Intro. Talk about a church with problems: immorality, irreverence in worship, infighting - church at Corinth

A.Solution in I Corinthians required correction in two areas:
1. Correction of erroneous concepts
2. Correction of bad attitudes: Which chapter? 13

B. Three main points in 1 Corinthians 13:
1. (vs. 1-3) Any work without love = nothing
2. (vs. 4-7) Qualities of true love
3. (vs. 9-13) Superiority of love because of it's permanence

I. Any Work Without Love is nothing (vs 1-3)
A. Works which mean nothing without love:
1. Tongues (a tape recorder incapable of love) (vs 1);
2. prophecy (vs 2);
3. give goods to poor
4. body to be burned (vs3)

B. Churches feel good about works: radio program, personal work problem, stand for truth -all well and good.
1. But if there is no real mutual concern among brethren, the congregation is a failure!
2. Yes, they meet on Sundays, but sometimes relationships never go beyond chit chat:
"How you" family? nice weather
3. It's essential to share our homes, share personal lives, etc.: Must be a priority!
4. It's not enough to be sound on modern "issues of the day."

II. Qualities of True Love (vs 4-7) (Opposite: selfishness)
A. Suffers long (patient) the more love there is, the more patience
1.. Best example: Jesus with apostles
a. They argued, "Who's the greatest?" "Send fire from heaven." they abandoned Jesus
2. Today we msut deal with Brethren with different personalities
a. Some are hyper back slappers, others quiet contemplative

B. kind (synonyms: gentle, tender, BENIGN, non threatening)
1. A benign tumor is not threatening
2. some brethren are feared (Argentina, threats, intimidation
3. It's possible to have strong convictions and yet be gentle
a. some brethren correct only by blasting others
b. others correct but in love (Irven Lee is an example I remember)

C. Does not envy (not jealous)
1. Some Preachers feel they have "my territory"
2. Sometimes when you praise others for songleading, cooking, etc. others become jealous.

D. Does not parade self (does not boast, brag)
1. Most do not boast openly, but indirectly
a. Titles: Reverend. Pulpit Minister, Doctor. "Full time preacher,"
b. Showing off: quote excessively from memory, sing to "show off."
c. excessive talk of achievements

E. Is not puffed up (literally, inflated) It is the attitude that produces the parading mentioned previously
1. So important, ladies at opera, "God's gift to k'dom
2. We're but worms before the creator

F. Does not behave rudely, (unbecomingly)
1. Barnes: takes into consideration effect on others
2. When frustrated some say, "I don't care what anybody thinks"
3. It sometimes feels good to "blast" error. Love says "how will this effect others?"

G. Does not seek its own (this involves the very definition of love)
1. Self interprets everything on basis ofhow it effects me
2. One elder said when another resigned, "he resigned so I couldn't be elder." Wasn't concerned for the congregation.

H. Not easily provoked (irritated)
1. When sunburned, we don't want to be touched
2. Some are always offended: "walk on eggshells"
a. problem - self centered
b. solution -learn to concern selves with others
3. If you are always offended, feel others out to get you, the problem is probably that you haven't learned to love and be concerned for others. Work on that selfishness.

I. Thinks no evil (puts best possible construction. on actions of others)
1. Selfishness, fault finding "he just does it for the money" "He wants to be top daddy"
2. love, waits until no other alternatives before accepting bad motives.

J. Does not rejoice in iniquity (context implies seeing problems (iniquity) in others with whom we've disagreed.
1. Selfishness says, "Ha... see problems?" "If he'd just listened to me...

K. But in truth (seeing success even among those with whom we have disagreed) can say, "glad things worked out"

L. Bears all things (orig. word means to cover, conceal) perhaps the idea is that love keeps secrets
1. All have skeletons, love covers even in problems
2. Sometimes "skeletons" remain concealed until there are problems.

M. Believes all things: Accepts explanations whenever possible

N. Hopes all things (things work for good) not vengeful

O. Endures all things (ultimate test) God's love is infinite
1. Can we go on caring, working for well being in spite of problems, hurt.

III. Love Permanent, Gifts Temporary (vs 8-13)
A. Gifts were going to pass away with the coming of the perfect (vs 8-10)
1. Verse 9 refers to partial revelation.
2. Context therefore indications that the perfect (complete) also refers to revelation
3. The spiritual gifts, over which they were losing their love, were temporary. Love is permanent. Therefore they should always give more emphasis to love, even than the spiritual gifts.

B. Gifts for infancy (vs 11-13) not like faith, hope
1. pacifiers are of great importance for a crying infant.
2. But they're out of place for adults.

C. Love greater than faith or hope.

D. What lasts is of much greater value than what is temporary

E. Today brethren lose their love over temporary items: money, buildings, etc.
1. How tragic if they lose their souls eternally, fighting over temporary material items that will all be burned up.

Concl. Are you a loving person? You can only learn it truly from God