A LOVING CHURCH
1 Corinthians 13
Love is long-suffering, helpful, generous, humble, tactful and selfless.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
A. Love is not easily provoked. (1 Corinthians 13:5) Genuine love does not allow irritability or bitterness to creep in and mar its motivation or expression. Love looks beyond a person’s sin and reaches out to meet his/her needs. (James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8)
B. Love does not take into account a wrong suffered (1 Corinthians 13:5c). Love does not record or store up wrongs committed against it, unexpressed resentments over offenses suffered will lend to a devious relationship filled with bitterness and devoid of love. (Matthew 18:21-35). In such an atmosphere fellowship cannot thrive, much less exist. Forgiveness must occur before fellowship can be experienced.
C. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. (1 Corinthians 13:6a). Christian love neither finds pleasure in nor sympathizes with the wickedness done by other. Love is wounded and grieved when sin performs it s work of destruction (Ephesians 4:29 –31)
D. Love rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6b) Love and truth are close companions. One cannot exist without the other. When people sincerely love each other they are honest and open about their thoughts and feelings. Truth spoken in love can sometimes be difficult to handle. (Proverbs 27:6). It’s better to be bruised by the trustworthy words of a caring friend than to be flattered by deceitful compliments of a self-serving friend.
E. Love bears all things – (1 Corinthians 13:7A) Bears means to cover, so as to protect, shield or support something. Real love withstands the blows and attacks of others. A relationship glued by love does not suffer irreparable damage when one does not return the love given.
F. Love believes all things (1 Corinthians 13:7b). Love is trusting not suspicious or narrow. Love gives people the benefit of the doubt; makes every allowance for their failure.
G. Love hopes all things (1 Corinthians 13:7b). True love anticipates and seeks the best in others. It never gives up. Has confidence in God’s ability to change people.
H. Love endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7c) Love has the determination and courage to press on when facing humanly insurmountable obstacles. Love refuses to quit or retreat.
Ancient Greeks expressed the three levels of love by three different words: 1. Eros 2. Philia 3. Agape
Eros is a getting or gimme kind of love. Normally only a baby does all the taking, but he must take before he can give. This kind of love demands the spotlight. Decisions must go your way. His/her emotional needs must be satisfied no matter who gets hurt. Don’t overlook this group. Isaiah 49:15. He/She will destroy your church.
Philia love is the level of give and take. Friendship usually, not always functions on this level. Each person ministers to the needs of another person and is ministered to in return. Husband and wives recognize mutual obligations in their physical relationships. 1 Corinthians 7:3 - 6. Much church membership functions on this level. Members appear at church; their appearance has status value to the church. They deposit an envelope in the plate, the amount may bear no relationship to their income, but it fulfills an obligation. When they leave church, the minister greets them by name. His pleasant greeting strokes their egos. They meet a friend, more ego strokes. They leave and their church life ends for another week. (Job 19:9; Micah 7:5)
Agape love finds satisfaction in loving without limit. It does not measure giving. Agape love stands ready to serve without thought of return. Those who need receive, those who have give. Romans 15:1; John 15:12-13; Romans 5:8
1 Corinthians 13
Love is long-suffering, helpful, generous, humble, tactful and selfless.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
A. Love is not easily provoked. (1 Corinthians 13:5) Genuine love does not allow irritability or bitterness to creep in and mar its motivation or expression. Love looks beyond a person’s sin and reaches out to meet his/her needs. (James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8)
B. Love does not take into account a wrong suffered (1 Corinthians 13:5c). Love does not record or store up wrongs committed against it, unexpressed resentments over offenses suffered will lend to a devious relationship filled with bitterness and devoid of love. (Matthew 18:21-35). In such an atmosphere fellowship cannot thrive, much less exist. Forgiveness must occur before fellowship can be experienced.
C. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. (1 Corinthians 13:6a). Christian love neither finds pleasure in nor sympathizes with the wickedness done by other. Love is wounded and grieved when sin performs it s work of destruction (Ephesians 4:29 –31)
D. Love rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6b) Love and truth are close companions. One cannot exist without the other. When people sincerely love each other they are honest and open about their thoughts and feelings. Truth spoken in love can sometimes be difficult to handle. (Proverbs 27:6). It’s better to be bruised by the trustworthy words of a caring friend than to be flattered by deceitful compliments of a self-serving friend.
E. Love bears all things – (1 Corinthians 13:7A) Bears means to cover, so as to protect, shield or support something. Real love withstands the blows and attacks of others. A relationship glued by love does not suffer irreparable damage when one does not return the love given.
F. Love believes all things (1 Corinthians 13:7b). Love is trusting not suspicious or narrow. Love gives people the benefit of the doubt; makes every allowance for their failure.
G. Love hopes all things (1 Corinthians 13:7b). True love anticipates and seeks the best in others. It never gives up. Has confidence in God’s ability to change people.
H. Love endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7c) Love has the determination and courage to press on when facing humanly insurmountable obstacles. Love refuses to quit or retreat.
Ancient Greeks expressed the three levels of love by three different words: 1. Eros 2. Philia 3. Agape
Eros is a getting or gimme kind of love. Normally only a baby does all the taking, but he must take before he can give. This kind of love demands the spotlight. Decisions must go your way. His/her emotional needs must be satisfied no matter who gets hurt. Don’t overlook this group. Isaiah 49:15. He/She will destroy your church.
Philia love is the level of give and take. Friendship usually, not always functions on this level. Each person ministers to the needs of another person and is ministered to in return. Husband and wives recognize mutual obligations in their physical relationships. 1 Corinthians 7:3 - 6. Much church membership functions on this level. Members appear at church; their appearance has status value to the church. They deposit an envelope in the plate, the amount may bear no relationship to their income, but it fulfills an obligation. When they leave church, the minister greets them by name. His pleasant greeting strokes their egos. They meet a friend, more ego strokes. They leave and their church life ends for another week. (Job 19:9; Micah 7:5)
Agape love finds satisfaction in loving without limit. It does not measure giving. Agape love stands ready to serve without thought of return. Those who need receive, those who have give. Romans 15:1; John 15:12-13; Romans 5:8
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