Loving as Jesus loves – love is essential 1 Cor.13:1-3

1. God is Love – 1John4:8,16God gives of himself a. He creates us b. He saves us - sacrificial act of love – John 3:16;

1John 3:16; 4:9,10 - intimate relationship – Eph.5:31,32 - secure/permanent relationship –

Rom.8:35-39

c. God serves us

1. Assuring us of his love –Rom.5:5; 8:15,162. Equipping us to serve – 1Cor.12:4-6; 1Cor.12-

14; Eph.4:1-16; 1Pet.4:10,113. Providing all we need - Our Shepherd – Ps.23; John 10 - Cleansing us – Eph.5:25-27 - Praying for us- Lk.22:31,32;Heb.7:24,25 - Sharing his plans – John 15:15 - Enabling us to do what is right-

Rev.19:8;Phil.2:12,13

2. God’s people must love

1Cor.13 is about life in the Church

a. Without love I am hollow – v.1

b. Without love I am nothing – v.2

c. Without love I achieve nothing – v.3

Christ’s love must fill our hearts & motivate us – 2Cor.5:14,15

3. Practical steps

a. Respond to God’s sacrificial loveb. You owe a debt of love – Rom.13:8 1. Those in the Church - do you know them? - do you pray for them? Eph.3:16-19 - pray & show love to 1 difficult person 2. Those outside the Church - 1 difficult person, 1 person to “reach/teach”c. “Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus”-

Rom.13:14