If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Study Questions:
The word 'wrongdoing' points towards actions committed but what are the underlying beliefs and thoughts behind wrongdoings, not only in the world but also among Christians? How do these beliefs relate to righteousness/unrighteousness?
How do you understand Brian Borgmann's definition of God's righteousness:
“His commitment to uphold the worth of his own glory, and then to act in perfect accord with that which maintains and promotes his glory.”
What is your understanding of God's glory is and why is upholding the worth of His glory so important to Him?
How is God's glory related to righteousness?
The Westminster Catechism says that "the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever" and Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31: 31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God".
Why should God's glory be of utmost importance to a believer? If God's glory is our highest priority how should that effect the way we treat other believers?
What does it mean to be jealous for God's glory and if we are how does this effect our relationship with other believers?
What are some of the ways that Christians might rejoice in unrighteousness in their own lives and in other people's live?
How is rejoicing in wrongdoing/unrighteousness unloving?
How did the sermon shape your understanding of "the truth"? (See the following verses as a reminder; John 8:32, John 14:6, John 16:13, John 17:17, John 18:38, Ephesians 1:13, 2 John 4)
How are truth and unrighteousness opposites? How does believing and following the truth guard us from unrighteousness?
Paul's says "rejoices WITH the truth". Why do you think he said "with" instead of "in"?
In what ways might you rejoice with the truth, at home, at work, in church, when with friends etc?
How is rejoicing with the truth loving?
