1 Corinthians 13

Question:
As Christians, who should we try to model our lives after?
    – Jesus, right?

Question:
What is one word that describes the attitude of Jesus?
    – Love.                         – Forgiveness.
    – Obedience.              – Strength.
    – Wisdom.                   – Compassion.
    – Determination.      – Service.
    – Holiness.                  – Purity.

Question:
What do the previous 2 questions tell us?
    – In order to be like Jesus, we should
      make love our most obvious characteristic.
      Question:
      Why?
          – Because when love is present, there is a greater
            possibility of having the other characteristics.

Question:
Is it easier to give, or receive love?

Question:
Is there a greater desire to give, or receive love?

Question:
To whom should we express love?
    – Everyone, and of course, God.

      Question:
      How can we express love toward God?

Question:
What is a prerequisite for loving God?
    – Love others.

      Question:
      Why?
          – If we don’t have the capacity to love those we
            can see, how can we love someone we can’t see.

Question:
What are our benefits in expressing love?
    – We develop a closer relationship with God.

Question:
How did Jesus express love?
    – He died for our sins.
    – He took the time to listen to others.
      Jesus never said, “I’m too busy right now”
      (we should learn from His example).
      Before we ever say something like,
      “I can’t listen to you right now”,
      we need to think about how we would
      feel if someone said that to us.
            Someone says to us, “I don’t have time”,
            but we hear, “You are not important”.
            (Jesus never said that, because He considered
            everyone important, regardless of the activities
            that were demanding His attention and time),

Question:
How does love affect a relationship?
      – It creates a healthier connection (relationship)
        with someone else, doesn’t it?
        Question:
        Why?
            – Because we know someone cares more
              about us than just a casual friendship.
              We know that someone respects us, and
              will be there for us when we need them
              (even if we just need someone to
              listen – someone we can trust)

Question:
How does the lack of love affect a relationship?
      – The relationship won’t grow, will it?

Question:
What are some by-products of love?
(think about the ones that are important to you)

Question:
What are some results of the lack of love?
    – Anger                             – Loneliness
    – Emotional illness        – Lack of confidence
    – Discouragement         – Low self-esteem

1 CORINTHIANS 12:
VERSE 31:
Paul encouraged the Corinthians to seek gifts,
but he implies here, that the gifts alone are not enough.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:
VERSE 1:
Paul implies that love is the catalyst which
causes gifts to become active and useful;
he says that speaking in tongues is no more
than rambling, unless love is involved.

VERSE 2:
Paul says that even the gifts of prophecy, great knowledge,
and strong faith, are of no value unless love is included.

VERSE 3:
Paul says that being a good citizen, or making great
sacrifices, are of no benefit to the person without love.

Question:
Can someone give to the poor without having love?

    Question:
    How?
        – To get them to leave them alone.
        – To pacify any guilt in themselves.

Question:
Can someone make sacrifices without having love?

    Question:
    How?
         – They can have selfish motives
            that fulfill their personal desires.
            (Example:
             Someone may do some yard work for a
             wealthy person for free, but they are in
             hopes that they will be paid handsomely
             for their efforts)
              Note:
                  Jesus would never be dishonest in any way.

VERSE 4:
Paul starts to list the characteristics of love:
    – Patience (Question: Why is it listed first?).
    – Kindness
    – Does not envy (is not jealous)
    – Does not boast (is not conceited)
    – Is not proud
      Question:
      Can we have pride without being a proud person?
          – Sure. We can have pride in doing the best job
            we can do. Paul is talking about an egotistical
            and arrogant pride.

VERSE 5:
    – Is not rude
      (is not ill-mannered; considers everyone important)
    – Is not self-seeking (is not selfish)
    – Is not easily angered (is not irritable)
    – Keeps no record of wrongs;
      Note:
          Keeping no record of wrongs could mean:
              – Does not hold a grudge, and/or
                 is not pre-occupied with sinful thoughts
                 (does not continually think of past sins)

VERSE 6:
    – Does not delight in evil
      (is not happy with sin in themselves, or anyone else)
    – Rejoices with the truth.
      (is an honest person who is happy with telling the truth;
      does not feel the need to exaggerate in order to impress
      others. Note: exaggerating is being dishonest)

VERSE 7:
    – Always protects (Question: Protects who/what?)
    – Always trusts (Question: Trusts who/what?)
    – Always hopes
      (maintains hope – even in the worst circumstances)
    – Always perseveres (faces adversity with patience)

VERSE 8:
    – Never fails (will always seek the RIGHT thing to do)

Paul says that the need for gifts will fade,
but love will always be needed, and will always be there,
    OR
he is saying that we may lose our gifts
if we can’t develop love in our lives.

VERSE 13:
Paul says love is the most important of these three.

    Question:
    Why?
        – Probably because when we have love,
          by default, we also have the others.

    Question:
    Faith in who, or what?
        – Faith in God, in people, and in God’s work.

    Question:
    Hope?
        – A confidence that God will provide whatever
          we need, when we need it;
          and a willingness to accept it (even if it is
          not what we expected, or were hoping for).

LOVE CHART
NOTE:
    Grade ourselves mentally (Always, Usually, Seldom, Never)
        – I act kindly.
        – I can put up with a lot.
        – I am happy for the success of others.
        – I practice humility.
        – I maintain an even temper.
        – I can give up my own plans and ideas for the sake of others.
        – I am ready to believe the best about other people.
        – I am loyal to the truth.
        – I remain hopeful.
        – I can endure in a faithful relationship even in hard times.

SUMMARY:
    – Love should be the motive for all our actions
      (the things we do, the things we say,
       and our overall attitudes).

    – As Christians, love should be the guiding force
      in our relationships with other people.

    – Love focuses on the one who is loved
      rather than on the one who loves.
      In other words, when we love, we are more concerned
      about how we express love toward others, than
      we are about how they express their love toward us.

    – Love helps us to avoid
      the sins of jealousy, envy, and arrogant pride.

    – Love lasts forever, it gets stronger with use,
      and we can’t use it up (it is an unlimited supply).

CHALLENGE:
    – Make an effort this week to express love toward:
    – Someone you don’t particularly care for.
    – Someone you like.
    – A stranger.
    – God.
    – All four.