LOVE: ‘LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU’

(2)  1 CORINTHIANS 13;     LOVE’S PORTRAIT

I.   LOVE’S PRIORITY: 13. 1-3

• How does Paul forcefully stress the essential importance of love in the Christian’s life?
• - Are you at all shocked or surprised by the sweeping assertions he makes?
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• Many spiritual gifts are listed in the Bible.  Which gifts, abilities, achievements do you most admire in others and covet for yourself?
• - Why is the possession of love in the heart so essential to the exercising of such gifts in the life?
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  - How seriously do we take it that even the most spectacular gifts are worthless if not exercised with love?
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II.    LOVE’S PORTRAIT:  13.4-8

Just what does love look like? How will I recognise it?

These verses paint us love’s portrait: show what it looks like in our daily actions and in our human relationships.

• Discuss together this wonderful portrait of love
• - Do you find that it inspires you?  Or daunts you?  Or condemns you?
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  - Which parts of it do you personally find hardest to live up to?
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  - Is this a portrait of your life?
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• Think over the life of Jesus:  can you think of incidents in his life that illustrate the qualities outlined here? (i.e. patience, kindness etc etc)

III.   LOVE’S PERMANENCE:  13.8-13

• What reason is given for love’s superiority over even the most precious gifts of the Spirit?

IV.  LOVE’S POSSIBILITY:

• Is it possible for sinful people like us to live a life of love like this?
• - if so: How? (See Romans 5.5, Galatians 5.22)
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CLOSING THOUGHT:  How many languages do you speak?  Do you speak the ‘language of love’ that is readily understood by every living person?