Introduction:
A.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
I.
The Significance of Love – Its Importance (v.1-3)
A.
(v.1) Could have reference to language of angels but
B.
More likely, however, placed in its context, it simply language
– gift of speaking in tongues.
1)
Chapters 12,13,14 constitute a unit – dealing with miraculous
gifts.
2)
1st Century times, miraculous manifestations of the
Spirit (apostles, others).
3)
Those brethren needed to seek the greatest of these gifts.
4)
At the heart of this analogy of miraculous gifts, you have the
greatest of all gifts – The non-miraculous gift of love.
C.
The chapter begins by saying in essence:
1)
Even though I might speak in languages I have never studied
before, but have not love;
2)
I have become – more lit. I have become and remain a sounding
brass or clanging cymbal.
3)
Applied to marriage and other relationships:
a)
It makes no difference what I say – actions speak louder than
words.
b)
“Let us not love in word
or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 Jn.3:18).
II.
Love Is More Important Than Anything I Have
A.
(v.2) Gift of prophecy, knowledge.
B.
I have all faith – If I have not love, I am nothing!
1)
I might be able to speak for God, or answer any question and
apply God’s will to any situation…but have not love…
2)
Greek lit… I have become and continue to be nothing.
3)
It doesn’t make any difference what you have, if you don’t
share the love of this passage with others, what you have amounts to
absolutely nothing!
4)
Matthew 16:26.
III.
Keeps on Profiting Me Nothing
A.
(v.3) As we grow spiritually, we find ourselves growing in
stewardship
B.
We learn to be able to provide, give more to help others – the
church.
C.
But how many of us have reached the point of giving everything we
have for the purpose of helping of someone?
D.
Even if we did, but have not love, it means nothing to God!
E.
Ok, I know it’s important to have but do I mean it? How can I
express it as I should? Let’s talk about the essence of love.
IV.
The Essence of Love – Some Do’s and Don’ts – What it Really Is
A.
(v.4) Love is not defined in a sentence as in dictionary, but
it’s defined by what it does and by what it refuses to do.
B.
I’m confident that each of us as we read this passage will find
some weakness in the way we approach one another, and to these
weaknesses we need to give our attention.
C.
Some Do’s and Don’ts: Couplets or groupings, rather than one
at time.
Conclusion:
A. 1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:13 – Ephesians 5:25,
28, 29, 33.
