The world doesn’t understand theology and dogma, but it does understand love. While Jesus was teaching, He made the point that out of all 613 Jewish laws, the greatest is love. Paul loved the church in Corinth, and cared about her well-being since he planted her there on a missionary journey. Unfortunately, they were “baby Christians” who were making some really poor choices. He writes this letter to them as a correction. He starts the letter by saying that they are not living as Christians, but he reminds them that their identity is in Christ.

1 Corinthians 13 is known as the “love book” of the Bible. It is important to note that the book comes in the middle of a teaching about spiritual gifts. Chapter 12:31 calls it “a more excellent way”. Love empowers the gifts to be used powerfully in the body.

Verse 4 – patient and kind – even-tempered and gentle…as a gentleman.

Verses 5-6 say what love is NOT.

Doesn’t envy or boast – “to boil for someone else’s stuff”,

Is not arrogant or rude – puffed up with hollowness

Keeps no record of wrongs – this is an accounting term

Does not rejoice in wrong-doing – the world celebrates when someone falls

Love does bear ALL, believe ALL, hopes ALL, and endures ALL.

There are 15 verbs in this passage, which shows us that love is an act of the will. There will be many times that we do not feel like loving well. The love of Christ comes from an abiding (remaining) in Christ. When we remain in Christ, it is natural to love. You are aware of His Word.

Our memory verse for the week is 1 Cor. 13:13, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Faith eventually becomes sight. Hope becomes a reality. Love, only love, remains. It is the character of God, and the most important.

The church is a continuation of the incarnation. Let us represent His love well to others.

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