The document discusses the importance of coupling love with knowledge and discernment, drawing from the teachings in Philippians and Corinthians. It emphasizes that while love is essential, knowledge ensures that love is effective and aligned with biblical truth, preventing false teachings and moral compromises. The author concludes that true love grounded in knowledge not only leads to righteousness but ultimately brings glory to God.

1. Love Abounding in Knowledge
Philippians 1:9-11

2. Have you met someone with
knowledge but lacking love?
• A college professor?
– Knows the material but cares little for the student.
• A young pastor?
– Knows the Bible, can expound the Scriptures, but
has little patience or love for his flock.
• An employer?
– Knows how to make a buck, but cares little for his
employees or the customer.

3. Some Christians, even churches have
knowledge but lack love.
The Corinthians church was blessed with
all the gifts, including knowledge, but
were lacking in love.
Paul scorned the Corinthians for their lack
of love.

4. Knowledge w/out love is vanity.
1 Corinthians 13:1–2 (ESV)
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,
but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a
clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic
powers, and understand all mysteries and all
knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to
remove mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing.

5. But What about Love without
knowledge?
Can someone have love, but be in danger because
the love is not coupled with knowledge?
• The teacher that loves his students, but lacks
knowledge in the subject matter or how to
manage a class?
• The young couple in love but lacks knowledge of
each other: families, past, beliefs, running a
household?
• The parent loves the child, but lacks knowledge
on how to discipline?

6. But What about Love without
knowledge?
• A doctor that loves his patient but doesn’t
know medicine.
• A lawyer that believes and cares for you, but
whose knowledge of law is inadequate.
• A Pastor that loves his congregation, but lacks
knowledge of the Bible.

7. A Christian, or church can have love
w/out knowledge and discernment.
The Philippians had love, but needed
knowledge.
Paul prayed for the Philippians, that they
increase in love, but that it be coupled with
knowledge and discernment.

8. But love must be with knowledge
Philippians 1:9–11 (ESV)
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound
more and more, with knowledge and all
discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is
excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the
day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ,
to the glory and praise of God.

9. I. We need to increase in our
ability to love.
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and
more
“abound” – super abundance of, excessive.
The Philippians gave in abundance.
• Philippians 4:12,18 I know how to be brought low, and I
know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I
have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,
abundance and need.
• 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well
supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts
you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and
pleasing to God.

10. II. Our increased love must be coupled
with knowledge and discernment.
love may abound more and more, with knowledge
and all discernment,
• Love without knowledge can make us susceptible
to false teachers
– Phil. 3:2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the
evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
– Phil. 3:18–19 18 For many, of whom I have often told
you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies
of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their
god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with
minds set on earthly things.

11. II. Our increased love must be coupled
with knowledge and discernment.
love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all
discernment,
• Love without knowledge may compromise the truth:
– Gal. 2:11–14 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I
opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12
For before certain men came from James, he was eating
with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and
separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And
the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so
that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14
But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the
truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If
you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew,
how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

12. II. Our increased love must be coupled
with knowledge and discernment.
love may abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment,
• The love Paul speaks of is not:
– Mystical knowledge gained by introspection.
– Some deep spiritual knowledge reserved for
secrete societies.
– Rational knowledge, practical knowledge, or
common sense.
– Love based on subjectivity, or sentimentalism.

13. II. Our increased love must be coupled
with knowledge and discernment.
love may abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment,
• The love Paul speaks of is:
– Love grounded in objective Biblical truth, guided
by wisdom as revealed in Scripture.
– Knowledge of biblical truth regarding the nature
of God, of man, of sin, of morality.

14. II. Our increased love must be coupled
with knowledge and discernment.
love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all
discernment,
• Discernment is given through the study of God’s Word:
Hebrews 5:11–14 11 About this we have much to say, and it
is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you again the basic principles of the
oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for
everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of
righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the
mature, for those who have their powers of discernment
trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

15. When our love is coupled with
knowledge and discernment:
• We approve what is excellent.
– 10 so that you may approve what is excellent,
– To discern what is best.
• It’s not always about choosing right or wrong,
good or bad, but the better of two goods.
• Many of our choices are not between moral
good or moral evil, but between things of
lesser or greater value.

16. Examples:
• Meeting a person on the street that obviously
has needs. Love may motivate to help.
Knowledge and discernment is needed to
know how to help.
• Almost all programs in the church are
designed to meet some objective good. Which
ones are the best use of our resources and
time? Knowledge and discernment is needed.

17. Story of VBS – good intentions

18. When our love is coupled with
knowledge and discernment:
• We remain pure and blameless at the coming
of Christ.
– “and so be pure and blameless for the day of
Christ”
– “Pure”- It is eilikrineis, which comes from the
words for “sun” and “to judge,” thus indicating
purity that is tested by the light of the sun.
– “blameless” – not causing offense, not causing
one to stumble.

19. The question
When we stand before the brilliant light of the
righteousness of Christ:
– Will the light reveal decisions motivated by self
interest and worldly knowledge?
– Will the light reveal decisions motivated by love,
purified through knowledge and sensitivity of
God’s Word?
– The first will cause others to stumble.
– The second will lead others closer to Christ.

20. When our love is coupled with
knowledge and discernment:
• We are filled with the fruit of righteousness that
comes through Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:22–26 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against
such things there is no law. 24 And those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with
its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit,
let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become
conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.

21. Love coupled with wisdom
produces fruit
James 3:13–18 (ESV) 13 Who is wise and understanding
among you? By his good conduct let him show his works
in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter
jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast
and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that
comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual,
demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the
wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial
and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in
peace by those who make peace.

22. When our love is coupled with
knowledge and discernment:
• God receives glory and praise.
– “to the glory and praise of God.”
It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s not
about us.
True Spiritual love, true spiritual knowledge,
true spiritual fruit is not for bringing attention,
praise, or glory to oneself or to the church. It
brings glory and praise to God.