sermon illustration

The More Excellent Way - Pentecostal (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Source: Gifts teaching74 words

1 Corinthians 13 is sandwiched between chapters about spiritual gifts. Paul's point: gifts without love are nothing. A church known for prophecy and healing lost its pastor to moral failure. What remained? Not the miracles but the love—members who cared for each other through the crisis. Gifts attract crowds; love sustains community. The "more excellent way" isn't less supernatural; it's MORE so. Love is the greatest miracle. Are you chasing gifts while neglecting love?

Topics & Themes

giftslovemore excellentcommunitysustaining

Scripture References

1 Corinthians 13:4-71 Corinthians 12:31

Emotional Tone

lovegriefcompassion

Audience

adults

Powered by ChurchWiseAI

This illustration is a preview of what our AI-powered ministry platform can do. ChurchWiseAI offers a full suite of tools built for pastors and church leaders.

Sermon Companion

Build entire sermons with AI — outlines, illustrations, application points, and slide decks tailored to your tradition.

Ministry Chatbot

An AI assistant trained on theology, counseling frameworks, and church administration to help with any ministry question.

Bible Study Builder

Generate discussion guides, devotionals, and small group materials from any passage — in minutes, not hours.

Try any app free for 7 days — no credit card required.

Get Started

More Illustrations for 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 more illustrations anchored to this passage

🙏devotionalAnglican

Daily Diversity & Inclusion - Story

The devotional encourages reflection on Diversity and Inclusion through a biblical lens, specifically referencing 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. It emphasizes the importance of responding to others with love and grace, while seeking to be a guiding light that brings hope and healing in these areas.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
🙏devotionalAnglican

Daily Diversity & Inclusion - Prayer

This devotional prayer emphasizes the importance of engaging with Diversity and Inclusion through a lens of love and grace, as modeled by God. It encourages reflection on how one's actions can serve others and honor God, promoting hope and healing in the community.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
🙏devotionalCatholic

Contemplating Life - Biblical Insight

This devotional encourages reflection on how to engage with life through the lens of God's love and grace, as exemplified in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. It emphasizes the importance of personal transformation for the purpose of serving others and bringing hope to the world.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
🙏devotionalBlack Church

Prayerful Hell - Prayer

This devotional emphasizes the importance of reflecting God's love and grace in our lives, particularly in challenging situations. It encourages believers to engage with the darkness around them by being a source of hope and healing, ultimately transforming both themselves and the world through their actions.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Related Illustrations

🎬movie analogyUniversal

The Avengers: Many Members, One Body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

In The Avengers, a god, a super-soldier, a genius billionaire, a rage monster, and two spies must work together—or the world ends. Each has unique gifts; none can succeed alone. "The eye cannot say to

bodyunitydiversity1 Corinthians 12:12-27
🎬movie analogyUniversal

Oceans Eleven: Every Member Essential (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

In Oceans Eleven, Danny Ocean assembles eleven specialists—pickpocket, acrobat, hacker, demolitions expert—to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously. No individual could do it; together, they're u

giftsdiversityteamwork1 Corinthians 12:12-27
🎬movie analogyUniversal

Ratatouille: Anyone Can Cook (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

Imagine a bustling kitchen in Paris, the air thick with the rich aroma of garlic and herbs. The clang of pots and the sizzle of pans fills the air, as chefs dart about with fervor, each one a master of...

callingunlikelygifts1 Corinthians 1:27-29
🎬movie analogyUniversal

The Incredibles: When Everyone Is Special (1 Corinthians 12:14-20)

In *The Incredibles*, there’s a pivotal moment when Syndrome, the film's villain, unveils his chilling master plan: to make every person “super” through technology, proclaiming, “When everyone is super, no one will be.” It’s a stark reminder of how easy...

giftsfamilyidentity1 Corinthians 12:14-20
🎬movie analogyNon-denom

Chariots of Fire: Wonderfully Made for Running - Anglican (Psalm 139:13-16)

Imagine standing in the cool morning air of a Scottish field, dew glistening on the grass as the sun begins to rise. The roar of a crowd echoes in the distance, but in that moment, all is quiet for Eric...

vocationgiftscallingPsalm 139:13-16
adults
🎬movie analogyUniversal

Amadeus: When Others Are More Gifted (1 Corinthians 12:14-18)

Salieri loves God and music. He has worked, sacrificed, disciplined himself. Then Mozart arrives—vulgar, immature, seemingly unworthy—but impossibly gifted. Salieri's faith collapses: Why would God gi

jealousygiftscomparison1 Corinthians 12:14-18
Back to all illustrations