1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13 (NIV)

12:31b And yet I will show you the most excellent way. 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1. Love the highest is the expression of all the gifts. (12:31b-13:1-3)

  And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36–40 (NIV)

2. The fruit of our Christ-like character is practical love. (13:4-7)

  And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

How do you excel in love?

• ______ is patient
• ______ is kind
• ______ does not envy
• ______ does not boast
• ______ is not proud.
• ______ does not dishonor others
• ______ is not self-seeking
• ______ is not easily angered
• ______ keeps no record of wrongs
• ______ does not delight in evil
• ______ rejoices with the truth
• ______ always protects
• ______ always trusts
• ______ always hopes
• ______ always perseveres

How do you grow in love?

• ______ is patient
• ______ is kind
• ______ does not envy
• ______ does not boast
• ______ is not proud.
• ______ does not dishonor others
• ______ is not self-seeking
• ______ is not easily angered
• ______ keeps no record of wrongs
• ______ does not delight in evil
• ______ rejoices with the truth
• ______ always protects
• ______ always trusts
• ______ always hopes
• ______ always perseveres

3. We are grafted into Christ to bear excellent fruit. (13:8-13)

  But the greatest of these is love.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34–35 (NIV)

Establishing and growing a connection to God. God, thank you for showing yourself to me. Jesus, I turn to you, admit I need you, and ask you to enter my heart by faith. By your Spirit, restore my heart with your forgiveness; help me to hear your voice and know your love. Graft me into you, Christ. Help me to bear the fruit of love in all I do. Gather me with others to worship and serve you; to nurture my faith and shine your light in the world. Thank you for calling me your child. Amen.

Next Steps: Focus your 15 minutes alone with God by journaling on the passages from this week’s message and those listed below. How do you excel at love? How can you grow in love? In what ways are you loved by God? How are you personally called to love one another? What prayers of praise, gratitude, confession or supplication (for yourself) would you offer to God?

Next week, we begin a new six-week series, Summer in the Psalms. Read Psalm 145 and reflect on becoming a people of praise. In what ways does the psalmist praise God for who God is and what God has done? What list would you make?

Scriptures on Loving Others

• 1 John 4:7–12
• Matthew 5:43–45
• Romans 12:9–21
• Colossians 3:12–14