Love Is The Most Excellent Way Christians Gone Wild

The Necessity Of Love

“And now I will show you the most excellent way “And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 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 have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV

The Necessity Of Love Without love our spiritual lives are nothing All that we do or know or believe, even our greatest sacrifices, are nothing without love Love is the most important thing there is! – Matthew 22:34-40 Love is the fulfillment of God’s Law – Rom.13:10 Love is the badge of discipleship – John 13:34-35 Love binds all the other Christian virtues together in perfect unity – Colossians 3:12-14

The Necessity Of Love Without love we gain nothing None of our gifts can earn us salvation – Matthew 7:21-23 None of these things can gain us rewards in heaven, in and of themselves – Matthew 6:1-4

A Description Of Love

“Love is patient, love is kind “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

A Description Of Love Its positive qualities Love is patient – willing to suffer long Love is kind – seeks to do good, to help others Rejoices with the truth – glad to see the truth Always protects – is a defender of people Always trusts – believes the best in people Always hopes – optimistic things will be better Always perseveres – never gives up

A Description Of Love Things that are uncharacteristic of love Love does not envy – not jealous of others It does not boast – doesn’t brag about self It is not proud – not arrogant, vain conceit It is not rude – doesn’t behave disgracefully It is not self-seeking – not selfish It is not easily angered – not short tempered It keeps no record of wrongs – not resentful It does not delight in evil – not pleased w/evil

The Permanence Of Love

“Love never fails. But where there are prophesies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. . . And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, 13 NIV

The Permanence Of Love Love never fails It will never lose its relevance It will never lose its power

The Permanence Of Love Love abides forever Other gifts will cease Faith and hope will pass away But love is eternal!