Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. The sermon will focus on vs. 8-13; the preceding verses will set the context. What is the main topic of this chapter? What is stated about the importance of that topic?
• Specifically, from vs. 8-13: What is stated about the duration of love? What about the duration of other aspects of the Christian faith?
• What do you think the author is referring to as “perfect”? What is “partial”?
• Why do you think the author refers to the difference between a child and a man?
• What is stated about the three realities of Christianity stated in vs. 13? What connection does this have to the preceding verses?

Prayerfully Meditate

• What do you think of when you consider the word “love”? How have you heard or experienced love being abused to an extent that might have skewed your understanding of it?
• What does 13:1-7 state about love that might challenge your understanding or application of it?
• Why would Paul declare love as the greatest of the three Christian realities listed in vs. 13?
• What definition of love would you give as it is portrayed in your own life? What would people around you say about love as expressed by you? How does this correlate with what Paul states about love here?