1. Ecclesiastes 3:8 1

2. First and great command, Matt. 22:37-38 First and great command, Matt. 22:37-38 Must love one another, 1 Jno. 4:20-21 Must love one another, 1 Jno. 4:20-21 Essential part of obeying truth, 1 Pet. 1:22 Essential part of obeying truth, 1 Pet. 1:22 “Put on love” to bind together the body of Christ, Col. 3:14 “Put on love” to bind together the body of Christ, Col. 3:14 Division and carnality grows out of a failure to know and live in love, Eph. 5:2 Division and carnality grows out of a failure to know and live in love, Eph. 5:2 2 Love: The “More Excellent Way” 1 Cor. 12:31; 13:1-13

3. THE MOTIVES OF LOVE 1 Cor. 13:1-3 3

4. Love is a Decision of the Will that Motivates Every Action, 13:1-3 Emotional attraction, fleshly pleasure and sinful actions are not love (agape) Emotional attraction, fleshly pleasure and sinful actions are not love (agape) Agape seeks the highest good of another Agape seeks the highest good of another – “Unconquerable benevolence; undefeatable good will” (Wm. Barclay) – Context: Use of spiritual gifts without love gives them a shallow, hollow ring; only noise – Corinthian problem: Misuse of gifts was unloving 4

5. Love is a Decision of the Will that Motivates Every Action, 13:1-3 We must stop merely saying we love – we must start showing we love, 1 Jno. 3:16-18; Eph. 3:17-19 We must stop merely saying we love – we must start showing we love, 1 Jno. 3:16-18; Eph. 3:17-19 Sacrifice, service and spiritual growth must be driven by love for… Sacrifice, service and spiritual growth must be driven by love for… – God, Matt. 22:37-38; Jno. 14:15 – Neighbors, Matt. 22:39 – Brethren, Rom. 12:9-10 – Family, Eph. 6:1-4 – Enemies, Matt. 5:44 5

6. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE 1 Cor. 13:4-7 6 Traits

7. Love is Active, not Indifferent 1 Cor. 13:4: Longsuffering: long-tempered, Col. 3:12 Longsuffering: long-tempered, Col. 3:12 Kind: Good, not caustic and bitter, Eph. 4:32 Kind: Good, not caustic and bitter, Eph. 4:32 Does not envy: “heated hatred”; displeasure over the advantages of others, 1 Pet. 2:1 Does not envy: “heated hatred”; displeasure over the advantages of others, 1 Pet. 2:1 Does not brag (parade itself): boastful wounding of others, causing unrest and discord, 1 Ths. 4:11 Does not brag (parade itself): boastful wounding of others, causing unrest and discord, 1 Ths. 4:11 Is not puffed up: Inflated opinion of one’s own importance; not conceited, Rom. 12:16 Is not puffed up: Inflated opinion of one’s own importance; not conceited, Rom. 12:16 7

8. Love is Active, not Indifferent 1 Cor. 13:5: Is not rude: Does not behave disgracefully, dishonorably or indecently; mannerly, 2 Cor. 8:21 Is not rude: Does not behave disgracefully, dishonorably or indecently; mannerly, 2 Cor. 8:21 Is not selfish: “Does not seek its own”; looks out for others instead of self, Phil. 2:4 Is not selfish: “Does not seek its own”; looks out for others instead of self, Phil. 2:4 Is not provoked: Not irritated (sharpness of spirit), does not have a chip on its shoulder, Eph. 4:31 Is not provoked: Not irritated (sharpness of spirit), does not have a chip on its shoulder, Eph. 4:31 Thinks no evil: Does not keep a running score of offenses with a view toward revenge; Eph. 4:32 Thinks no evil: Does not keep a running score of offenses with a view toward revenge; Eph. 4:32 8

9. Love is Active, not Indifferent 1 Cor. 13:6: Does not rejoice in iniquity: Love cannot find pleasure in sin Does not rejoice in iniquity: Love cannot find pleasure in sin – Love is grieved by sin and works to overcome it, Eph. 5:11; 1 Pet. 4:8 Rejoices in the truth: Absolute truth, gospel truth; love is honest and virtuous Rejoices in the truth: Absolute truth, gospel truth; love is honest and virtuous – Takes joy in the truth of God, Eph. 4:15 9

10. Love is Active, not Indifferent 1 Cor. 13:7: Bears all things: Bears up under trouble; protects and preserves, Gal. 6:2 Bears all things: Bears up under trouble; protects and preserves, Gal. 6:2 Believes all things: Not suspicious, thinks the best (in contrast to 1 Tim. 6:4) Believes all things: Not suspicious, thinks the best (in contrast to 1 Tim. 6:4) Hopes all things: Looks for the best in others and acts in ways to try to bring it out, Phil. 1:15-18 Hopes all things: Looks for the best in others and acts in ways to try to bring it out, Phil. 1:15-18 Endures all things: Steadfast endurance through whatever circumstance life brings, Jas. 1:12 Endures all things: Steadfast endurance through whatever circumstance life brings, Jas. 1:12 10

11. THE PERMANENCE OF LOVE 1 Cor. 13:8-13 11 Permanent

12. Superiority of Love L OVE NEVER FAILS, 13:8 L OVE NEVER FAILS, 13:8 Miraculous spiritual gifts were temporary; love is permanent, 13:8 Miraculous spiritual gifts were temporary; love is permanent, 13:8 – Miraculous gifts were never intended to be permanent, 13:9-10 – Contrast of partial (gifts) and complete (result) – Partial and complete illustrated, 13:11-12: Childhood v. adulthood Childhood v. adulthood Mirror v. face to face Mirror v. face to face 12 Love Never Fails! 1 Cor. 13:13