1. “Building the Body Through Love!”
1 Corinthians 13

2. Few years ago the police in Ft
Few years ago the police in Ft. Wayne, Indiana were called to a house… Further investigation by police revealed this scene was the climax of an argument that began in the parking lot of “The True Love Baptist Church.”

3. Few years ago in Texas, a woman in a front yard stabbed her husband
Few years ago in Texas, a woman in a front yard stabbed her husband. As police came and a crowd gathered…

4. to see how we can build the Body of Christ here through love
Purpose:
to see how we can build the Body of Christ here through love

5. I By Impressing the Body With the Importance of Love
A. As Revealed in the Bible

6. “… fervently love one another from the heart.”
1 Peter 1:22
“… fervently love one another from the heart.”

7. “Honor all men; but love the brotherhood.”
1 Peter 2:17
“Honor all men; but love the brotherhood.”

8. 1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another because love covers a multitude of sins.”

9. 1 John 3:14-16
“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren… We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

10. “Brethren, let us love one another, for love is of God…”
1 John 4:7
“Brethren, let us love one another, for love is of God…”

11. 1 Thessalonians 4:19
“Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.”

12. I By Impressing the Body With the Importance of Love
A. As Revealed in the Bible
B. As to Its Promised Results

13. John 13:35
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

14. II By Teaching the Body the Meaning of Love

15. The world’s idea of love and priorities is warped…

16. II By Teaching the Body the Meaning of Love
A. Act of the Will
B. Comes Before and Goes Beyond
C. Based Upon One Fact

17. III By Demonstrating to the Body the Practice of Love
A. It is More than Kind Words

18. 1 John 3:17-18
“But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

19. III By Demonstrating to the Body the Practice of Love
A. It is More Than Kind Words
B. It is Disciplining Its Members
C. It is the Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12)

20. Matthew 7:12
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

21. IV By Warning the Body the Risks of Love

22. “To love is to make oneself vulnerable.”
C. S. Lewis

23. Someone has likened loving humans as to kissing a frog
Someone has likened loving humans as to kissing a frog. Remember the story of the princess kissing the frog?...

24. IV By Warning the Body the Risks of Love
A. Keep Kissing Frogs
B. Don’t be Timid

25. V By Pointing the Body to the Source of Love

26. “It’s impossible to fulfill Christ’s command to love
“It’s impossible to fulfill Christ’s command to love. Nothing is more opposite to human nature because all men are savage beasts at heart.”
Sigmund Freud

27. V By Pointing the Body to the Source of Love
A. Love is Lived by the Power of God
B. We are Rich Indeed

28. Conclusion and Summary
I By Impressing the Body with the Importance of Love
II By Teaching the Body the Meaning of Love
III By Demonstrating to the Body the Practice of Love
IV By Warning the Body the Risks of Love
V By Pointing the Body to the Source of Love