1 Corinthians 13 is a very famous passage, but in the context of the entire book of 1 Corinthians, we see that it is a sober warning against straying from the Gospel. If a person is gifted, as many of the Corinthians were, then it is frighteningly easy for that person to mistake their spiritual gifts for spiritual fruit.
When we serve others in the church, are we serving Jesus or are we serving ourselves? To understand this passage fully, you have to understand 1) The story behind it; 2) The bombshell Paul is dropping on the Corinthians; and 3) How it applies to people today.
This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on April 14, 1996. Series: Love: The Way to Grow Up. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
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Released on 1 Jun 2026