1. “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” 1 Cor. 12:31 “thinks no evil”

2. Description of Love 4. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5. does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6. does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7. bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8. Love never fails.

3. Description of Love 1.Patience 2.Kindness 3.Generosity 4.Humility 5.Courtesy 6.Unselfishness 7.Good temper 8.Guilelessness 9.Sincerity 10.Spiritual strength 11.Open-Mindedness 12.Optimism 13.Faithfulness 14.Loverly

4. “thinks no evil” “does not imagine evil”

5. Meaning “thinks no evil” “taketh not account of evil” = ASV “does not imagine evil” = Living Oracles Love is guileless Innocent-minded - naïve “Imputed not evil” “holds no grudges” Love does not suspect evil of others.

6. Meaning “thinks no evil” Loves does not suspect evil of others. Does not surmise evil Is not suspicious Loves desires to think well of others. Does not infer evil We want to think well of those we love

7. Children have this kind of Heart Matt. 19:13-14 13. Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.“ Mind of a child

8. Children have this kind of Heart 1 Cor. 14:20 “Brethren, be not children in understanding; howbeit, in malice, be ye children, but in understanding, be men.” Malice - forgive and forget They do not think evil of others.

9. Children have this kind of Heart 1 Peter 2:1-2 “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” Lay aside “guile” - craftiness

10. Children have this kind of Heart The child-like mind thinks no evil They do not impute evil to others 1 Peter 3:10 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:” “And his lips from speaking deceit” NKJV “And his lips from deceitful words” TCNT

11. Improve our disposition “For as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” Prov. 23:7 “…think on these things…” Phi.4:8 Make peace among men will not think there was an evil intention puts best possible construction on conduct Blind us to Little Faults “love will cover a multitude of sins” 1Pet.4:8

12. On his way to Damascus to persecute God told Ananias to go to Saul "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 "And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.“ - Acts 9:13-14 Conversion of Saul

13. On his way to Damascus to persecute God told Ananias to go to Saul God insisted that Ananias should go. “Go, for he is a chosen vessel…” v. 15-16 Ananias obeyed “…went his way and entered the house” v. 17 Saul was baptized - v. 18 Conversion of Saul

14. On his way to Damascus to persecute God told Ananias to go to Saul What would you have done ? Saul had persecuted the church ! Love demands we give others the benefit of the doubt ! Conversion of Saul

16. L.U.I.

17. “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” 1 Cor. 12:31 “taketh not acount of evil”

19. Description of Love 1.Patience 2.Kindness 3.Generosity 4.Humility 5.Courtesy 6.Unselfishness 7.Good temper 8.Guilelessness 9.Sincerity 10.Spiritual strength 11.Open-Mindedness 12.Optimism 13.Faithfulness 14.Loverly

21. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Evening Sept. 15, 2013