LOVEMessage #2

I Corinthians 13:4-5a

I Corinthians 13:4-5a [4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way;

Love is…

not focused on the ___________________ of the one loved…

but on the ___________________ of the lover.

15 Facets of Love

In the Greek…

all of these facets are in verb form.

each facet is in the present continuous tense.

must be part of our _________________ activity

must be ___________________ __________________ to grow

1 – ______________ (verse 4)

Consider the patience of _____________

I Peter 2:22-23 [22] He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. [23] When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Consider the patience of the ___________

Exodus 34:6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

The word here is expressive of ________________.

2 points

Love is willing to ________________ sights, injuries, and hardships without complaint, even over a long period of time.

Love is patient for the ________________ of other people.

the ______________

__________________

I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

2 – ______________ (verse 4)

Consider the kindness of the Father

Ephesians 2:7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Titus 3:4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,

Consider the kindness of Jesus

Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

kindness…

is the __________________ of patience

______________ others and does so with sympathy and consideration

eases another person’s pain, soothes anxieties, fears, and hostilities, and contributes constructively to the happiness of others

3 – does not ______________ (verse 4)

Envy puts you in ___________________ with others.

The warnings of the Bible.

Proverbs 14:30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

There are essentially two ___________________ of envy.

the simple envy that covets what other people have

the more complex and worse envy that begrudges that others have “stuff”. It doesn’t necessarily want the “stuff” they have but begrudges that they have it.

This is “a meanness of the soul”. (William Barclay)

Proverbs 14:30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

The opposite of envy is to be _____________ and to _________________.

4 – does not ______________ (verse 4)

Boasting is the effort to make yourself look ________________ to others.

Envy is wanting what ______________ have.

Boasting is trying to make others want what _______ have.

This was a real issue in Corinth.

I Corinthians 4:7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Love is not constantly interested to ________________ others.

The reason love does not boast is simple. Love is focused on the loved one, not oneself.

5 – is not ________________ (verse 4)

Here we have the attitude behind boasting -

to puff oneself up

an _______________ view of self

looking ____________ on others

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 13:10 By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23 One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Love is concerned to give itself, not to assert itself.

The opposite of arrogance is _________________.

Philippians 2:6-8 [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

6 – is not ______________ (verse 5)

Love doesn’t behave indecently or in a shameful manner.

This rudeness was an issue is Corinth.

Love…

is not ____________ and _________________.

is _______________, ___________, and ______________.

I Peter 3:5 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect

Love includes ___________________ my behavior with others in mind.

7 – does not insist on its _______ ______ (verse 5)

Love doesn’t pursue selfish advantage.

Consider Jesus.

Matthew 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Love’s aim is to build others up. It is selfless in this way.

Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Love operates…

Not out of ___________ and ________________

But out of _________________