All you need is love?

1. Think of a person who has truly loved you. What were the marks of that persons way of relating to you?



Read 1 Corinthians 13

2. What is so tragic about using our gifts without love (v. 1-3)?



3. How would you define each of love’s qualities (v. 4-7)?



4. Why is love greater than faith or hope?



5. What aspect of love do you need to develop the most?



6. How have you seen love make an impact in our life or the life of others?



Application:

Can it be that simple? Can love really be that important or powerful? To answer that question, all you have to do is look at God's love for us. God's love overcame sin! It broke down that sin barrier that prohibited us from having a relationship with God.

Therefore, since Paul writes about it as extremely important and God demonstrates it through Christ, we know that all we need is love. But, please know, there is a difference between Godly love and human love. Godly love is found in verses 4-7. Human love is often portrayed as lust, excitement and passion found on TV or in the movies.

What kind of love are you demonstrating and are you allowing Godly love to impact you and those around you? This week, take at least 1 of the love qualities mentioned in verse 4-7 and integrate it into your life and see how God uses that in your life and those around you.

PRAY.

How are we acting?

Take a minute and review how you acted this past day. How did you treat your family members? How did you treat your friends or people at school?



What did you communicate to them (not just words, but with your actions) by the way you acted?



Read Philippians 1:27a – “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

What does it mean to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ?



To help, list all that Christ stands for. How did Christ conduct himself? What did he do?



APPLICATION:

When Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians, he is in Jail. In the situation he was in, he conducted himself in a manner worthy of Christ. As stated in Philippians 1:12-14, he was not only conducting himself in a manner worthy of Christ, but he was doing this to further the kingdom as well! So, instead of acting poorly or complaining, he was winning over the inmates and the guards for Christ by the way he acted?

But, what is a “manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”? What does that mean? It can be many things, but two of Christ’s primary goals were to love and forgive.

Are we loving people with words and deeds? Are we forgiving people? Remember, anyone can say they love and forgive people, but do your thoughts and actions back up that love and forgiveness. To bring back an old and overused phrase, do you "WWJD"?

This is the encouragement for us in that whatever happens to us, conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Not when good things happens or when life is going well. It is in all situations. We are representatives of Christ and by treating other people the way Christ would, we may win them over to Him as well.

PRAY