Scripture
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)
1 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. 2 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. 3 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.
Main Idea
What does love require of me?
Going Deeper
Questions from this weeks Sermon
1. What insight, principle or observation from this week’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye opening or troubling? Please explain.
2. When you hear the word ‘Christian’, or ‘Jesus Follower’ what do you think of? What comes to your mind first? If you could make it so that one word would enter people’s minds when they hear the word ‘Christian’ what would that one word be?
3. Read John 13:34-35. According to this passage, if Jesus had one word that defined Christians, what is it?
4. According to John 13:34-35, how does Jesus define this love?
5. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Out of the list of things Paul mentions, which is the one you desire most (knowledge, tongues, faith, prophecy, sacrifice)? Why is love often something that lags behind in our desires?
6. What does love require of me? If we lived with this question how much would it change the Christian reputation?
7. How do you think your life might be changed this week as you live with this question?
Summary
The answer to how we live the Christian life is always the same, and its always been the same and it will never change, it is LOVE.
Jesus says, Love one another this is the greek word Agapao. Agapao is a verb, not a noun, it is not something we think or feel, or something that happens to us. Love is not something that happens to us, it is a verb love is something you do. Jesus defines it in the fullest way possible… As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
We don’t love out of religious duty, we love because of the relationship we have with God through Jesus. Faith is not something that comes into us and stops in us, becoming stagnant. Rather it comes into us and then flows through us to others. How he loved, we love.
In 1 Corinthians 13:1-4 - The point Paul is making when it comes to Christian living, the Christian life is this, You can have everything, and yet miss it all.
We know the answer to the Christian life is Love, defined as the way Jesus loved us…so what is the question of the Christian life? What does love require of me?
Call to Action
This next week, ask yourself “What does love require of me?” at least 3 times each day. Wrestle with it and then doing something about it.
