1 Corinthians 13, Called to Love
Theological Proposition/Focus: The key identifier of a legitimate covenant community is the presence of love.
Homiletical Proposition/Application: Since love is the visible sign that legitimizes our covenant community the Christ follower must ensure that love is central in all their actions.
Introduction:
Image: KFC's secret Ingredient.
I personally like KFC, I know that not everyone does, but I like it. What is it that makes KFC so good? The KFC secret recipe is famously known as Colonel Harland Sanders' "11 herbs and spices." While the exact formula has been a closely guarded secret for many years, a supposed copy of the recipe was discovered in 2016. While this recipe has been widely circulated and tested, KFC has neither confirmed nor denied its authenticity. The company's official stance remains that the original recipe is a trade secret, kept secure in a vault at the KFC headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.
Unlike KFC, the secret ingredient for the church is no secret. We know what makes the church special, love and without love everything else is just a waste of time.
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Setting the Stage:
Body
Love is the secret sauce that makes everything else worth tasting (1-3).
Without love, speech is worse than meaningless, it is annoying (1).
Without love, even profoundly helpful gifts help nobody (2).
Without love, selflessness is empty of meaning (3).
Image: Caffein Free, what's the point.
I have to admit, I am not a caffein person. I love coffee and soda but I always choose caffein free. I just don't like the way Caffein makes me feel. But I know that for many of you when you hear the word caffein-free you say, what the point.
MTR: Make sure that your actions are full-octane filled with love.
Love is so much more than a mere emotion (4-7).
Love impacts the way I respond to the actions of others (4a).
Love impacts the way I relate to others (4b-5).
Love impacts the way I view the world (6).
Love impacts the actions I take and choices I make (7).
Image: Name brand and knock off products.
There are things that I don't mind buying the off-label product. When we were in China we enjoyed going to the market and negotiating on items. I remember buying a Nike hat for less than $3 because the swoosh was just a little off center. I was happy to have the hat, it didn't cost me much, and no-one has ever noticed. There are other things where the story is different. I once bought a can of off-label Pringles. They were disgusting. I am sure if you have never had a real Pringle then it tasted fine but these were gross.
Don't settle for off-label love!
