Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Text in v14 - "Let all that you do be done in love"
- Love
- Do you think as a church we focus too much on love
- Paul focused a lot on love
- It is a theme that comes up multiple times
- Jesus says to love God and our neighbour is the greatest command
- We need to be stirred up to love
- Paul devoted a whole chapter to love (1 Cor 13)
- There is a danger we may be lacking in love
- We may preach without grace
- We can become hard
- We can look down and criticise others
- We can be active/busy but fail to do things in love
- Overview:
- The Imperative of Love
- The Character of Love
- The Perfection of Love
- Very fitting as we come to the Communion Table
The Imperative of Love
- "Let all that you do be done in love"
- Everything!
- Pray that you love for God will grow
- Rom 12:10
- A warm love, affection, visible love
- Give deference to one another
- Example
- Rom 13:8-10
- Do not have debts or owe others - only a debt a love
- Pay this debt of love and fulfil the law
- Fulfil the Ten Commandments by loving your neighbour
- James 2:8
- We need the love of God in us to love our neighbour
- Example of King Charles
- We must love the Lord our God with all our strength and our neighbour
- The more you love God, the more you love others
- The more you love others, the more it proves your love for God
- Paul says do everything in love
- Example of Jesus Christ
- We are to imitate God - God is love
The Character of Love
- There is much we could say, but we will look at v13-24
- Love is not weak on doctrine (v13)
- Be fixed upon the word of God
- Example of The 39 Articles of Faith and the London 1689 Confession of Faith
- 1 Cor 13:6 - love rejoices in the truth
- Example of defending your spouse
- Love is not wimpish or unable to speak the truth
- An order from an apostle (v1)
- Paul directs others (v12)
- Be brave and strong (v13)
- We must be in balance: meek and kind, but also bold and strong
- Example
- We need to encourage and correct our children
- Love is not hard or unfeeling
- 1 Cor 15:58 - "my beloved brethren"
- "My love be with you all" (v24)
- Not said in other letters from Paul
- Paul desires grace for them (v23)
- Quote from John McArthur
- Examples of Paul's love
- He finds time to write to others - despite having enemies (v9)
- He explains his plans - why he is unable to visit
- He commends others - Timothy (v10-11)
- He thinks of others - the household of Stephanas (v15)
- He advises the respect of others (v16)
- The love of others refreshed Paul's spirit (v17-18)
- Warm and affectionate love
- Hearty greetings from Aquila and Priscilla (v19)
- A holy kiss (v20) - as was the custom of the day
- Believers opened their home - Stephanas and Aquila & Priscilla (v15, 19)
- We should be given to hospitality - it is not just for Elders
- Do we invite others to our homes and show hospitality
The Perfection of Love
- We realise we are a long way off where we should be
- The Corinthian church needed to grow up and be mature
- A regular exposure to God's word
- And in obeying God's word
- A healthy fear of God (v22)
- A challenge - do you really love Jesus?
- Pray that you would love God more
- Example of Song Lyrics
- By the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (v23)
- We need to know His grace more and more
- We need to pray this grace poured out in our lives