10-6-10 1 Cor Message 51: A More Excellent Way

A More Excellent Way

Intro: 1 Cor. 12:31

I.          The futility of Gifts without Charity

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

II.        Residual of Gifts Mixed with Flesh

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, ⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; ⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

III.       Gifts when Performed with Charity

1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

IV.       Gifts Fail.  Charity Never Faileth.

            1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

V.        No More Part with Charity

1 Corinthians 13:9-10 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

VI.       Physical Illustration of a Spiritual Truth

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

VII.     The Measure of our Charity

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.