Introduction: Ch. 12:31
“But earnestly desire the best (greater) gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

    a. The desire to have gifts is a noble desire
    b. Some gifts are more desirable than others
    c. The most desirable gift is love
    d. The aim of love is to help others; it is not to please ourselves
    e. Love is the gift that is the most excellent way to serve The Lord

Matt. 22: 37-40
“You shall love the Lord your god with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have love you, that you also love one another. By this will all know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”


The church at Corinth had forgotten about true Love!

    1. This Is What happens When Love Is Forgotten

    a. The gift of tongues became just as an unpleasant loud noise.
        (1) Their abuse of tongues had apparently caused strife and divisions in the assembly
        (2) Their abuse of tongues was used for self-display
        (3) Their abuse of tongues was used for self-edification
        (4) Their abuse of tongues was used for self=gratification
        (5) Their abuse of tongues was the demonstration of what happens when love is left out
    b. The gift of prophecy becomes nothing important to hear
    c. The gift of understanding mysteries became nothing important to hear
    d. The gift of knowledge became nothing important to hear
    e. The gift of faith becomes nothing of true value.
    f. The gift of generosity becomes nothing of true value
    g. The gift of self-sacrifice becomes nothing of true value

    2. Why Love Is The Most Excellent Gift

    a. What Love Is
        (1) Love is patient
        (2) Love is kind
    b. What Love is Not
        (1) Love is not jealous
        (2) Love is not boastful
        (3) Love is not to proud
        (4) Love is not rude
    c. What Love Does Not Do
        (1) Love does not demand its own way
        (2) Love does not become irritable
        (3) Love does not keep a record of wrongs
        (4) Love does not rejoice about injustice
        (5) Love does not forget to rejoice when truth prevails
        (6) Love does not give up
        (7) Love does not lose faith
        (8) Love does not lose hope
        (9) Love does not quit-period!
        (10)Love does not die

    3. What Of The Other Gifts

    a. The gift of prophecies will fail
    b. The gift of tongues will come to an end
    c. The gift of knowledge will vanish away

    4. So What's Next?

    a. At the time Paul was writing, the church was still new like a child
    b. Not all the gifts would go on indefinitely because they were only partly known
    c. When “the complete” comes, the in-complete will no longer be needed
    d. The gifts were provided to help the church grow in knowledge, strength and numbers

    e. But a time is coming when all things will be made clear for the church
        (1) First the completed Word of God was given to the church
        (2) Next the coming Glory of The Kingdom of God in the Eternal State


Conclusion: The Three Marks of Kingdom Service

Gal. 5:22
“But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such there is no law.”


    a. Paul states that faith, hope and love will abide even into the Eternal State
    b. These three bear the fruit of The Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ in the Kingdom of God
    c. But love, true love for God and others is the greatest gift.