1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

● Agape Suffers Long — It stays when every natural impulse is screaming to leave.

● Agape Is Kind — It gives good when the flesh is demanding revenge.

● Agape Does Not Envy — It can celebrate someone else without needing to diminish them.

● Agape Does Not Parade Itself — It does not need an audience in order to feel valuable.

● Agape Is Not Puffed Up — It is secure enough to stay low.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

● Agape Suffers Long — It stays when every natural impulse is screaming to leave.

● Agape Is Kind — It gives good when the flesh is demanding revenge.

● Agape Does Not Envy — It can celebrate someone else without needing to diminish them.

● Agape Does Not Parade Itself — It does not need an audience in order to feel valuable.

● Agape Is Not Puffed Up — It is secure enough to stay low.

A MORE EXCELLENT WAY

John 13:34-35 – 34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35By this all will know that you are My disciples, If You Have Love for One Another.”

I. The Wrong Way – Ranking and Comparison

Romans 12:3-4 – 3For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function…

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3 – 31But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you A MORE EXCELLENT WAY. 13:1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but

have not love, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

• The Verdict on Tongues — White Noise: “I Say Nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:1 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I HAVE BECOME sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

• The Verdict on Prophecy, Knowledge, and Faith — Identity Loss: “I Am Nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:2 – And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I AM NOTHING.

• The Verdict on Self-Sacrifice — I Gain Nothing: “I Profit Nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:3 – And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, IT PROFITS ME NOTHING.

II. The More Excellent Way – Love

I. Motherhood Is More than Birth — It’s a Life Rhythm

• Raising Children requires a Daily Rhythm.

Deuteronomy 6:7 – You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

• Raising Children requires a Devoted Parent.

Deuteronomy 6:6 – And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

II. Motherhood Takes More than You – It Takes a Family

• The greatest protégé Paul ever had was discipled at a kitchen table.

1 Corinthians 12:14-22 – 14For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

I. The Autoimmune Mechanism

• A healthy body attacks what’s foreign; an autoimmune body attacks what’s natural.

Galatians 5:15 – But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

• The church's Autoimmune Disease is an “Anti-Body Ideology” — the deeply embedded theology of individualism that has taught us to function as isolated units rather than connected members.

I. He Became Flesh

John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

II. He Humbled Himself

Philippians 2:7-8 – 7He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

III. He Suffered Innocently

1 Peter 2:22 – Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.

I. Eternal Life Is Not Merely Believing in Jesus — It Is Knowing Jesus

John 17:3 – And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

II. The Holy Spirit Makes Jesus Personal, Not Merely Historical

1 Peter 1:6-9 – In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,8whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

John 14:16-18 – 16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you orphans; I WILL COME to you.

The Holy Spirit must not be defended by Scripture; He must be DEFINED by it!

I. Movement 1 – The Holy Spirit Begins the Life of Christ in Us

1. Creation: The Holy Spirit creates a new life through a new birth.

John 3:5-6 – 5Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of

water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born

of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Core Purpose: To initiate divine life where none existed that is capable of

perceiving and participating in the Kingdom of God.

2. Sustaining: The Holy Spirit becomes your inner source.

John 4:14 –

“But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.

But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water

springing up into everlasting life.”

Core purpose: To provide ongoing internal supply for spiritual vitality.

I. We Are Not the Destination — We Are a Link

Exodus 3:15 – Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of

Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and

the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My

memorial to all generations.’”

• We inherited truth from those before us.

Jude 1:3 – Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common

salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend

earnestly for the faith which was ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED to the saints.

• We steward it faithfully in our time.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 – 1Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of

the mysteries of God. 2Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found

faithful.

• We must pass it to those after us better than when we found it.

1 Corinthians 11:1 – Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

II. What We Do Today Creates Ripples Beyond Us

I. Life Operates by Jurisdiction, Not Desire

Romans 7:1 – Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has DOMINION over a man as long as he lives?

• JURISDICTION – The invisible fence that determines what is legally possible in your life.

THE MARRIAGE LAW

Romans 7:2-3 – 2For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.

II. You Don’t Escape the Law — You Die to It

Romans 7:4 – Therefore, my brethren, you also have become DEAD TO THE LAW through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another— to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. (By Proxy = Jesus’ Body)

• Death is the intended outcome of God’s law.

I. Life Operates by Jurisdiction, Not Desire

Romans 7:1 – Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has DOMINION over a man as long as he lives?

• JURISDICTION – The invisible fence that determines what is legally possible in your life.

THE MARRIAGE LAW

Romans 7:2-3 – 2For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.

II. You Don’t Escape the Law — You Die to It

Romans 7:4 – Therefore, my brethren, you also have become DEAD TO THE LAW through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another— to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. (By Proxy = Jesus’ Body)

• Death is the intended outcome of God’s law.

WHEN YOU SEE THE CONNECTION, YOU REGAIN YOUR DOMINION!

John 8:32 –

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I. Life Feels Out of Control When the Cause Seems Invisible

• You cannot govern what you think is accidental.

Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have

rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you

have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

II. God Built All Human Life on the Law of Connection

• Your outcomes are attached to your actions by design.

Galatians 6:7-8 – 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,

that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap

corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

III. When You Don’t See the Connection, You Blame

• Blame relieves your feeling of responsibility, but it steals your authority.

Proverbs 19:3 – The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against

the LORD.

WHEN YOU SEE THE CONNECTION, YOU REGAIN YOUR DOMINION!

John 8:32 –

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I. Life Feels Out of Control When the Cause Seems Invisible

• You cannot govern what you think is accidental.

Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have

rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you

have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

II. God Built All Human Life on the Law of Connection

• Your outcomes are attached to your actions by design.

Galatians 6:7-8 – 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,

that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap

corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

III. When You Don’t See the Connection, You Blame

• Blame relieves your feeling of responsibility, but it steals your authority.

Proverbs 19:3 – The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against

the LORD.

WHEN YOU SEE THE CONNECTION, YOU REGAIN YOUR DOMINION!

John 8:32 –

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I. Life Feels Out of Control When the Cause Seems Invisible

• You cannot govern what you think is accidental.

Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have

rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you

have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

II. God Built All Human Life on the Law of Connection

• Your outcomes are attached to your actions by design.

Galatians 6:7-8 – 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,

that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap

corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

III. When You Don’t See the Connection, You Blame

• Blame relieves your feeling of responsibility, but it steals your authority.

Proverbs 19:3 – The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against

the LORD.

WHEN YOU SEE THE CONNECTION, YOU REGAIN YOUR DOMINION!

John 8:32 –

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I. Life Feels Out of Control When the Cause Seems Invisible

• You cannot govern what you think is accidental.

Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have

rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you

have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

II. God Built All Human Life on the Law of Connection

• Your outcomes are attached to your actions by design.

Galatians 6:7-8 – 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,

that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap

corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

III. When You Don’t See the Connection, You Blame

• Blame relieves your feeling of responsibility, but it steals your authority.

Proverbs 19:3 – The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against

the LORD.