TITLE:  The Cement is Mostly Sand
TEXT:  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
PROPOSITION:  God has prescribed the cement that will hold marriages together.
QUESTION:  What?
KEY WORD:  Definitions
SCRIPTURE READING:  Same

INTRODUCTION:

1. Illustration of bricklayer – “Make the mortar extra rich, put in lots of sand.”
2. Marriages are falling apart at an alarming rate.
3. God has provided the glue, mucilage, or cement to hold them together.
4. In previous lessons – statistics, communication, submission
5. Today – final in this series – What can hold a marriage together?

1. Marriage is empty without true agape love.
   1. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
   2. Symphony or kindergarten percussion band?
   3. Sacrifice means nothing without love
2. Agape love is a requirement
   1. Not an accidental emotion
   2. Not an option – suggestion
   3. Husbands AND wives are COMMANDED to love each other

                                                               i.      Husbands love your wives – Ephesians 5:25

                                                              ii.      Wives love your husbands – Titus 2:4

3. Here is the recipe for the cement that will hold a marriage together:
   1. Longsuffering

                                                               i.      Put up with slights, neglects

                                                              ii.      Patient with their faults

2. Is kind
3. Does not envy
4. Does not parade itself, is not puffed up

                                                               i.      Not bloated with self-conceit

                                                              ii.      Not preoccupied with self-gratification

5. Does not behave rudely

                                                               i.      Keep the marriage in the bounds of decency

                                                              ii.      Never tempt with – “If you love me …”

6. Does not seek its own – remains other person centered
7. Is not provoked – not hot-tempered
8. Thinks no evil – One is not suspicious or mistrusting
9. Rejoices – has pleasure

                                                               i.      Not in iniquity

                                                              ii.      But in truth

10. Love lasts

                                                               i.      Bears all things – putting a veil over faults

                                                              ii.      Believes all things – has faith that

                                                            iii.      Hopes all things – never gives up hope

                                                            iv.      Endures all things – weathers the storms