IS THE TRUTH!)

13:7 LOVE ALWAYS: PROTECTS, TRUSTS, HOPES, AND PERSEVERES!

13:8-10 LOVE IS EVERLASTING! (God is Love) Spiritual gifts are not!

**For we know just parts of what has been revealed to us, BUT when CHRIST returns the parts will be done away!

13:11-13 cover these verses as God leads me........

*LOVE IS THE GREATEST! (MEANS SUPERIOR AND OLDER!!) GOD HAS NO BEGINNING......LOVE HAS ALWAYS BEEN!!!!

**As believers how can we refuse to extend LOVE, grace, and mercy to those around us when we have been extended the same from God Almighty through His son Jesus Christ! We are to be the image of Christ to others!