Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

When a pastor counsels a couple about their marriage, invariably it comes at a time when love has seemingly been lost. That couple--and many couples--may ask if there really is such a thing as lasting love. In 1 Corinthians 13 we find God's epic teaching on love--what it is and what it means. Applied to marriage, we find that a Christ-centered love really can stand the test of time. In this message, Dr. Merritt walks verse-by-verse through the New Testament definition of love, and how it can be successfully applied to your own marriage today.

"If you can imagine love as being a fleet of ships, then the flagship of love is patience. In English, we use the term 'short-tempered' to describe someone who loses his or her temper quickly or has a short fuse. The kind of person that the least little thing will set them off. This word is very interesting. It is made up of two words. The first word is 'thymia' which gives us the word 'thermometer.' It refers to heat or passion. The second word is 'macro' which is the opposite of 'micro.' It means 'long.' Literally, it says, 'Love is long-tempered.' Love has a long fuse. It takes a long time for love to boil over. In fact, love not only has a long fuse, but even when it is lit it only takes a short time to put it out. How does your love measure up and how is your love working out for you?" --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: the knot, man, woman, husband, wife, marriage, covenant, connection, Jesus Christ, church, married, relationships, love, agape, eros, philos, show, demonstrate, jealous, patient, kind, envy, boast, dishonor, self-seeking, anger, wrong, delight, evil, bear, believe, hope, endure, fail, Lee Ielpi, September 11, 2001, firefighter