Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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A man wrote: Dear Abby, I'm in love.
I'm having affairs with 2 women other than my wife.
I love my wife, but I love these other women too.
Please tell me what to do.
But don't give me any of that 'morality' stuff.
Sincerely, Too much love for only one.
Abby's response?
"Dear 'Too much love for only one.'
The difference between humans & animals is morality.
You need to write a veterinarian."1
Whatever he had for those 3 women-it wasn't love.
Today's verses will tell us what love really is.
Last week (1 Co 12:12-31a), Paul taught us about Christ's body, the church.
Its members are distinct & have different spiritual gifts.
In 1 Co 12:27-28, He ranked the gifts & in 1 Co 12:31 says the most excellent way isn't exercising even the greater spiritual gifts.
What is? Look at 1 Cor 13:1-13.
It's love.
To start, what if love is absent?
1aWhat if I speak in the tongues of men & angels?
(Least, in 1 Co 12:27-28.)
What if I speak every human language, eloquently?
Even angelic prayer language?
(Corinthians sure thought they did!) 1bWithout love, I'm only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.
Unless I speak lovingly, it's just loud noise.
What about the greatest spiritual gift in 1 Co 12:27-28?
2aWhat if I have the gift of prophecy?
Greater than Isaiah.
2bWhat if I can prophetically fathom all mysteries & knowledge?
2cWithout love, I'm nothing.
In the Corinthian church, at Communion haves didn't share food with have-nots.
Those speaking in tongues looked down at everyone else.
Worship was chaos.
Everyone speaking in tongues & prophesying on top of each other.
They thought they were spiritually gifted.
Really something.
But there was no love.
And without love?
They're nothing.
Whether my spiritual gifts are big or little, I'm nothing if I use them unlovingly.
Every minute.
Every day.
What about miracles?
2bWhat if I have a faith that can move mountains?
Impossible miracles.
Raise the dead.
Heal every disease.
Even if I do impossible miracles, 2cWithout love, I'm nothing.
No matter how great, miracles are worthless without love.
Then 3aWhat if I give all I possess to the poor?
Rich or poor, what if I give up all I have?
3cIf I don't have love, I gain nothing.
My giving may benefit others.
It may make me look & feel good.
But if my gifts aren't given in love, they're worthless.
I lay up no treasure in heaven.
Then what if I give up even my life?
What 3bif I surrender my body to the flames?
Even if I'm martyred, 3cIf I don't have love, I gain nothing.
The point?
Look at Jesus on the cross [slide].
His every thought was for others.
His mother (Jn 19:26).
The thief beside Him (Lk 23:43).
Those who crucified Him (Lk 23:34).
Self-denial of what I have or of even my life is worthless if not motivated by love.
No matter what I do.
No matter how small.
No matter how big or spectacular.
No matter what it costs me-time, wealth, or health.
No matter how much others benefit from what I do.
If I don't act in love for others, God says what I do is worthless in His eyes.
I may feel good.
Others may see me more positively But if I didn't act in love, my only reward is here & now.
I'll gain nothing in God's eyes.
If I don't act, speak, & think lovingly every minute of every day, I may as well do nothing.
Why? God is love.
Agape love.
All He does is loving.
If His Spirit is in me, I will produce love's fruit.
Love is the 1st & most important part of the Spirit's fruit.
Our lesson?
Spiritual gifts are not the sign God's Spirit is in us.
Love is.
If love is absent, so is God's Spirit.
And if God's Spirit is absent, I may as well do nothing.
If that's what love is not, what is it?
Love always acts in two ways.
4aLove is patient.
This is love's passive response.
When provoked, love won't react.
When slapped on one cheek, love won't slap back-figuratively or literally.
But love's passive response is never alone.
4bLove is kind.
When love does respond, it's kind.
Love turns the other cheek.
Goes the 2nd mile.
Loves enemies & prays for them.
God, Christ, & everyone with His Spirit show patience & kindness when they act.
If we act in any way that isn't patient & kind, we act without love.
Love never acts in the following ways.
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