““Building the Body Through Love!”Building the Body Through Love!”

1 Corinthians 131 Corinthians 13

Few years ago the police in Ft. Wayne, Few years ago the police in Ft. Wayne, Indiana were called to a house… Indiana were called to a house… Further investigation by police Further investigation by police

revealed this scene was the climax of revealed this scene was the climax of an argument that began in the parking an argument that began in the parking

lot of “The True Love Baptist lot of “The True Love Baptist Church.”Church.”

Few years ago in Texas, a woman in a Few years ago in Texas, a woman in a front yard stabbed her husband. As front yard stabbed her husband. As police came and a crowd gathered…police came and a crowd gathered…

Purpose:Purpose:to see how we can build the to see how we can build the

Body of Christ here Body of Christ here through lovethrough love

II By Impressing the Body With By Impressing the Body With the Importance of the Importance of LoveLove

A.A. As Revealed in the Bible As Revealed in the Bible

1 Peter 1:221 Peter 1:22

“… “… fervently love one another from fervently love one another from the heart.”the heart.”

1 Peter 2:171 Peter 2:17

““Honor all men; but love the Honor all men; but love the brotherhood.”brotherhood.”

1 Peter 4:81 Peter 4:8

““Above all, keep fervent in your love Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another because love covers a for one another because love covers a

multitude of sins.”multitude of sins.”

1 John 3:14-16 1 John 3:14-16

““We know that we have passed out of We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the death into life, because we love the brethren… We ought to lay down brethren… We ought to lay down

our lives for the brethren.”our lives for the brethren.”

1 John 4:71 John 4:7

““Brethren, let us love one another, Brethren, let us love one another, for love is of God…”for love is of God…”

1 Thessalonians 4:19 1 Thessalonians 4:19

““Now as to the love of the brethren, Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write you have no need for anyone to write to you for you yourselves are taught to you for you yourselves are taught

by God to love one another.”by God to love one another.”

II By Impressing the Body With By Impressing the Body With the Importance of the Importance of LoveLove

A.A. As Revealed in the Bible As Revealed in the Bible

B.B. As to It’s Promised ResultsAs to It’s Promised Results

John 13:35 John 13:35

““By this all men will know that you By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for are My disciples, if you have love for

one another.”one another.”

IIII By Teaching the Body the By Teaching the Body the Meaning of LoveMeaning of Love

The world’s idea of love and The world’s idea of love and priorities is warped…priorities is warped…

IIII By Teaching the Body the By Teaching the Body the Meaning of LoveMeaning of Love

A.A. Act of the Will Act of the Will

B.B. Comes Before and Goes Comes Before and Goes BeyondBeyond

C.C. Based Upon One FactBased Upon One Fact

IIIIII By Demonstrating to the Body By Demonstrating to the Body the Practice of Lovethe Practice of Love

A.A. It is More than Kind WordsIt is More than Kind Words

1 John 3:17-181 John 3:17-18

““But whoever has the world’s goods, But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes and sees his brother in need and closes

his heart against him, how does the his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little love of God abide in him? Little

children, let us not love with word or children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

IIIIII By Demonstrating to the Body By Demonstrating to the Body the Practice of Lovethe Practice of Love

A.A. It is More Than Kind Words It is More Than Kind Words

B.B. It is Discipling Its MembersIt is Discipling Its Members

C.C. It is the Gold Rule It is the Gold Rule (Matthew 7:12)(Matthew 7:12)

Matthew 7:12Matthew 7:12

““In everything, therefore, treat In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and to treat you, for this is the Law and

the Prophets.”the Prophets.”

IVIV By Warning the Body the By Warning the Body the Risks of LoveRisks of Love

C. S. LewisC. S. Lewis

““To love is To love is to make to make oneself oneself

vulnerable.”vulnerable.”

Someone has Someone has likened loving likened loving humans as to humans as to kissing a frog. kissing a frog. Remember the Remember the

story of the story of the princess kissing princess kissing

the frog?...the frog?...

IVIV By Warning the Body the By Warning the Body the Risks of LoveRisks of Love

A.A. Keep Kissing FrogsKeep Kissing Frogs

B.B. Don’t be TimidDon’t be Timid

VV By Pointing the Body to the By Pointing the Body to the Source of LoveSource of Love

Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud

““It’s impossible to It’s impossible to fulfill Christ’s fulfill Christ’s

command to love. command to love. Nothing is more Nothing is more

opposite to human opposite to human nature because all nature because all

men are savage men are savage beasts at heart.”beasts at heart.”

VV By Pointing the Body to the By Pointing the Body to the Source of LoveSource of Love

A.A. Love is Lived by the Power Love is Lived by the Power of Godof God

B.B. We are Rich IndeedWe are Rich Indeed

Conclusion and SummaryConclusion and SummaryII By Impressing the Body with the By Impressing the Body with the Importance of LoveImportance of Love

IIII By Teaching the Body the Meaning of By Teaching the Body the Meaning of LoveLove

IIIIII By Demonstrating to the Body the By Demonstrating to the Body the Practice of LovePractice of Love

IVIV By Warning the Body the Risks of LoveBy Warning the Body the Risks of Love

VV By Pointing the Body to the Source of LoveBy Pointing the Body to the Source of Love