“A MORE EXCELLENT WAY”

1 Corinthians 12:29-13:13

The Body of Christ in 12:4-27 – a Very Different Kind of Group

• Not Natural Talents• Each has at least one

Gifts at work

(12:4-11)

•A Body of Parts (v.12-13)•Not just an “Eyeball” (v.17)

“Ministry” Occurs

(12:12-30)

The Body of Christ:Putting it all together (1 Cor. 12:4-6)

Gifts

Mini-strie

s

Effects

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

The Body of Christ:Putting it all together (1 Cor. 12:4-6)

Gifts

Mini-strie

s

Effects

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

The Body of Christ:Putting it all together (1 Cor. 12:4-6)

Gifts

Mini-strie

s

Effects

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison! 1 Cor. 12:31

“Beyond Comparison”If I could speak all the languages of earth and

of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Love!

“Love Rain Down on me” – the Who, Quadrophenia

“All You Need is Love”– the Beatles“That’s the Power of

Love”– Huey Lewis

“Give Me Love”– Diana Ross“I’m a Loser Baby,

So why don’t you kill me?”– Beck

“Beyond Comparison”If I could speak all the languages of

earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Love!

THE AGORALittle children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 1 John 3:18

Effects

“Beyond Comparison”If I could speak all the languages of

earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Love!

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 1 John 3:18

Effects

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20

The Measure of “Spirituality”If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I

understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

Effects

No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12

The Measure of “Spirituality”If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I

understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

Effects

Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

1 Cor. 8:1

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:7

The Measure of “Spirituality”If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I

understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

Effects

Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

1 Cor. 8:1

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:7

The Measure of “Spirituality”If I gave everything I have to the poor

and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Effects

The Measure of “Spirituality”If I gave everything I have to the poor

and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Effects

The Measure of “Spirituality”

Everyone Has a Definition…

Parents

TV, Songs

“Friends”

Others…

“A MORE EXCELLENT WAY”

NOT: Eros Filadelfia

agape

“A MORE EXCELLENT WAY” agape

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12

Emotional

Sacrificial

Unconditio

nal

God-dependent

LoveIs…

“A MORE EXCELLENT WAY” agape

We love, because He first loved us. 1 Jn. 4:19

Emotional

Sacrificial

Unconditio

nal

God

Is…

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 (NASB95)

WHY BOTHER?

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12

1. Because “Love never fails…”

agape

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 1 Cor. 13:8

WHY BOTHER?

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12

1. Because “Love never fails…”2. It’s the secret to spiritual

maturity!

agape

When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 1 Cor. 13:11

Maturity Means:Pulling it all together (1 Cor. 12:4-6)

Gifts

Mini-stries

Effects

“A MORE EXCELLENT WAY” agape

What the Body of Christ DOES: agape

Same Concept as Christian “ministry”. Same context as Gifts, Ministries, Effects. Diakonew - To “Serve” The root idea behind love:

- Gal.5:6

Eros, Filadelfia

How the Body of Christ Works:Putting it all together…

Ministries

Gifts

1 Cor. 12:4-6Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

“To Serve”Powerful Impact!

How the Body of Christ Works:Beyond Comparison!

Effectsagape

How the Body of Christ Works:Beyond Comparison!

Effects

And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison! 1 Cor. 12:31

agape

Eros, Filadelfia

What the Body of Christ DOES:

Same Concept as Christian “ministry”. The Most Important outcome of our

Faith.

What the Body of Christ DOES: agape

Same Concept as Christian “ministry”. The Most Important outcome of our

Faith. Not an ethereal epiphany.

1 Peter 5:5 “and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 43.9

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41

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Spousal Hrs Away From Home by Quarter

What the Body of Christ DOES: agape

Same Concept as Christian “ministry”. The Most Important outcome of our

Faith. Not an ethereal epiphany.“Bears all things, believes all

things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

“Love Never Fails.”“The key to a healthy emotional life is Victorious Love OUTPUT.”

What the Body of Christ DOES:

agape Patient Kind Not Jealous Not Proud Not Rude Doesn’t Seek its Own

Not Easily Provoked Forgives Righteous Bears, Believes,

Hopes, Endures all things