What does it mean to be an example in love? To answer this question effectively we need to ask ourselves what is love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Love According to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, it shows three important things about love:

I. What love is

• Love is patient

• Love is kind

II. What love is not

• Love is not envious

• Love is not boastful

• Love is not proud

• Love is not rude

• Love is not selfish

• Love is not easily angered

• Love does not keep record of wrongs

• Love does not delight in evil

III. What love does

• It always protects

• It always trusts

• It always hopes

• It always perseveres

• It never fails

We Can Set Example in Love by Having Two Major Virtues

I. The virtue of Patience We can show patience:

• By practicing tolerance

• By applying time factor

II. The virtue of kindness The virtue of kindness is being marked by the following four things:

• The ability to care

  Galatians 6:2 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

• Ability of compassion

• Ability of concern

  1 John 3:17-18 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

• The ability to cover

  1 Peter 4:8 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

  Proverbs 10:11-12 12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

Why Do We Need to Set an Example in Love?

I. To honor Christ’s command

John 15:9-12 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

II. To attracts God

1 John 4:15-16 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

• We need to have Him first before we share Him.

• In order for us to reveal Him, we need to receive Him first.

III. To draw people to God One of the major things which make people to come to church is to see God. Love should be the motivating factor towards our doings.

IV. To reciprocate God’s love

1 John 4:19-21 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

How to Build and Improve and Maintain Love

We can build love:

• By having intimacy with God

• By practicing initiation process.

  Matthew 7:12 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

• By learning to forgive easily and quickly Lack of forgiveness is one the main destroyer of relationships.

The Formula of Love

1. Love God first

2. Love yourself

Matthew 22:36-40 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

How to love yourself:

• Accept yourself

• Appreciate yourself

• Advance yourself

3. Love others