WILL YOU DARE TO LOVE?!

I. LOVE IS THE GREATEST…. THE PREEMINENCE OF LOVE
‘Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.’ I Corinthians 13:1-3(KJV)

A. Love Is Greater Than Eloquent Communication…. *IE.. ‘TALK IS CHEAP’!
‘If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.’ -The Message
B. Love Is Greater Than Spiritual Gifts…
‘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 have not love, I am nothing.’ I Corinthians 13:2
‘If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be?’ LNT
C. Love Is Greater Than Personal Sacrifice
‘If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.’ I Corinthians 13:3

II. LOVE HAS A BAD MEMORY…

A. Notice Love’s Choice
‘Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;’ I Corinthians 13:4 NKJV

1. Love Is Patient… ‘suffers long’
2. Love Is ‘Kind’
3. Love Does Not ‘Envy’
4. Love Does Not Boast.. ‘Does not Parade Itself’
5. Love Is Not Proud…’Is Not Puffed-Up’

B. Notice Love’s Refusal
‘does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.’ I Corinthians 13:5

1. Love Is Not Rude…
2. Love is Not Self-Seeking… ‘Does not seek it’s own’
3. Love Is Not ‘Easily Provoked’
4. Love Keeps No Record Of Wrong Doings… ‘thinks no evil’

C. Notice Love’s Outlook
‘does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth’ I Corinthians 13:6

1. Love Never Delights In Evil…
2. Love Rejoices In The Truth….

III. FINALLY, LOVE NEVER GIVES UP…
‘Always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres..’ I Corinthians 13:7 NIV
‘Always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting’ CEV
‘Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.’ NLT
‘Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’ KJV
*REGARDLESS… The Meaning Is Always The Same… There Are 4 Aspects Of Love That Teach… No Matter how Desperate our Circumstances May Be, LOVE NEVER GIVES UP!!

A. Bears All Things… Godly Silence

1. Love Doesn’t Nitpick
2. Love Never Criticizes in Public

B. Believes All Things… Godly Trust

C. Hopes All Things… Godly Optimism

D. Endures All Things… Godly Perseverance…