Sermon Tone Analysis

Love will keep us together!

All the world needs now love, love that is sustainable, love that is obtainable, love that is eternal in nature.

When we hold the bible in our hands we hold love in our hands.

God’s instructions for love, His love for us, our love for Him and our love for one another.

Captain and Tennille say “Love will keep us together”

Speaking of a man and a woman’s love; which is good but pale in comparison of a Fathers love for His children, speaking of God’s love for His children.

Jackie DeShannon says “what the world needs now is love sweet love”

speaking of peace because of love for one another, where as the peace, true peace needed is from God and works through the people of God to others.

Maranatha music says “Love one another for love is of God”

Ah a song in our song book, and we sing it from time to time for it comes from scripture (Jn13:34-35) “34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””

I think we can all agree that love is the major subject of the bible, but we need to have the right definition, description and deployment of love for it to accomplish its true intentions.

This series is focusing on passages to ponder and we have looked at

Kingdom beatitudes (Mt5:3-12)

Supreme blessedness because we can know

we are poor in spirit

we mourn

we are meek

we hunger and thirst for righteousness

we have received mercy so we give mercy

we are pure in heart since our heart has been purified by God

We are peacemakers because of the peace of God that is given to us making peace with God and in turning making peace with others

Willing to suffer persecution for righteousness sake.

To know we are in good company when we willing accept the reviling or persecution that may come for being a Christian.

Don’t have a defiled heart (Mk7:21-23)

True defilement does not come from outside, it comes from inside and then is displayed on the outside by our words and deeds.

So be careful what is on the inside.

Today we are going to look at love using (1Cor13:1-13) as our text

In the midst of speaking, teaching on spiritual gifts (1Cor12, 14) Paul brings in love, describing what love is and the necessity of it.

(Transition) There was a problem in Corinth and it had to do with the spiritual gifts and elevating some over others.

Things not being done in and with love.

So, I think that is where we need to start this morning is context

Context

As mentioned a moment ago, this section comes in the middle of Paul addressing an issue regarding spiritual gifts.

Description of Spiritual gifts (1Cor12:1-31)

Description of the Spiritual gifts (1Cor12:1-31)

might I suggest that on your own that you read 1Cor12-14 in its entirety.

I will only survey and give a few of the verses as we go today from there.

All from the same Spirit (1Cor12:1-11)

Paul did not want them to be ignorant (v.1)

Now jump down a few verses

All benefit the body (1Cor12:12-31)

The body is one with many members (v.12)

Baptized into one body (v.13)

An illustration of the many parts (vv.14-24)

The body should care for the body and there be no division

(Transition) Paul stresses the importance of all spiritual gifts, they all have value for the body.

Limitation of Spiritual Gifts (1Cor13:1-3, 8:13)

Now that we are to the “love chapter” let’s look and glean a little at a time

Limited for without love they are meaningless, are of no profit to the body

They will eventually cease

(Transition) Paul illustrated the need for more than spiritual gifts.

The exercise of spiritual gifts (1Cor14:1-40)

I think it would only be fair to keep in context and back up a verse, then will survey some of the rest of it.

The purpose of the gifts is to edify the body (1Cor14:1-26)

look at (v.3)

Now look down to (v.12)

One more, look at (v.26)

Done in a decent and orderly manner (1Cor14:27-40)

Each to speak in turn according to (v.27, 29)

Limited people (v.27, 29)

God is not the God of confusion

(transition) God has given spiritual gifts that are to be used for the edification of the body.

These spiritual gifts are to be done in and with love.

And now may we turn to that.

For it is the meat in the middle of the Spiritual gifts chapter 12, 14!

The meaning

We have read the chapter, and having done that we know that love is necessary when it comes to deploying spiritual gifts, so lets delve into that a little more and also the qualities of love displayed.

The necessity of love

Necessary in the exercise of spiritual gifts (1Cor13:1-2)

Love must be coupled with the knowledge and with faith for it to be effective.

Necessary in the exercise of great sacrifice (1Cor13:3)

Even if I do good deeds, give to the poor, without the love for others it gains nothing, and we want to do things with the right heart and that is a heart of love, so love in a necessity when deploying good works, good godly sacrifices like this.

The qualities of love (1Cor13:4-8)

(insert qualities of love PowerPoint here)

Love suffers long (v.4,

2Pt3:9; Ps103:8) - this means willing to endure the slights and wrongs patiently and long.

Maybe consider

(Insert the qualities of love PowerPoint again here)

Love is kind (v.4) -obliging, willing, helpful (CBD)

Love does not envy (or is jealous) (v.4) - it is not jealous of what others have or have become (Pulpit commentary)

Love does not parade itself (v.4) - it does not brag or boast on one’s self in abilities or in possessions

Love is not puffed up (v.4) - it is not swelled with pride and elated with a van conceit of himself (Gill)

Love does not behave rudely (v.5; 1Pt3:8) - it does not behave ugly, indecent, unseemly or unbecoming (CWSD)

1Pt3:8 “8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;” - it is harmonious, courteous, sympathetic.

Love does not seek its own (v.5) - it does not seek its own happiness at the cost of others.

You may note down and consider these verses

1cor10:24 “24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.”

1cor10:33 “33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.”

Love is not provoked (v.5) - does not fly into a rage, but keeps the temper under control (B.W. Johnson)

Love thinks no evil (v.5) -it is not malicious, censorious, disposed to find fault, or to impute improper motives to others (Barnes)

Love does not rejoice in iniquity (v.6) - - It does not take pleasure in someone else’s sins or guilt.

Love rejoices in the truth!

(v.6; 2Jn4; 3Jn3-4) - With the truth, truth personified in the words and actions.

Consider

2jn4 “4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.”

or 3Jn3-4 “3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.

4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

Love bears all things (v.7; 1Cor9:12) - literally meaning it “covers, protects” in regards to the sins, failings of others, there is a willingness to bear with them patiently (Barnes)

Consider - 1Cor9:12 “12 If others share the right over you, do we not more?