Love is often regarded as a cornerstone of Christian teaching on love, providing a profound framework for understanding the qualities of true love.

1. The Central Role of

(Verses 1-3)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

2. Love’s

as a resource (Verses 4-7)

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

3. The

Nature of Love (Verses 8-10)

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

4. Maturing in

and its impact on others (Verse 11)

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

5. Pursuing Full

Through Love (Verse 12)

¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

6. Faith,

, and Love (Verse 13)

¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Takeaway:

True life is lived in love, guiding actions with patience, humility, and integrity to create a lasting, positive impact on others.

Consider the key relationships in your life. What is the current state of those relationships? Which relationships are you most grateful for? Why?

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

• We are pretty good at checking off small projects or even accomplishing something significant with fantastic results.
• But what do these verses say about doing anything without love?
• Is there anything in your life currently or recently that you’ve done without the presence of love? Consider/discuss the results.
• How can you live out greater love next time and how might the results have more significant value?

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

• How can a love like this influence what you do and how you do it?
• How might living out a love like this affect your actions and interactions with
  those closest with you?
  with casual acquaintances?
• If you’re married, what might change if you both truly lived out this kind of love consistently toward each other?

Read 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

• God is love (see 1 John 4:16). With this truth and 1 Corinthians 13 standing as the biblical definition of love, how might your view of God be changed or illuminated?
• How have you experienced this kind of love from God directly or through someone else?
• What is one way you can more fully live out love this week?

Reading Plan: Youversion Bible App
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