In this lesson introducing 1 Corinthians 13, Stephen Davey contrasts the moral corruption of Corinth with the radical call of Christian love. The city, saturated with immorality and self-indulgence, mirrors modern culture’s confusion about love. Paul’s message to believers living in such a world was that faith without love amounts to nothing—“you accomplish nothing, you are nothing, and you profit nothing.” The sermon explains that the Corinthians, once enslaved to sin, were now called to practice holiness through persistent, daily obedience. Davey explores four Greek words for love—storge (natural affection), philia (friendship), eros (sensual desire), and agape (selfless, willful devotion)—emphasizing that only agape captures the essence of God’s love. This divine love seeks the good of others regardless of attraction, worthiness, or return. The world’s counterfeit loves are fleeting and self-serving, but true love—agape—is enduring, sacrificial, and God-centered. Paul’s call in 1 Corinthians 13 is a challenge for believers to practice this kind of love continually, reflecting Christ in a loveless world.
Will True Love Please Stand Up
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