1 Corinthians 13 – The Way of Love

1. Love as the Core of Faith

• 1 Corinthians 13 is the climax of Paul’s letter, shaping the culture of the church.
• The true essence of the church is not activity or gifts but love.
• Without love, even the greatest spiritual works amount to nothing.

Key Verse:

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13)

2. Defining Love

• Society often reduces love to feelings or vague expressions.
• But Scripture defines love through Jesus’ example:
  • “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)
• Jesus’ love = sacrificial, active, embodied in action.
• The world does not recognize Jesus by our programs, events, or abilities, but by our love.

3. The Worthlessness of Faith Without Love

• Paul uses exaggeration to stress the point:
  • Speaking in tongues, knowing mysteries, having mountain-moving faith, or giving everything away—without love, it is nothing.
• Church success is not measured by programs, talents, or influence, but by whether it is done in love.

4. The Character of Love

Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7: