1. It’s All About Love 5 th July 2015

3. The City of Corinth Regarded the most influential city of Greece. The population = 650,000 250,000 free citizens and 400,000 slaves. A major center of commerce - wealthy and very materialistic. Great interest in Greek philosophy and wisdom. Very religious —at least 12 temples were located there. Con’t next slide

4. The City of Corinth The most infamous of these temples was dedicated to Aphrodite Another temple dedicated to Apollo City was notorious for its immorality. A new Greek verb was eventually coined: to “Corinthianize” meant to practice sexual immorality.

5. 1 Corinthians 13 Verse 1-3 And yet I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues [a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, [b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.ab

6. 4 areas that Paul highlighted whereby Corinth Christians consider very important: 1.Gift of tongues speaking 2.Gift of prophecy and knowledge 3.Faith 4.Generosity and sacrifice

7. If I speak in the tongues [a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.a If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, Gift of tongues speaking  Without love, it is nothing. Gift of prophecy and knowledge  Without love, it is nothing.

8. and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, [b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.b FAITH  Without love, it is nothing. Generosity and sacrifice  Without love, it is nothing.

9. Essentially, Paul was saying:  Why are you, Corinth Christians, be so consumed with issues that aren’t as important as the pursuit of love. What’s the point of bickering over who has more/better spiritual gifts or knowledge?

10. Love needs to permeate throughout our fellowship in EVERYTHING we do! Love will feed into every aspect of our Christian lives.

12. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

13. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 More corrective in nature. Paul’s intention was to shape this description of love to fit into the crisis in Corinth.

14. Paul’s description of love has 3 simple parts. What love is… – Patience – Kind What love always does… – It rejoice with the truth – It always protects – It always trusts – It always hopes – It always perseveres What love is not… – 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 wrong – It does not delight in evil

15. If we can put Paul’s intent with this paraphrase: Love is patient and kind, unlike you Corinthians in the way you treat each other. Love is not jealous, as you folks are. Love is not boastful, like you are. And so forth and so on…

16. What are the qualities of love that is lacking in our church to build a sense of family? What qualities of love do we fall short in handling conflicts, misunderstanding, sins, hurts and disappointment? What quality of love is necessary for us to share our faith?

17. Kendama