Love

Like most good books the Bible has a theme. If I were to ask you what the theme of the Bible is how would you respond?

I agree there are many themes that could apply to the Word of God, but I would offer you this morning that the main theme is Love. The word "love" appears in the Bible in its various forms a different number of times depending on the translation. Here are some counts from different versions:

King James Version (KJV): 310 times, the New International Version also known as the NIV: 551 times, in the English Standard Version or ESVas you may know it: 684 times, the translation that I preach from, the New King James Version : 361 times, in the New American Standard Version you see it: 348 times and in the New Living Translation a whopping : 898 times.

So, it’s pretty easy to see that this word love, that often times we use too loosley is a pretty big deal to God. And with that said this morning our text will be a very familiar piece of scripture to many of you. It will come from Pauls letter to the Church at Corinth, and is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-13. If you would please turn there and in a moment as you are able would you please stand for the reading of God’s Holy Word.

But before we look at our text, do you know why Paul was writing this letter to the Church? It was because why he was in Ephesus he had heard of troubles in the church. And Paul being Paul could not let that go.

(slide 2) Listen to some of the troubles that were happening:

• Some were becoming more loyal to the pastor than God.

• He urged them to avoid law suits.

• To flee from sexual immorality.

• To dress inoffenslivey for public worship.

• To respect the spirtual gifts of others.

• To conduct meetings in a fiting and orderly way.

• And to resist efforts to deny the resurrection.

As you listend to those, it sounds like Paul could be writing to the church today, doesn’t it? And people say the Bible is outdated. (scoff)

But most importantly Pauls letter to the Church deals with Love. So, if you have found our text and again it is 1st Corinthians 13:4-13, would you as you are able please stand for the reading of God’s Holy Word.

(slide 3-4) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Wow that is a lot of love going on there. So let’s break that all down shall we?

Some of you probably know that the word for love here is an agape type of love. It is a greek word use throughout the New Testament. It is believed by some that the New Testament writers used this to give it a Christian connotation or meaning.

One of the best ways to think about this love is not in the greek way of thinking, but rather a type of love that put the interest of others first. And stop and think about it for a minute, that is exactly what Jesus did when He left heaven and came to earth. This is a type of love that is given to those who do not deserve it.

That is what Paul is saying right off when he speaks Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

A great way to think about this is that the love Paul is speaking of is not necessairly dealing with circumstances but more to do with paitience with people, even with the people that are hard to love.