2. “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” 1 Cor. 12:31

3. 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.

4. Love is the greatest 8 ¶ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

5. Love is the greatest 11. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

6. Limits or qualifies a noun Feeling or showing love Like a person in love Greatly enjoys Modifies meaning of a verb In manner of a lover Loverlike Like a loving person Love is a noun = describes a Christian Love is a verb = expresses action of love

8. 1 Cor. 13:1-3 All else minus love = Zero  Eloquence  Faith  Good Deeds We need LOVE in order to live “A baby does not live by milk alone” Without love life is nothing

9. We are biologically predetermined toward love. Why? God is Love ! We are made in His Image. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” I Jn. 4:8 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him;” Gen. 1:27

10. 1 Cor. 13:4-7 1.Patience - endure without murmuring 2.Kindness - gracious and good 3.Generosity - is not jealous 4.Humility - absence of pride 5.Courtesy - not rude to anyone 6.Unselfishness - does not insist on own way 7.Good temper - not quick to get angry 8.Guilessness - Love holds no grudges

11. I Jn.4:20-21 “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21. And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. If we think we love God, we must first know that we love our brother !

12. 1 Cor. 13:4-7 “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.” Sincerity = genuine love for the truth of God Hypocrisy is the opposite of genuine love. “If you love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15

13. 1 Cor. 13:4-7 1.Spiritual Strength = “bears all things” 2.Open Mindedness = “believes all things” 3.Optimism = “hopes all things” 4.Faithfulness = “endures all things”

14. 1 Cor. 13:8-13 It is permanent Spiritual gifts are temporary Were necessary for a while It is the greatest Faith, Hope, Love - essential in the church Love will continue after faith and hope Love will endure because God is love

15. Love When properly applied Love God with all the heart, soul and mind. Love neighbor as self

16. 1 Corinthians 13 is a portrait of Love Portrait of Jesus Christ Because He is Love Christ would like to reproduce His portrait in us and to have His church be a collection of reprints.

17. We can describe how it functions. 1 Cor. 13:4-7 describes how love acts Loverly means like, characteristic of, or in the manner of a lover.

18. Perfect Love - 1 John 4:16-18  God is love  Dwell in love  Dwell in God “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” v.17

19. Describes how we ought to live and it is… “The More Excellent Way.” 1 Corinthians 13 is the chapter on Love 1 Corinthians 14:1 “Follow after charity” - KJV “Follow the way of love” - NIV “Pursue love” - NKJV “Let love be your greatest aim” - LNT “Follow the Loving Way” - SEB

21. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Evening November 17, 2013