1. “A More Excellent Way”
1 Corinthians 12:29-13:13

2. How the Body of Christ Works
A Different Kind of Meeting (12:1-3)
Based on Content, not Experience.
A Supernatural Side (12:4-27)
Gifts, Ministries, Effects (12:4-11)
Supernaturally Inter-dependant
Organically Unified (12:12-13)
In Need of the Other Gifts (12:14-30)

3. What the Body of Christ DOES…
"And I'll show you
a more excellent way..."
- 1 Corinthians 12:31(b)
Christian Love
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

4. What the Body of Christ DOES: agape
Eros, Filadelfia
Same Concept as Christian “ministry”.
Same context as Gifts, Ministries, Effects.
Diakonew - To “Serve”
The root idea behind love:
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
"Faith working through Love"
- Gal.5:6

5. What the Body of Christ DOES: agape
Same Concept as Christian “ministry”.
The Most Important outcome of our Faith.
1 Cor. 13:2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
1 Cor. 13:3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
1 Cor. 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

6. What the Body of Christ DOES: agape
Same Concept as Christian “ministry”.
The Most Important outcome of our Faith.
Not an ethereal epiphany.
1 Peter 5:5 “and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
Doesn't Seek
Its Own
Patient
Righteous
Kind
Not Jealous
Not Easily Provoked
Not PROUD
Forgives
Not "RUDE"

7. What the Body of Christ DOES: agape
Same Concept as Christian “ministry”.
The Most Important outcome of our Faith.
Not an ethereal epiphany.
“Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
“Love Never Fails.”
“The key to a healthy emotional life is Victorious Love OUTPUT.”

8. What the Body of Christ DOES: agape
Patient
Kind
Not Jealous
Not Proud
Not Rude
Doesn’t Seek its Own
Not Easily Provoked
Forgives
Righteous
Bears, Believes, Hopes, Endures all things
Love Never Fails