As well known and loved as 1 Corinthians 13 is, the love chapter can present challenges for how we should interpret and apply it in a sermon. When I read Haddon Robinson's sermon Hanging on When You Feel Like Giving Up, I received wise and discerning guidance on verse 7: Love "always protects, always trusts." In fact, what I read reminded me of Philippians 1:9-10: "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ."

This week we also feature:

• Editor's Choice Illustration: Book Decries an Increase in Aborting Girls
• Video Illustration: Lost and Found

Preaching good news,
Brian Larson
Editor, PreachingToday.com
blarson@christianitytoday.com

P.S. This week's News That Illustrates includes thoughts on the moral implosion of the British newspaper News of the World and on the power of simple encouragement to those attempting to quit smoking.

Craig Brian Larson is the pastor of Lake Shore Church in Chicago and author and editor of numerous books, including The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching (Zondervan). He blogs on Knowing God and His Ways at craigbrianlarson.com.