DEFINITION of LOVE                    Pastor Bob Chroninger Trinity C.U. 2-14-99 P.M.
                  1 Corinthians 13:4-8   		
Did you know that the "gifts" without "Love" equal NOTHING... while "Love" without "gifts"
  truly stands alone?  This love will endure the test of time and storms!  But.. what is this 
  "Love"?  We talk of "falling in love"... or "love at first sight"... and.. "love is blind".  
  We think of warm "fuzzies" and romantic attractions. However, "Love" (agape) is not an emotion 
  first.. it is a verb rather than a feeling.  Let's look at the biblical definitions... 
I.  LOVE SUFFERS LONG... 
  A. It is patient... love waits... infatuation rushes 
  B. It refuses to give way to anger.. 
    1. Remember Jesus... when He was reviled... Mk.15:32.. 1Pet.2:23 
    2. How about you... me? 
II.  LOVE IS KIND... 
  A. To endure a wrong could be a victory of stubbornness, but to be kind to the one who has 
       done the wrong is a victory of grace. 
  B. It is active rather than passive.. constructive not destructive. 
    1. Remember Jesus...to Judas... and to us! 
    2. How about us?... how unkind we are so many times! 
III.  LOVE ENVIES NOT... (not Jealous) 
  A. It does not begrudge the "gifts" of others.. 
  B. It can see the inequalities of life and yet be content.. Phil.4:11 
    1. Content with the will of God 
  C. Where no Love exists... envy does... the seed of murder. 
    1. Are you eaten up with jealousy... of others gifts, abilities, opportunities, promotions, etc. 
IV.  LOVE VAUNTETH NOT ITSELF... (boastful) 
  A. It makes no parade.. not a show off,  boast, brag, proud, conceited 
  B. It doesn't hold to inflated ideas of its own importance 
  C. It doesn't seek the praise or applause of men 
    1. Remember Jesus.. He laid aside His glory, humbled Himself...Phil.2:5-8... How about you 
       and me? 
V.  LOVE IS NOT PUFFED UP... (arrogant) 
  A. It is Humble rather than arrogant 
    1. Never satisfied with self or arrogant with others 
    2. Jesus never showed contempt for others 
VI.  LOVE DOES NOT BEHAVE UNSEEMLY... 
  A. It is courteous rather than rude or ill mannered 
  B. It learns how to behave properly 
    1. This is the love of God revealed in everyday things of life. 
    2. This is a much needed virtue... just real goodness by Christians 
VII.  LOVE SEEKS NOT HER OWN... (does not insist on own way) 
  A. It is not selfish... but self forgetting.. 
  B. It does not grasp for its own rights.. finds joy in serving.. 
  C. It does not seek its own advancement at the expense of others 
VIII.  LOVE IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED... 
  A. It is even tempered... not bad tempered.. how shattering 
    1. No sin disrupts a home or spoils the family or ruins children... 
    2. It is often excused.. "oh you make me so mad" 
    3. Jesus hated sin.. but never angry at wrong done to Himself 
    4. Do you find yourself temperamental, thin-skinned, easily offended? 
IX.  LOVE THINKS NO EVIL... 
  A. It is thankful for good received... but keeps no record of wrongs 
    1. It has an amazing power to forget those wrongs.. 
  B. Jesus blots out our transgressions and remembers our sin no more Is.43:25; 44:22; Heb.9:15;
  	Jer.31:34 1. His blood was shed.. when God sees the blood.. He passes over! 
    2. Do we keep things in mind for a time of revenge? 
X.  LOVE DOES NOT REJOICE IN INIQUITY... 
  A. It is wholesome in every way 
  B. It does not enjoy exposing weaknesses of others 
  C. It will condemn sin... but weep over the sinner and seeks to protect the the fallen. 
XI.  LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS... 
  A. It gets under the load of life and bears it to the limit 
  B. It is not shaken by ingratitude.. 
XII.  LOVE BELIEVES ALL THINGS... 
  A. It is not basically suspicious 
  B. It takes the kindest view of others as long as it can 
  C. It considers the motives, conflicts & battles of others 
XIII.  LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS... 
  A. It never despairs of anybody.. but never blind to reality 
  B. It knows that Jesus never gives up hope.. 
XIV.  LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS... 
  A. It cannot be conquered. 
  B. It does not give in.. even when a trusted one lets you down 
  C. It is the love that took Jesus to Calvary for you and me !!!