• Many people are familiar with 1 Corinthians 13 but few understand the meaning of the chapter & words within it.
• 1 Corinthians 13 has been read many times at weddings.
• 1 Corinthians 13 is very different than Psalm 23.
  • 1 Corinthians wasn't written as a piece of standalone material.
• 1 Corinthians 13 is a part of correction to the church of Corinth on practices, behavior, & how to reach the lost.
  • Paul was saying in chapters 11-14 "STOP IT!"

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:3

Some Scary Realities

1. We can do the whole church thing without love.

• We can go through the motions & not have love be a part of it.
• The gift of tongues --> the Holy Spirit gives the ability to a human in which they were able to speak a different language they have never spoken or learned.
• Paul was not knocking the gift.
  • Some people were boasting about the gift while others hadn't received the same gift.
• People do not look at worship the same way God looks at worship

2. We can do ministry & church leadership without love.

• The gift of prophecy --> the ability to proclaim God's Word well.
• When looking for leadership, ask, "How well do they love?"

3. You can make great sacrifices without love.

• Our culture promotes the more you love someone, the more you will spend on them.
• People have mixed emotions about giving large gifts.
• What really matters to God is the reason why someone gives.
• A person can give their very life without love & it won't gain them a single thing.

4. We can do life without love.

• We can all do our jobs, live in marriages, have friendships, etc without love.

The upside --> There's the fact that there are incredible possibilities that run counter to the scary realities.

• All we have to do is include love in what we do.