2. “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13)

3. 2 Formative Features “…Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (1 Co 8:1) 1. Love Builds

4. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. 2. Love Binds 2 Formative Features

5. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Col 3:12-14, NIV) 2. Love Binds 2 Formative Features

6. Love in Ancient Greece: 1.Eros – Sexual Attraction 2.Philia – Brotherly Love 3.Storge – Natural Affection 4.Agape – Sacrificial Love

7. Love in Ancient Greece: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:35)

8. 1. Love is Enriching “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge

9. 1. Love is Enriching and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Co 13:1-3)

10. 1. Love is Enriching Important Truth: Love makes Ministry Meaningful. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Eph 4:11-12)

11. 2. Love is Edifying “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self- seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

12. 2. Love is Edifying Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Co 13:4-7)

13. 2. Love is Edifying “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Rom 12:10) Important Truth: People matter to God.

14. 2. Love is Edifying “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Php 2:3-4)

15. 3. Love is Enduring “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

16. 3. Love is Enduring When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.

17. 3. Love is Enduring Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Co 13:8-13)

18. 1. Treasure People

19. 2. Demonstrate Care “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (Jas 2:15-17)

20. 3. Yield to The Spirit “Do not get drunk on wine…Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18 NIV)