Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-10-13

II
GOLDEN TEXT - And now abideth
faltn, hope, charity, these three. but the
greatest of these is charity.-I Cor. 13.
REFERENCE MATERIAL - John 12:
"a, 35: Rom. 12:9-1O.
h PRIMARY TOPIC-How to Show Our
Love.
JUNIOR TOPIC-What Love Does.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
A Letter to the Church at Corinth.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Some Problems OF an Early Church.
I. Party Spirit in the corinthian
Church (1:10, III.
In this church rival factions were
contending against each other. Some
were for Paul, some for ApollOs, some
for Peter, and some for Christ. The
cause of this condition was failure
to see that the membership composing
His body cannot be divided BY one
Spirit all were baptized into the one
body G2:13).
u. Love the More Excellent Way
Il Cor. 13 lib.
All of the Spirits gifts are good.
but the most valuable of all is love.
Not all can preach or interprei
tongues, but all can have the gift OF
love. Love in this chapter is the
more excellent way Of chapter II 81.
ID The Pre-eminence of Love (vv.
1-3)- 1t transcends (I speaking with
tongues. For men TO possess the lofti-
EST eloquence and be lacking in love
is to be as booming brass and clank-
ing cymbaL To be able to speak
pleasingly and powerfully is desirable.
but to love is better.
(2) The gift of prophecy-the ability
to unfold mysteries. To be able to
penetrate the mysteries of nature and
providence is good, but to love is bet
ter
(3) Faith of the most vigorous kind,
even such as to remove mountains. is
of less value than love.
(4) Philanthropy Of the most gener-
Gus sort, causing one to surrender
all earthly goods for the sake of the
poor is praiseworthy, but unless actu-
ated by love is valueless before God.
(5) Heroic devotion which leads to
martyrdom is proftless unless backed
by love.
2. The Attributes of Love (vv. 40.
~ 1t is long-suffering and kind. 1t
means not only to bear long, but to be
kind all the while. 1t is much easier
to bear long than it is to be kind all
the while.
(2) 1t is free from envy. Those
who love are entirely free from the
spirit engendered because of the su-
perior worth and success of others.
(3) 1t is free from boasting and
vanity. Love strives to do good to all
and is not careful to seek their admira-
ton and applause.
(4) 1t is decorous. Love is always
polite and mannerly; knows how to be-
have at all times.
(5) 1t is unselfish. 1t is always
seeking the good of others and is for
getful of self.
(6) 1t does not give way to passion.
1t does not allow itself to be aroused
TO resentment 1t is not quick tenn
| pered.
(O 1t takes no delight in evil; does
not impute evil motives to others: is
not suspicious. 1t is forgiving. Love
has no sympathy with that which Is
| evil, but sympathizes with that which
| is true; has a common JOY with it.
(S) 1t beareth all things. 1t wraps
Itself in the gracious mantle of love
| and shuts all evil out.
(9) Love is trustful; 1t looks into
the future with confidence.
! 10) Love is hopeful; 1t seizes the
! things of the future and brings them
into the present, appropriating them
for its use.
Q1) Love is firm. It is free frOT
vacillation. 1t intelligently sets its
attention to things that are right anG
with unvarying strength holds fast.
3. The Permanence of Love wv. 8
13). ID 1t outlasts prophecy. Proph
ecy in the Scriptures means both q
/ foretelling of events and the teaching
of the Word of God. Prophecy as pre-
diction shall be fulfilled; prophecy Il:
teaching shall be brought to an end il
that day when teaching is not needed
(Heb. SILL; Jer. 81 :34).
(2) 1t OutlastS speaking witt
tongues. The race once spoke th'
same language, but as judgment fo
sin and rebellion God brought confu
sion and caused the people to Speal
many tongues. The day Is comm!
when the redemption wrought by Je
sus Christ shall have been accom-
plished in all its fullness; all nation
shall be brought back to one tongue.
(3) 1t Outlasts knowledge. TIL
knowledge we now have is only rela
tive, but the day Is coming when thl
relative knowledge shall be done ava
by the coming in of a wider and noble
intelligence; the twilight shall be los
in maturity, for at Christ's coming w
shall see Him face to face and shal
be like Him. Love will always abide
for God is love.