This sermon explores 1 Corinthians 13, emphasizing that spiritual power without love is spiritually bankrupt. Paul teaches that operating in spiritual gifts—tongues, prophecy, healing, knowledge—without the motivating force of God's love renders these gifts ineffective and annoying. The sermon challenges believers to examine their motives, recognizing that God fully knows them even when they only know Him dimly. True spiritual maturity requires surrendering completely to God's love, which is the only thing that will transition from this age to the eternal age when Christ returns. The message calls Christians to shift from self-preservation to concern for others, modeling Christ's sacrificial love while ministering in His power.

Key Points:

Without love, spiritual gifts become noisy, ineffective, and vexing to others

Operating in God's power without God's love is like having energy without strength—it collapses under its own weight

Extra spiritual power cannot compensate for a lack of love

Love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not arrogant, not rude, and does not insist on its own way

Spiritual gifts (prophecy, tongues, knowledge) will pass away when Christ returns, but love endures forever

The word "perfect" in verse 10 refers to Christ's second coming, not the completion of Scripture

God fully knows us even though we only know Him dimly, like looking in a blemished mirror

Christians must shift from self-preservation to outward concern for others

Faith, hope, and love abide, but the greatest is love because it alone passes into eternity

Holding back parts of ourselves from an all-knowing God is futile

Scripture Reference:

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (primary focus)

Psalm 139 (search me, O God, and know my heart)

1 John 4 (God is love; anyone who does not love does not know God)