I Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If 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. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

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

8Love 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. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When 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. 12Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 

The beauty of I Corinthians 13 is the love spoken of, in what is arguably the most beautiful chapter of all the Scripture.

 

 

LOVE’S MATCHLESS VALUE:                                                                                                  vv. 1-3

 

1.         Beautiful speech .                                                                                    v.1

 

2.         Unparalleled scholarship .                                                                         v.2

 

All learning without Jesus Christ is just splendid ignorance.

                                                                  –John Wesley

 

3.         Bold faith .                                                                                        v.2

 

 

All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another (John 13:35).

 

 

4.         Complete sacrifice .                                                                                  v.3

 

 

LOVE’S MARVELOUS VIRTUES:                                                                                              vv. 4-7

 

1.   Patience .  love is patient                                                                            v.4

 

2.   Kindness .   love is kind                                                                                v.4

 

3.   Sincerity .   love doesn’t envy                                                                       v.4

 

4.   Humble .  love doesn’t boast                                                                    v.4

 

5.   Courteous .  love is not rude                                                                          v.5

 

6.   Control .   love is not self-seeking                                                              v.5

 

 

7.   Forgiveness .  love keeps no record of wrongs                                           vv.5-6

 

8.   Optimism .    love always hopes                                                                   v. 7