1,153, 1 Corinthians 13.
Okay.
Love.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
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 have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love,
I gain nothing.
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
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 wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
But where there are prophecies, they will cease.
Where there are tongues, they will be stilled.
Where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child.
I thought like a child.
I reasoned like a child.
When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror.
Then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part.
Then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain.
Faith, hope, and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
Thanks very much, Mary.
Well, please keep your Bibles open there to 1 Corinthians 13.
And we're going to pray.
Amen.
The greatest of these is love.
Father, please will you teach us afresh
what it is to be a loving people,
a loving church together.
Father, please show us, Father,
how we can serve one another in love
so that the church is built up in faith,
that it is motivated to reach out to our wider community,
and that together we would become the holy church of God
that you have called us to be.
Father, may everything that we look at this morning
be done in love
so that we are encouraged and strengthened.
we ask for your help to us today.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, it seems the church in Corinth
had everything they needed.
If you go back to chapter 1, verse 4,
in his introduction,
we'll see there that they had everything
that they could possibly need.
1 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 4.
I always thank God for you,
so he's thanking God for the church,
because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
For in Christ,
you have been enriched in every way.
Verse 7.
Therefore, you do not lack any spiritual gift
as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ
to be revealed.
The church in Corinth
were a very gifted church.
But for all of their gifting,
it was a church that was in a mess.
Go back to chapter 12.
It seems that whenever the church gathered together,
they were measuring their spirituality
according to their gifts.
So, if you could heal someone
or work miracles,
and especially if you could speak in tongues,
you were thought of as superior.
You were above everybody else.
You were treated with greater value.
And of course, everybody else,
those whose gifts they deemed as ordinary,
like welcoming or set up,
were considered of no value.
And you were made to feel inferior.
And this kind of thinking was destroying
and dividing the church,
and it needed to be corrected.
So look at chapter 12, verse 18.
He reminds the church
that in fact God has arranged
the parts of the body,
that is, the people within the body of Christ,
every one of them,
just as God wanted them to be.
If they were all one part,
where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts,
many gifts,
but yet one body.
So the eye cannot say to the hand,
I don't need you.
And the head cannot say to the feet,
I don't need you.
On the contrary,
those parts of the body
that seem to be weaker
are indispensable.
You see, there was to be no inferiority
and no superiority within the church body.
There is a diversity of gifts,
and they all needed one another.
You see, for all of their gifting,
and of all of their talents,
they were missing one vital ingredient.
Verse 29, chapter 12.
Are all apostles?
No.
Are all prophets?
No.
Are all teachers?
No.
Do all work miracles?
No.
Do all have gifts of healing?
No.
Do all speak in tongues?
No.
Do all interpret?
No.
But eagerly desire
the greater gifts.
So what are the greater gifts?
We'll have a look at the very end
of chapter 13.
Verse 13.
Look at the very last line.
of the greater gifts.
Of the greater gifts,
the greatest of these
is love.
You see, what we have in chapter 13
is not a nice letter
about how wonderful love is,
although it is.
It is a stern rebuke to a church
that is unloving.
He's reminding them that you have
every gift you need.
You are incredibly gifted,
but you don't have love.
Again, look at chapter 13.
Verse 1.
Chapter 13.
Verse 1.
And now I will show you
the most excellent way.
Let me show you
how love is essential
when it comes to the body of Christ.
Let me explain to you
how vital love is
when it comes to using your gifts.
He's going on to show us
how love and gifts
are inseparable.
Love doesn't replace our gifts.
It's like our gifts
must be wrapped up in love.
So we're going to look at three things
this morning in relation to our gifts
and love.
First, gifts without love
do nothing to build up the church.
Imagine we as a church
had every possible gift
we could think of.
Imagine that each one of us
had the most extraordinary
and amazing gifts
that we could ever desire.
We'll look at chapter 13.
Verse 1.
If, it's like,
imagine,
if I speak in the tongues of men
and of angels,
not just ordinary tongues
or ordinary languages,
but the tongues of angels,
some heavenly language
if it exists.
Imagine being able to speak
and pray like that.
Verse 1.
But if I have not love,
I am only a resounding gong
or a clanging cymbal.
Without love,
all I am is a dreadful,
irritating noise
to the rest of the church body.
Rather than build up the church,
I am a hindrance
to the church.
Or what about verse 2?
If I have the gift of prophecy
and can fathom all mysteries
and all knowledge,
not just the ability
to speak God's word
into people's lives,
but imagine
you had the gift
of knowing every divine secret,
all mysteries.
All mysteries.
Imagine being able
to understand
what God's plan is
in every situation.
All knowledge.
End of verse 2.
But if I have not love,
I am nothing.
Without love,
it doesn't matter
what I know
or what understanding I have,
it will be completely unhelpful
and unproductive,
I will be a waste of space
within the church
if I have not love.
Or look at the middle of verse 2.
If I have faith
that could move mountains,
imagine faith
so great
that you could uproot
Cairn, Tool and Kerry
and move it all the way
to Athlone Town.
Imagine the faith
to work amazing miracles,
to raise the dead even.
But if I have not love,
I am nothing.
Without love,
I might be able
to do amazing things,
but it will be of no value
or no worth.
Rather than build up the church,
I am nothing.
Or verse 3.
If I give all I possess
to the poor,
not just what I usually give,
but everything.
If I were to sell my house,
empty my bank account,
cash in my pension,
imagine the gift
of giving like this.
But not only that,
look at the rest of verse 3.
If I surrender my body
to the flames,
imagine you have the gift
of going to North Korea
with a box full of Bibles
and preaching the gospel
on the streets of Pyongyang
or going to ISIS territory
and speaking about Jesus
to the leaders.
Imagine you have the gift
to surrender your life
to death for Christ.
God has not loved.
But look at the end
of verse 3.
But if I have not love,
I gain nothing.
You see,
I'm quite sure we all dream
because I do.
And imagine about having
the great and spectacular gifts.
But whatever gift
has been given to us,
whatever gifts God
has determined the church
to have without love.
They're nothing.
All of our service,
all of our giving,
all of our speaking
amounts to zero,
zilch.
It does no benefit
for the church.
How sad is that?
We can be the most
busiest of people,
extremely talented.
We can have titles
and we can have roles.
We can be whatever gift
we want to have.
But without love,
we gain nothing.
And the people around us
gain nothing.
Rather than build up
the church,
it weakens,
breaks,
and divides the church.
So gifts without love
do nothing to build up
the church.
Second,
gifts motivated by love
will build up the church.
Remember,
this chapter 13
is a stern rebuke
to a church
who has every gift
but they lack love.
You see,
our love can be
so easily misplaced,
can't it?
We love ourselves
rather than loving others.
Instead of building up
the church,
we're more interested
in building up
our own egos.
So verses 4 to 7
are to be read
as a rebuke
to the church.
true love
never has its focus
on self.
It's always
focused
on others.
So it's as if
he's putting love
before us
and saying,
let's see how
our gifts,
when they are
motivated by love,
let's have a look
at what it would be
like within
the body of Christ.
And as we go through,
maybe there's one or two
you want to pick out
and pray
for God's work
in our own lives.
He breaks them
into three categories.
Love is,
verse 4,
love is patient.
Love is long
suffering
with each other.
We don't give up
on people.
Instead,
we continue
to use our gifts
to serve others
and build them up
in faith.
Love is kind.
That is,
love is gentle
towards people
who have offended us
and those who have
caused us hurt.
Rather than respond
in bitterness,
we use our gifts
to respond
with acts
of kindness.
So love is patient
and kind.
love is not.
Love does not envy.
So instead of
looking around
the church family
at the gifts of others
and wanting what
she has
or what he has,
well,
instead we give
thanks to God
and we celebrate
his good design
in the way
he's given us
a diversity of gifts.
Love does not boast.
When we serve
one another
we're not seeking
to draw attention
to ourselves.
Oh, look at me.
What great gifts
I have.
How would the church
ever survive
without me?
Well, we're not great.
God is the one
who is great
by giving us
the gifts
that we have.
Read on.
Love is not proud.
Love never says
or thinks
I don't need you
or
you know what
I can just manage
on my own.
No, we're not
independent people.
We are the body
of Christ
and each one of us
needs the other.
Love is not rude.
As we serve
we don't plough on ahead
with our own agendas.
Ignoring others
and taking over
even if
our way
might be
a little bit better.
It's not about
doing what I want
and the way
that I want.
Love
takes into consideration
others
and how our service
will bless
them.
Love is not
self-seeking.
You know
when we serve
or give
financially
or plan
an event
we don't go
looking for
people's praise
and thanks
and go
what did you
think of that?
We want
people to give
the Lord Jesus
all the glory
and praise.
Love is not
angered.
Love doesn't
lose control
or lose
its cool.
We don't
shout
or get
frustrated
or get
annoyed.
Love is
slow to
anger.
It brings
a sense
of calm
and peace
rather than
a whirlwind
full of
chaos.
Or what
about this
one?
Love does
not keep
a record
of wrongs.
love.
You see
we don't
withhold
our service
to others
because of
what they
said to
me last
week.
And we
don't think
things like
well I'm
not going
to help
you fill
in the
name
because of
the way
they treated
me all
those years
ago.
Love
covers over
a multitude
of sins.
We don't
keep records.
love does
not delight
in evil
but rejoices
with the
truth.
When we
speak to
each other
we don't
ignore
unrepentant
sin or
overlook
sinful
behaviour.
Love
speaks the
truth
gently
so as
to build
one another
up.
So love
is,
love is
not
and love
always.
love
is
look at
verse 7,
love
always
protects.
Love
is always
seeking what
is best
for the
other
person,
building
them up
rather than
tearing
them down
with our
gossip and
our
words.
Love
always
trusts.
it moves
beyond
questions
and
concerns
about
what if
that
person
won't
accept
my
gift
or
what if
they're
not
going
to
receive
my
help
or
what if
they take
my
encouragement
in the
wrong
way?
What if?
Well,
love
always gives
people the
benefit of
the doubt
and moves
towards
them
in trust.
Love
always
hopes.
It
acts
in
confidence
that God
will work
out his
purposes
and God
is ultimately
in control.
Love
uses
gifts to
reach out
to others
and
reaches
out to
building up
others in
Christ.
And
fittingly,
love
always
perseveres,
comes at
the end.
Love
always
gives.
Love
never
stops.
Love
keeps on
going no
matter the
knocks or
hardship.
Love
persists.
Love
never says
or thinks,
I'm
giving up
on you.
love
So are we
a loving
church?
Am I
a loving
person?
Put your
own name
where it
says love
in verses
four to
seven.
Just put
your own,
insert your
own name
here.
Johnny
is patient.
Johnny
is kind.
Johnny
does not
envy.
Johnny
does not
boast.
Johnny
is not
proud.
Johnny
is not
rude.
Johnny
is not
self-seeking.
Johnny
is not
easily
angered.
Johnny
keeps no
record of
wrongs.
Johnny
loves.
Or loves
does not
delight in
evil but
rejoices with
the truth.
Johnny
always
protects.
Johnny
always
trusts.
Johnny
always
hopes.
Johnny
always
perseveres.
Don't
come to
my
house.
You
see we
don't have
to go very
far along
the list
before we
all realize
how we
all need
to stop
and repent
and ask
God to
make us
more like
his son
the Lord
Jesus
the perfect
man
who truly
was
love.
We need
to stop
and ask
Lord
change
my
self-loving
heart.
Forgive
me for
not loving
as I
should.
Fill
me with
your
Holy
Spirit
that I
may love
others
as you
loved me
as you
gave your
life for
me as
you have
persisted and
pursued me
never failing
never giving
up
never keeping
a record of
my wrongs.
Lord help
me to love
with your
love.
No wonder
love is
called
the most
excellent
way.
You see
when our
gifts are
wrapped up
in love
and presented
in our service
to others
they build
up the
church.
So
gifts
without
love
do
nothing
to
build
up
the
church.
Gifts
motivated
by love
will
build
up
the
church.
And
then
third
gifts
with
love
or
gifts
wrapped
up
in
love
will
lead
the
church
to
perfection.
Have
a look
at verse
8.
love
never
fails.
Or
as some
of your
translation
will say
love
never
ends.
In
other
words
love
will
just
go
on
and
on
and
on
for
all
eternity.
But
as for
our
spiritual
gifts
that
God
has
given
to
us
and
to
his
church
look
at
the
rest
of
verse
8.
But
where
there
are
prophecies
they
will
cease
they
will
come
to
an
end
where
there
are
tongues
they
will
be
stilled
they
won't
go
on
for
eternity
where
there
is
knowledge
it
will
pass
away
for
now
we
know
in
part
and
we
prophesy
in
part
but
when
perfection
comes
the
imperfect
disappears
so
what
is
this
perfection
that
he's
talking
about
what's
the
perfection
that's
coming
and
when
will
it
come
well
I
think
it's
when
the
Lord
Jesus
is
going
to
come
again
when
he's
going
to
change
us
and
transform
us
to
be
like
Jesus
the
church
gathered
with
Christ
and
made
pure
and
holy
that's
some
of
the
things
he's
going
to
go
on
to
in
chapter
15
just
have
a
sneak
preview
chapter
15
verse
49
as
he
talks
about
the
coming
of
Christ
when
we're
resurrected
to be
with
him
look
at
what
happens
chapter
15
verse
49
just
as
we
have
born
the
likeness
of
the
earthly
man
just
as
we
are
like
Adam
full
of
sin
we
fail
so
shall
we
bear
the
likeness
of
the
man
from
heaven
one
day
the
Lord
Jesus
is
going
to
come
again
and
he
is
going
to
perfect
us
perfect
the
church
and
call
us
to
be
what
we
are
meant
to
be
back
to
chapter
12
then
we're
given
two
pictures
in
chapter
13
we're
given
two
pictures
as to
what
this
perfection
will
be
like
look
at
verse
11
chapter
13
verse
11
when
I
was
a
child
I
talked
like
a
child
I
thought
like
a
child
I
reasoned
like
a
child
when
I
became
a
man
I
put
childish
ways
behind
me
you
see
adults
do
not
behave
like
toddlers
well
we're
not
meant
to
at
least
they
mature
they
change
certain
behaviors
are
left
behind
they
grow
up
well
that's
like
our
spiritual
gifts
their
purpose
is to
grow
us
up
to
grow
the
church
body
up
so
that
we
become
the
holy
people
of
God
so
that
when
Christ
comes
again
we
will
put
childish
ways
behind
us
that
is
we
will
not
need
our
gifts
anymore
because
now
we
will
be
fully
mature
we
will
have
grown
up
we
will
be
like
Christ
he
gives
us
another
picture
in
verse
12
now
we
see
a
poor
reflection
as
in
a
mirror
then
in
the
future
when
Christ
comes
again
we
shall
see
face
to
face
now
I
think
it's
helpful
for us
to
know
that
mirrors
in
the
first
century
are
not
like
your
mirrors
today
they
were
made
of
polished
metal
so
it's
a
bit
like
looking
at
yourself
on
a
biscuit
tin
lid
do you
remember
doing
that
and
all
the
funny
shapes
you
could
get
you
could
see
your
reflection
but
it's
not
very
clear
it's
all
a
little
bit
hazy
well
God
has
given
spiritual
gifts
to us
and to
the
church
to
help
us
know
God
more
to
get
a
clear
vision
a
picture
of
who
God
is
but
for
all
our
gifts
and
for
all
our
knowledge
of
God
our
understanding
and our
clarity
of
God
is
all
still
a
little
bit
hazy
it's
like
looking
into
a
metal
mirror
it's
not
quite
clear
we
can
have
the
greatest
teachers
we
can
have
the
best
theologians
we
can
be
able
to
communicate
and
understand
all
kinds
of
things
about
God
but
we
will
not
know
him
fully
but
when
Christ
come
we
will
not
need
our
gifts
anymore
for
we
will
see
God
and
know
God
fully
look at
verse 12
we will
see
as to
face
to
face
look at
the end
of verse 12
now I
know
in part
then I
shall know
fully
even
as I
am
fully
known
just
think
about
that
just
as
God
knows
us
fully
and
intimately
now
he
knows
us
completely
a
day
is
going
to
come
when
we
will
know
and
experience
God
in
all
his
fullness
because
we
will
be
like
him
so
our
gifts
wrapped
in
love
are
leading
us
towards
our
final
goal
the
perfection
of the
church
and
when
that
day
comes
when
Christ
comes
again
we
will
not
need
our
gifts
anymore
no matter
how
spectacular
they are
instead
as a
church
gathered
with
Christ
we
will
live
in
a
life
of
eternal
love
look
at the
end of
chapter
13
verse
13
and
now
he
says
these
three
remain
faith
are
faith
today
is
in
Christ
trusting
that
his
death
is
sufficient
to
deal
with
all
our
sin
and
guarantee
our
future
with
him
hope
because
of the
resurrection
of
Christ
from the
dead
we look
forward
with
absolute
assurance
that
one
day
we
will
be
with
him
love
as
we
wait
for
Christ
return
we
seek
to
love
each
other
and
love
God
with
all
the
gifts
that
we
have
been
given
but
the
greatest
of
these
is
love
you
see
when
Christ
returns
not
only
will
we
not
need
any
of
our
spiritual
gifts
but
we
will
no
longer
need
the
gift
of
faith
we
will
no
longer
need
the
gift
of
hope
instead
we
will
have
the
gift
of
love
for
we
will
love
God
perfectly
and
we
will
love
each
other
perfectly
we
will
never
get
annoyed
with
each
other
we
will
never
fail
each
other
we
will
never
wrong
each
other
we
will
experience
the
love
of
God
and
the
love
towards
each
other
in
all
its
fullness
for
love
never
ends
so
until
we
get
there
let
us
take
the
gifts
that
God
has
given
us
to
each
one
individually
let
us
wrap
them
up
in
love
and
let
us
serve
one
another
as
we
look
forward
to
our
final
goal
the
perfection
of
the
church
may
God
help
us
to
love
as
he
loved
us
let's
pray
father
thank you
for
showing
us
through
your
words
what
love
is
like
father
would
you
please
forgive
us
for
the
times
we
do
not
love
as
we
should
and
so
we
come
to
you
not
only
asking
for
forgiveness
but
asking
for
your
enabling
for
the
transformation
of our
lives
filling
us
with
your
spirit
that
we
would
serve
one
another
in
love
that
we
would
do
everything
in
love
so
that
the
church
is
built
up
so
that
we
together
reach
that
goal
of
one
day
being
presented
as
perfect
before
Christ
father
help us
to
keep
going
to
persevere
just
as
love
never
fails
may
we
never
fail
in
our
desire
to
reach
that
goal
we
pray
it
in
Jesus
name
amen
love
divine
or
love
excelling
it's
an old
hymn
but a
great
hymn
that
reminds
us
of
that
amazing
love
of
God
come
down
to
us
to
change
us
let
me
just
take
you
to
the
very
last
verse
finish
then
thy
new
creation
pure
and
spotless
let
us
be
let
us
see
thy
great
salvation
perfectly
restored
in thee
changed
from
glory
into
glory
till
in
heaven
we
take
our
place
till
we
cast
our
crowns
before
thee
lost
in
wonder
love
and
praise
that's
the
perfection
God
is
one
day
going
to
bring
us
where
we
are
chained
from
glory
into
glory
let's
stand
as we
sing