1 cor 13

facts

1-3

What three kinds of experiences does Paul address in verses 1-3?

and they're in what broad category? all religious experiences

speaking	in tongues of men and angels

having	prophecy, knowledge, faith

doing	charity, martyrdom

What did He say about each if the religious person involved didn't have love?

the first?

--noise

the second?

I am nothing

the third?

I receive no profit.

Interpretation:

What might the Corinthians have been saying about those three things, that would lead Paul to write that they were worthless without love?

From the context, what evidence do we have that the Corinthians didn't understand about love? What might they have been saying to each other in ch 12? (Remember what the different body parts represent, different gifts, ministries.) You don't speak in tongues, so I don't need you? ch 14?

Why did he say tongues of men and angels? What are tongues of angels?

I'm more spiritual than you because I speak in tongues.

Do we ever equate spirituality with the way a person speaks?

Who sees the progression here? Speaking to acting.

I'm more spiritual than you because I prophesy (includes forth- telling)! Isn't that better than an ecstatic utterance?

How have we placed some people over others on the basis of the gift (spirit) of prophecy? SDA's for example?

What are some ways we do not use prophecy with love?

It was never intended to be used apart from love!

What are some ways to use it with love?

In what ways do parade our spirituality before others through self-sacrifice?

Look, Lord--and everyone else--I gave up working on Sabbath for you, I've taken a pay cut, I've given up a successful career in showbusiness! I've given my hard-earned money and time to the church! I'm an elder; I've dedicated my life to ministry, Lord, what greater sacrifice could you ask for? Doesn't that make me a little bit superior to these other folks?

I'm more spiritual than you because I gave away everything I own! Aren't actions more important than words whether words to God or words from God? Isn't it more important to live out your beliefs? "Faith without works is dead!" Isn't it worth something to be martyred?

what could drive a person to give their body to the flames other than love? In what ways do Christians give their body to the flames for other motives?

Paul's response? Not if you don't have love!

What principle is Paul teaching here? Who can sum it up?

If you can't do it in love, don't do it at all.

If channel four news were to come visit our Friday night Bible study group to film this principle in action, what are some things they might see?

Which of these things do you most need to do?

Which of these appeals to you the most? pick one in your mind or one that isn't here.

What does it mean to "have" love?--Use it or experience it.

These three remain, but love is the greatest--why? how long will it last compared to the others?

love is relational--no one can love unless he has first let God love him

structure

1-3 dependent nature of sp gifts and good works on love

4-7 love is

a.patient--passive

b.kind--active

c.not envious--of others	recognizes gifts

d.not boastful--of self

e.not arrogant

f.not rude--like at supper

g-does not insist on its own way

g-not easily explosive (irritable)

f-not resentful

e-not happy with evil/rejoices with the truth

d-bears all things

c-believes all things--of others

b-hopes all things--active

a-endures all things--passive

8-13 passing nature of gifts but love lasts

What is going on with this stuff on mirrors?

Love never ends! why because it outwaits, outpersists, outkindnesses and just plain outlasts anything else!

now we know and prophesy in part (merous)	when the complete comes our present partial prophecies and tongues and knowledge end

(teleion)
when (infant) a child, I spoke, thought, reasoned as a child	when man, I put away the child
now we we see dimly in mirror (enigmatically)	then (when the complete comes?) face to face
now I know only in part (merous)	then? When? I will know even as I have been known

(and this is eternal life to know thee)

our greatest status-suppliers are child's play, like an "adolescent pontificating about ultimate reality"

faith hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is love.

God loves, only we faith and hope, but if we love we do something that now only God does

We always say this is about the 2nd coming, "when the perfect comes . . . " but the what is the context here? Paul is talking about Christian maturity, the difference between being partial and childish and adult, incomplete and complete, partial and full. If we were mature, we'd not place priority or base our identity on things that pass away

What are some of the "all things" Paul called on the Corinthians to endure?

What two categories of christian experience can we infer from Paul's counsel that the Corinthians were misprioritizing?

exercise of spiritual gifts and

good works

Context:

Why does Paul say men and angels chapter 14

In what ways did the Corinthians speak with the tongues of angels? Without love? In what ways do we do the same?

How about prophecy--what was it in those days in Corinth? 14:24

without love? Do we ever use prophecy without love in the SDA church?

Knowledge 8:1?

What's so dangerous about putting these above love?

Why does Paul insert this chapter about love in the middle of his argument here?