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.
