 “...we have fellowship one with another,” 1 John 1:7  Church = Called Out  Work together for one common purpose.

 Love helps us have that fellowship  A way of life  Attitude of how we treat others  8 qualities of love  Shows how we are to get along

Love suffereth long  Love in our hearts = patience in our lives  Example of Christ  1 Pet. 2:19-24 “when he suffered, he threatened not:”

patience, Heb. 10:36 “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Heb. 10:36 patiently Heb. 6:15 “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” Heb. 6:15

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal. 6:9 “...let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Heb. 12:1 “...be patient toward all men.” 1 Thes. 5:14

Love suffereth long The ability to endure and wait without complaint.

and is kind

 Merciful, gentle, good hearted  “Goodness in action”  Abraham & Lot – Gen. 13:7-8  Prov.31:26 “...in her tongue is the law of kindness”

and is kind Love in Action Love doing good

does not envy

 Envy = jealousy, ill will  Cain was envious of Abel  Love destroys envy  Envy desires to take  Love desires to give

Luke 10:25-37 Luke 10: Good Samaritan “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” v. 26 "He who showed mercy on him.“ "Go and do likewise."

does not envy What is mine is yours also, if you really need it.

does not parade itself is not Puffed up

does not parade itself is not Puffed up “Love does not brag and is not arrogant.” NASV “vaunteth” = braggart, windbag “puffed up” = conceited, proud

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:3  Kingdom is open to humble  God rejects haughty / proud

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Rom. 12:3

“...be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 1 Pet. 5:5 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10

does not parade itself is not Puffed up Humility is a quality that when you discover that you have it, you don’t.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;” verse 4

“does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;” verse 5

does not behave Itself unseemly

does not behave Itself unseemly  Love is not rude but courteous  “Love has good manners” Behave  Behave = to act well, good Unseemly  Unseemly = offensive

 Christians do not have the right to be rude, hateful  Jesus was always courteous  Jesus was never rude / ugly does not behave Itself unseemly

does not behave Itself unseemly No one is too big to be courteous, but some are too little !

seeketh not her own

 Does not seek her own advantage  Christian love lives not to get, but to give

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Romans 12:10 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Phil. 2:4

seeketh not her own Happiness is a by-product of making others happy

not easily provoked

to control temper fill heart with love

not easily provoked  Provoked = irritate, vex, stir up, incite to anger  Love will not easily fly off the handle.  “Slow to wrath” Jas. 1:19-20

“He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.” Prov. 14:17 “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Prov. 16:32 Matt. 21:12-13

How to control our anger “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” Eph. 4:26 Col. 3:8 [anger] “put off” Eph. 4:31-32 [wrath] “put away”

not easily provoked There is no excuse for a bad temper

thinks no evil

 Guile  Guile = skillful deceit, shrewd, use of tricks to deceive, crafty  Love is innocent minded  Love has no suspicion  Children are an example

“...of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 19:14 “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.” 1 Cor. 14:20

Love is blind to little faults “... love will cover a multitude of sins.“ 1 Pet. 4:8 When sin is found, love does not crush the sinner, but tries to save him.

thinks no evil Love believes the best, not the worst about people

“A more excellent way” Love can change you and make you what God would have you to be.

Col. 3:14 “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Morning and Evening Nov. 4, 2007