What Is Love and How Can It Guide Me?

Practical Solutions to Everyday Problems

What Is Love and How Can It Guide Me?

1 Corinthians 13

Notes:

“…I will show you the most excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31b)

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

A. WHAT DOES FOLLOWING GOD REALLY LOOK LIKE?

The Problem: It is possible to be a Christ-follower on the but not at the .

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

1. Following God defined by being .

a. Don’t mistake for .

2. Following God defined by doing .

a. Don’t mistake for .

3. Following God defined as being

a. Agape love is not based on affection or approval; it’s , coming as a free gift, not because it is deserved but because the lover chooses to give it.

b. Agape love isn’t something you can , it’s you need to .

i. Paul is pointing his readers to .

Today’s ‘Life Hack’…

It is only when you truly ,

that you can truly .