Oct 03, 2018 | Virtue of Love

These are notes from a sermon message heard at First Baptist Church of Atlanta. To hear the message, please visit their website here. My notes are only meant to be a guide to assist in your Bible study. Enjoy! :)

Date: October 03, 2018

Preacher: Dr. Anthony George

Title: Virtue of Love

Base Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1. Don’t give up too soon.
1. Love suffers long (v. 4)
2. Don’t be harsh with other people.
1. Love is kind (v. 4)
2. We are who we are; don’t say something you did was not like you. You did what you did because you are who you are.
3. Ask someone you know: Would you consider me kind, gracious? Or harsh, abrasive, and unkind?
3. Don’t resent the blessing of others.
1. Love does not envy or get jealous (v. 4)
   
2. Don’t get upset when someone else receives a blessing that you wanted.
1. ie, material blessings, professional success, physical characteristics
3. With true love, you don’t have to like what they got, but you do not let anger grow towards people who have it
4. Don’t resent people who are happy. Don’t be a Scrooge.
4. Don’t be boastful.
1. Love does not parade itself (brag) (v. 4)
2. Proverbs 27:2
3. There are times where you celebrate the strengths and accomplishments God has allowed you to achieve. The difference with self promotion is a matter of the heart.
4. The truth is that everything you have done has been thanks to others.
5. Don’t be arrogant.
1. Love is not puffed up (v. 4)
1. root noun: bellows
2. So, don’t be inflated with your ego.
2. 1 Corinthians 8:1 NKJV
3. Arrogance is based on a sense of superiority over someone else.
4. Monopoly of knowledge → whatever topic it is, they will always one up ya.
1. Claims expertise on everything.
5. If others want to be like that, so be it. But you, as a Child of God, you must leave your arrogance at the Cross.
6. Don’t be obnoxious.
1. Love does not behave rudely. (v. 5)
2. Love is not indecent. It takes notice of the surroundings
3. Three Distinctives
1. Righteous in life
2. Reverent in faith
3. Respectful in behavior
4. If we live in love, we do not exhibit these characteristics:
1. Improper
2. Not in good taste
3. Offensive
4. Not honoring protocol
7. Don’t be a narcissist
1. Love does not seek its own. (v. 5)
2. Narcissism leads to entitlement.
3. Narcissism leads to delusional thinking. You ain’t the center of the universe.
4. Narcissism leads to the belief of being exempt from rules.
8. Don’t be hypersensitive/delicate.
1. Love is not provoked. (v. 5)
2. Not a life-long victim.
3. Social sensitivities
9. Don’t harbor a grudge against someone.
1. Harboring a grudge means I still want the account to be settled. But
10. Don’t delight in evil.
1. Love does not rejoice in iniquity. (v. 6)
2. Liquor and beer always brings the immoralities that come along with it.
3. As children of God, we should not take pleasure in bringing others down.
1. Micah 2:1 NLT
2. Proverbs 12:22 NLT
11. Don’t ever forsake truth.
1. Love rejoices in the truth. (v. 6)
2. Our passion should be for truth.
12. Don’t define love your way.
1. Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all. (v. 7)
2. When you have love, you cover with grace. You don’t take delight in the fall of others.
3. Believes all does not mean gullibility, but believes the best.