BA2007-02-20: LOVE: A MORE EXCELLENT WAY

I Corinthians 12:31; 13: 4-8
LOVE: A More Excellent Way
Ptr M.R.

Theme: Love
Topic: Definition
Title: The Real Thing

LOVE – defined in verse 4

BIBLICAL USAGE (Literal Meaning)
1.) Phileo – Brotherly Love
2.) Eros – Romantic Love
3.) Storge – Sentimental Love
4.) Agape –Unconditional Love (Jn 3:16)

PRACTICAL USAGE (language to convey)
1.) Acts of Service
2.) Words of Affirmation
3.) Quality Time
4.) Receiving Gifts

CONTEXTUAL USAGE (lasting definition)
1.) INTERNAL (love is…) v.4
a.) Patient – Waiting is an attitude in a fast-paced world
b.) Kind – breaks the ‘eye for an eye’ mentality
- a pleasant mood
c.) Not Jealous – jealousy is a rottenness of the bones
- we make friends, not enemies (PeaceMakers)
d.) Not Boastful – the older he get, the better he was
- God resisteth the proud (I Peter 5:5)

2.) EXTERNAL LOVE (Love is…) v.5
a.) It is not Rude – Insult is a mockery (Jer. 9:24)
b.) It is not self-seeking – the first law of life is the preservation of self
- Jesus emptied His divine prerogative
c.) It is not easily angered – anger is a denied feeling of right
- slow to anger (wrath)

3.) EMOTIONAL LOVE (Love is…) v.6
a.) It keeps no record of wrong
- memory bank
- visiting the past versus lingering in the past
b.) Rejoiceth not in iniquity but in truth – manipulative in nature, violation of God’s will – iniquity)
- truth is triumphant


4.) IDEAL LOVE (Love is…) v. 7-8
a.) Bears – to cover, Passover in silence, to keep confidential
b.) Believes all things – a positive outlook
c.) Hope – in the face of greatest odds
d.) Endures – to sustain the assault of the enemy

AGAPE LOVE NEVER FAILS.