1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love suffers long and is kind
Love does not envy
Love does not parade itself
Love is not puffed up
Love does not behave rudely
Love does not seek its own
Love is not provoked
Love thinks no evil
Love does not rejoice in iniquity
Love rejoices in the truth
Love bears all things
Love believes all things
Love hopes all things
Love endures all things
Love never fails.”
Rather than looking for others to love us like that, let’s express the love of Jesus by showing this love to our family, our friends, and our world.
Pastor Jim
Questions for 1 Corinthians 13
- At the end of chapter 12 (which was all about the gifts of the Spirit), Paul tells the Corinthians that he is going to show them a better way to live than being focused on the gifts God gives (as awesome as they may be). As you quickly read through this chapter, what is that “more excellent way”?
- In verses 1-3, Paul shows how limited the gifts are when there is no love behind them. Speaking in tongues is a major concern in some churches (and Paul will address this more in chapter 14), but according to verse 1, what does this good gift resemble when there is no love behind it?
- People, even unbelievers, tend to put a great emphasis on knowledge. Among believers, having great faith is also admired (Matt 21:21). If I have both of these good gifts in my life but I don’t have a love for God and others, what am I?
- The most dramatic and impressive acts of selflessness, are giving of our material possessions and even our material body. Yet Paul says that our motives for doing so are not always love. What are some of the other motivations that we can have for doing things like this? What profit do we gain from doing these things when love for God and others is not our motive?
- Take a look at verses 4-7.
- Make a list of all the ways that love acts.
- 1John 4:8 tells us that God is love. Read these verses again, but substitute the word “love” with “God”. Aren’t you glad that He is this way!
- Now substitute your own name. Where do you feel you are falling short in living a life that demonstrates God’s love and character? How would living this way transform your personal relationships? Read Rom 5:5 and ask God to do this for you.
- In verses 8-10, we see some of the limitations of the gifts. What are they? Why is love superior to the gifts?
- Read verse 10-13. There is a time coming when we will see God face to face. He will not be impressed by our gifts; after all, He is the one who gave them! He will however respond to a heart that loves Him and loves others. This is all that matters. Spend some time this morning, and ask God to make love the top priority in your life.
Old Testament:
Job 11- More Or Less
Job 12- In His Hands
Jim Gallagher 