True Love

INTRODUCTION

1 Corinthians 13 is a wonderful portrait of Christ. Put Christ in place of charity throughout the chapter and you will have a blessed study.

The aim of this sermon is to get Christians to love one another. Love is the life-blood of a church. Many are torn apart because of a lack of love. Our Saviour’s prediction in Matthew 24:12 has come true - "Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold".

The word for love in this chapter is ’agape’. It means unconditional love.

1. LOVE IS VALUABLE

1 Corinthians 14:1 "Follow after charity"

Paul tells us to pursue love with the same fervour he had when he pursued Christians to persecute them.

2. LOVE IS VISIBLE

Love is not a gushy feeling. In this chapter Paul uses verbs rather than adjectives. In other words, love is about what we do not about how we feel. Love is a decision, not an emotion.

3. LOVE IS VITAL

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity".

4. LOVE IS VIABLE

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

We can love our fellow believers because of Christ’s love for us.

O Breath of love, come breathe within us,

Renewing thought and will and heart;

Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win us,

Revive Thy church in every part.