"LOVE NEVER FAILS" I Corinthians 13:4-7(NIV & Weymouth) I. Introduction. A. Love is a word. B. Love is an action. C. Love is misunderstood. D. People love different things. E. Christians love the Lord, the truth, Christians... F. Always remember: Love never fails!(ENDURES LONG) II. Body. A. Love is...(v. 4) 1. Patient. a. Also: "Forbearing." b. With self and with others. 2. Kind. a. Active in doing good. b. Proper disposition for Christian. B. Love is not...(v. 4) 1. Envy. a. Also: "Knows no jealousy." b. Malice, grudges, evil-eye, etc. 2. Boastful. a. Or--"Does not brag." b. Also: "Conceited." c. One said: "Does not show off." d. Matthew 6:1. e. Root of word: "braggart." C. Love is not...(v. 4-5). 1. Proud. a. "Not conceited." b. Not concerned with own greatness/honor. 2. Rude. a. "Unmannerly." b. Or-"Not ill-mannered." c. Be courteous/sympathetic. 3. Self-seeking. a. "Selfish." b. "Does not insist on its own rights or its own way."(Amplified) c. Note: Philippians 2:4. 4. Easily angered. a. "Irritable." b. "It is not touchy."(Amplified) c. Anger is controlled by the individual. D. Keeps no record of wrongs(v. 5b). 1. "Nor mindful of wrongs." 2. "Pays no attention to a suffered wrong." (Amplified) 3. "Love writes over personal wrongs in ashes or in water."(Pulpit Commentary) 4. Remember: Matthew 18:21-22. 5. The spirit of Paul: II Timothy 4:16. E. Love does not...(v. 6) 1. Delight in evil. a. "Rejoice in injustice." b. "That was good enough for him." c. Also implies that one may take advantage of one who has experienced a misfortune. 2. But...rejoices in truth. a. "Joyfully sides with the truth." b. The opposite of evil! c. Glad for truth even when called upon to change. F. Love always...(v. 7) 1. Protects. a. "Can overlook faults"(self & others) b. "Never gives up." c. Note: I Peter 4:8. d. Does not publish the short-comings of others. 2. Trusts. a. "Is ever ready to believe the best of every person."(Amplified) b. Opposite of one who always sees evil in anothers motives and/or actions. (cynic, pessimist) c. Love is not always suspicious. 3. Hopes. a. "Fadeless under all circumstances." (Amplified) b. Cultivates a spirit of cheer/happiness. 4. Perseveres. a. Or.."Endurance." b. "Without weakening."(American New Testament) III. Conclusion. A. Read Phillips translation. B. Note verse 13. C. Why is love greatest?-jy