1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (New International Version)
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I. Some things never cease (vv. 8-9)
• There are four loves: Eros (

), Philia (

Reveal Answer

), Storge
(

Reveal Answer

), Agape – (

Reveal Answer

).
• We need to eagerly allow Holy Spirit to

Reveal Answer

our love.
• Agape love is supernaturally

Reveal Answer

and

Reveal Answer

.
• We need God’s

Reveal Answer

help with life, faith, and relationships.
• Charismatic gifts are needed for people to experience God

Reveal Answer

with the Holy Spirit.
II. Some things are seasonal (vv. 10-12)
• The moment of

Reveal Answer

is when the charismatic gifts will cease.
•

Reveal Answer

churches believe charismatic gifts ceased because the Bible perfects the Church.
•

Reveal Answer

churches believe charismatic gifts will cease when Christ returns and perfects the Church in glorification.
• There are three stages to the Christian life:

Reveal Answer

,

Reveal Answer

, and

Reveal Answer

.
• Spiritual gifts exist to

Reveal Answer

and

Reveal Answer

Christians, but neither are needed at glorification.
III. Supernatural love is eternal (v. 13)
• Charismatic gifts will cease, but charismatic

Reveal Answer

never will.
• Faith is present action based on trust in a

Reveal Answer

about another’s past action (Heb. 11:1, Jas. 2:14-17)
• Hope is confidence in the character of a

Reveal Answer

for a future event. (Rom. 8:24-25)
• Faith + Hope – Love = Relationship without

Reveal Answer

.
• Faith + Love – Hope = Expectation of future

Reveal Answer

.
• Love + Hope – Faith =

Reveal Answer

.

TAKE OFF
Share about a task/project that you started but had a difficult time finishing. What made it hard to complete?

TEXT
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
1. What thoughts or feelings did you have during this week’s sermon?
2. What does the apostle Paul say will never cease in verse 8? What three spiritual gifts will cease and when will they cease?
3. Discuss the differences between how adults and children act and reason. How do the analogies of growing up and of a mirror in verses 11 and 12 help us understand the present value of spiritual gifts?
4. There is a day coming when we will “know fully” as we have been “fully known” (v. 12). When will Christians be fully known by Christ? How does this knowledge encourage you as you use your spiritual gifts?

TAKE AWAY
Give an example of how you have recently displayed love when using your spiritual gifts. Did any descriptor of love in verses 4-7 help you use your spiritual gifts differently?