Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Home group questions:
From your current understanding of the spiritual gifts of tongues, prophesy and knowledge (in other words don't feel as though you have to do research) what do you think they are?
Once the church had been established and the cannon of scripture had been completed with the penning of the book of Revelation, do you think there was still a need for tongues, prophecy and knowledge?
Paul says that when 'the perfect' comes the 'revelatory gifts' (gifts that reveal something about God) will cease. When do you think that will be, or has it already happened, based on your reading of the text?
Reading that we know in part and prophecy in part while we await the perfect to come, how does this make you feel? Are you encouraged or discouraged by the fact that we live in the partial?
What do you think Paul's purpose was in talking about moving from a child to a man? Why do you think Paul used the words "I gave up childish ways" which has an active, purposeful connotation.
In verse 12 Paul compares the now with the then. Putting the two "nows" together and the two "thens" together what do they tell us about our relationship with God now compared to then. How does the thought of the 'then' make you feel?
How do you feel about the thought of living for eternity? Did Isaac's explanation of what happens in heaven make you feel any differently?
How does it make you feel to know that you are fully known by God?
