INTRODUCTION:
1. Turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Cor. chapter 13.
2. As I look at things to preach on family values God led me to the
foundation of family values.
3. I didn't want to just lay out for you another set of practices, but the very
reason for the practices.
4. This subject comes up as we look at what the greatest commandment is.
5. Jesus when asked what the greatest commandment out of the ten gives
two.
6. Both start off with the very thing that I want to talk about today.
7. But the important part for us to get is what Yashua said after Identifying
the two greatest.
8. He said on these two the rest hang.
9. In other words if we have these two down we will be carrying out the rest
of the commandments.
10. The two could be summed up like this, Love God and Love others.
11. But today we have a different definition of love than God does.
12. And that is what we need to look at, because our family values will be
formed based on this, if we are truly seeking to be all that God wants us
to be.
13. So let's read 1 Cor. 13, Pray!
I. The difference between religion and Christianity. V1-3
A. Paul in the previous chapters describes church life and our life but sums
up in 12:31, "Let me show you a better way".
1. Paul begins to address practices in the church that were considered
spiritual:
a. Speaking in the tongues of men and angels. (Even today some say
this is spiritual)
b. Corinth was the religious capitol of the world. (The world's major
religions were located in Corinth)
c. One of those religions was the worship of a bull. (The bull was
called to appear by using gongs and cymbals)
d. What Paul is saying here is that without love. (We are no more than
one of the cult religions practiced in Corinth)
2. If we have the gift of prophecy:
a. Prophecy was one of the spiritual gifts listed. (This is one that would
be a manifestation of the Holy Spirit)
b. Paul even talks about the ability to know all mysteries and believe.
(Speaks of having conviction of the truth and ability to discern
even faith enough to move mountains)
c. But without love it comes to nothing. (Means that it really has no
power to change anything in my life and those around me)
3. If I meet the needs of others and practice denial of my body:
a. This could include fasting. (A reference to the denial and discipline
of the body)
b. Some felt to beat the body and suffer would lead them to spirituality.
(But Paul says that this is not the important part of Christianity)
c. All practices without love come to nothing. (They are nothing more
than practices they have no power to change, they are not Holy
Spirit motivated, not empowered to change lives without love)
APPLICATION:
1. We must evaluate our Christian walk and decide the reason we are
Christians.
2. Are we Christians to just be better people?
3. Are we looking for a religion or a relationship with a living Savior?
4. This is about self evaluation that looks at our motives and not just
practices.
ILLUSTRATION:
1. Some career paths taken by people were, initially taken for very noble
causes.
2. For instance, being a police officer, some become police officers for
causes.
3. They want to help the people in their community.
4. One officer I know love's elderly people and children and wanted to help
protect them.
5. The trouble is that after awhile the job becomes routine and we forget the
reason we are there.
6. This is what happens many times to Christians, the reasons they became
Christian was lost in the midst of a busy life and became routine.
7. Paul is calling us back to a place to remember why we are here and the
reason we started this in the first place.
II. What love is and is not. V4-7
A. These are things we need to pay attention to.
1. Love is Patient and kind:
a. This means that it patiently endures things. (This is not speaking to
abuse, but speaks to being patient while others are not getting it)
b. Love is kind. (The GK says being useful and in an act of
benevolence toward others, it does not withhold what is needed)
c. Love does not envy. (This word in the GK is talking about
coveting or jealous over what others have, materially or
spiritually)
d. Love is not boastful. (This is to be a braggart, making sure
everyone knows how important you are, and how wonderful you
are)
e. Love is not conceited. (The GK love does not inflate ones self or
ones ability)
2. Love acts like love:
a. Love doesn't act improperly. (The GK means not in accordance
with the truth, or love acts in truth with the situation)
b. Is not selfish. (Love seeks others interests over their own,
interestingly, Love in the GK is in the feminine gender, the
thought is to nurture)
c. Love is not provoked. (The GK is to sharpen alongside, meaning to
seek to cut when not what is wanted or expected)
d. Love doesn't keep records of wrongs. (This is not to just forgive,
but is also to not think worthless thoughts about someone)
e. Love rejoices in the truth. (The Gk loves does not rejoice in
injustice, but rejoices in the truth of things, walking in the light)
3. Loves actions towards others:
a. Love bears all things. (The GK is to bear up, or to be a cover over
that bears a load, to suffer through things)
b. Love believes all things. (The GK love has faith, understanding is
faith in what God can do in all situations and with people)
c. Love hopes. (This once again is a faith in God to do things in
peoples lives and the situation we or they are in)
d. Love endures. (This is to remain in a relationship, or situation that
is difficult or hard to be in, to have fortitude)
APPLICATION:
1. Having family values or thinking about them is sometimes replaced with
being busy.
2. Sometimes we forget why we are doing the things we are doing.
3. And sometimes we don't tell others the reason we are doing them because
we have forgotten what it is really about.
4. Paul is calling us to remembrance of what love is.
ILLUSTRATION:
1. I asked the question a long time ago to a parent if they really loved me?
2. The answer I got was of course they did!
3. They went on to explain that they are working so I would have the things
needed and I ought to see that.
4. The trouble is they were not involved in my life, they were always busy
doing other things.
5. And I have to say that some of those things seemed like they were intent
on promoting themselves in their careers.
6. Paul is calling to the remembrance of the church what love really is and
importance God places on it.
7. If God thinks so highly of love, should we think any less.
III. Love never ends. V8-13
A. The GK is to never drop out, or to steer away from ones course.
1. Prophecies will come to an end.
a. Prophecies are for us while we are here. (The Lord has given
prophecies for us so we may know the mysteries of God.)
b. Tongues will cease. (In the end there will not be a need for the
ability to speak in other tongues because all will know the Gospel)
c. Knowledge will come to on end. (In the GK it speaks of science or
the ability to gain more knowledge, we will know because we will
be with Him.)
2. When the perfect comes. V10
a. Some have said this has taken place. (They say this is proof there is
no need for signs and wonders and miracles and claim the Bible
fulfills this)
b. The GK says when the completeness of age comes. (Reference to the
return of Jesus and our being with Him)
c. So when Jesus comes for us. (There will no longer be a need for all
of these spiritual gifts we are in need of now.)
3. When I was a child. V11
a. Paul is telling the church to grow up. (It is time to start thinking like
a mature man in Christ)
b. Paul explains that all we see and experience now. (Is not the fullness
we will know later when Jesus comes back)
c. Paul says that there are building blocks for maturity. (Faith, Hope
and Love)
d. But Look at verse 13. (The greatest of these three is love, love is the
foundation for Christian life and service.
e. Without love we have no basis for family values. (Because it will all
be about us)
APPLICATION:
1. Paul is reminding us of a transition that will be taking place.
2. The transition is that the gifts in the church are not a forever thing.
3. But there is something that is a forever thing.
4. And that is Love, Love will be eternal.
ILLUSTRATION:
1. Companies that want to stay on the cutting edge of the market realize
they can not stay the same.
2. To remain competitive they must make transitions to their company.
3. They also realize that the things they have done over the years were
necessary steps for them to remain competitive.
4. But they have goals to expand the company.
5. A company that gets stuck in the same old practices begins to die.
6. They have made their practices religious if you will.
7. Paul is saying that God gave us these practices in the church because we
need them now.
8. But when He comes and takes us home to be with Him, the only one remaining thing is going to be Love.