Renewed in Love
December 12, 2004 - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
In Zephaniah 3.17-18a the prophet writes: "The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival."
The vital thought from this text is the thought that he (that is God) will renew you in love.
John the Baptist in Luke 3.7-18 is questioned by groups of people who, in response to his preaching, ask him, "What then should we do?" Without stating it explicitly, his response to their questions is to invite them to demonstrate the meaning and purpose of love.
Using both these texts you are offered a study guide from 1 Corinthians 13 which provides not a definition, but rather a description of love.
Open It
What to you is an unmistakable demonstration of love?
Who is the most loving person you know? Why do you think so?
What qualities do you associate with love?
Explore It
What makes speaking in tongues, faith, generosity, and even martyrdom worthless? (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
How could a person use spiritual gifts in a useless manner? (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
What do we gain if we don't have love? (1 Corinthians 13:3)
Why is love important? (1 Corinthians 13:3)
What qualities does love have? (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Why will prophecy, tongues, and knowledge pass away? (1 Corinthians 13:8-9)
How will we be different when we see Christ? (1 Corinthians 13:10-12)
What is our spiritual imperfection like? (1 Corinthians 13:11)
How do adults and children act and reason differently? (1 Corinthians 13:11)
How will our knowledge of God change when we see Christ? (1 Corinthians 13:12)
What is the greatest of all gifts? (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Get It
Why do you think Paul wrote about love to the Corinthians?
Why might it be easy to use a spiritual gift without love?
How can a person demonstrate love?
How should Christians demonstrate love for each other?
In what practical ways can you show a love that never fails?
How did Jesus exemplify love?
Why won't prophecy, knowledge, and tongues be necessary when Jesus returns?
When have you received the love described in this passage?
What is difficult about loving?
What expectations do you have, knowing you will see Jesus face to face one day?
Apply It
What will help you to remember to use your gifts in a loving way?
How could you show love to a difficult person this week?
Notes
1 Corinthians 13:1ff:: 1 Corinthians 13 defines real love. Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body. Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working power produce very little without love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7: God's kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations.
1 Corinthians 13:10: God provides us with spiritual gifts for our lives on earth in order to build up, serve, and strengthen other people. The spiritual gifts are for the church. In eternity, we will be made perfect and complete and will be in the very presence of God. We will no longer need the spiritual gifts, so they will come to an end.
1 Corinthians 13:12: Paul offers a glimpse into the future to give us hope that one day we will be complete when we see God face to face. This truth should strengthen our faith-we don't have all the answers now, but one day we will.
1 Corinthians 13:13: In Corinth, love had become a mixed-up term with little meaning. Today people are still confused about love. Love is the greatest of all human qualities, and it is an attribute of God himself (1 John 4:8). Love involves unselfish service to others; to show it gives evidence that you care. Faith is the foundation and content of God's message; hope is the attitude and focus; love is the action. When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand how God loves.