Love and the Fruit of the Spirit

Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Tim Keller

Religion & Spirituality, Religion, Religion & Spirituality:christianity, Christianity, Spirituality

4.8 • 15K Ratings

🗓️ 5 November 2025

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Almost all of us have parts of our lives we really want to see changed, but change is really hard. And it’s very possible to mistake a morally restrained heart for a supernaturally changed heart. If you squeeze a rubber ball and then take your hand away, it snaps right back to where it was. You restrained the rubber ball temporarily, but you didn’t really change it. Almost all of us have that rubber ball experience. We try to change parts of our lives, and we put a lot of willpower behind it. Then as soon as circumstances change, it snaps right back. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that a supernaturally changed heart 1) is not the same as a busy life in service of others, 2) is not the same as a morally committed life, but 3) is meeting love as a power and as a person. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on April 11, 2010. Series: The Real Signs of the Spirit. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to Gospel in Life. Many of us try to change through sheer willpower, conquering bad habits or forcing better behavior, only to find ourselves snapping back to old patterns. In today's message, Tim Keller is exploring the fruit of the spirit, showing how real transformation isn't about moral restraint,
0:22.3	but a heart that, through Christ, is changed from the inside out.
0:32.6	The scripture reading for today is taken from the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verses 1 through 13.
0:41.8	If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol.
0:51.9	If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
0:58.0	and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I
1:06.5	possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love. I gain nothing. Love is patient.
1:16.8	Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not
1:23.7	self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs.
1:29.5	Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
1:34.1	It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1:41.2	Love never fails.
1:47.2	But where there are prophecies, they will cease.
1:51.3	Where there are tongues, they will be stilled.
1:55.2	Where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1:59.6	For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
2:06.6	When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.
2:12.6	When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
2:21.2	Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror.
2:41.3	Then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part. Then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now, these three remain, faith, hope,
2:50.1	and love. But the greatest of these is love. This is the word of the Lord.
3:00.5	Now, when you hear that red, you immediately look for the bridesmaids, the flower girl.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Tim Keller, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Tim Keller and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.