Love Bears All Things Series

INTRODUCTION

SLIDE 1- SERMON TITLE

- Today we continue on our quest to learn to love better.

- Throughout this series, we have been on a track to learning to love those in our church family better, along with those in the community.

- Love is not only a feeling; love involves action and sacrifice.

- Today, we're going to explore a powerful truth found in 1 Corinthians 13:7 and Matthew 7:24-27—a truth that speaks to the enduring, sustaining nature of love.

SLIDE 2- NEW TITLE SLIDE

- Paul describes love as something that 'bears all things,' and that word 'bear' doesn't simply mean to carry; it means to hold up under pressure, to keep standing when everything else is falling apart.

- Love, as God defines it, isn't thin, fragile, or prone to leaking or breaking under stress.

- If you have ever camped out in the rain in a cheap tent, you have experienced a roof that sags and leaks when the pressure of the storm hits.

- Our passage fosters a love that endures the challenges of life and provides protection.

- Love does not leak.

- Jesus echoes this resilience in Matthew 7 when He tells the parable of the wise man who built his house on the rock.

- The rains came, the winds blew, and the floods rose—but the house stood firm because its foundation was solid.

- Love, when it is built on Christ, becomes that same kind of foundation.

- It's not a feeling that fades with time but a divine force that strengthens amid trials.

- As we begin this message, I want us to consider: What kind of love are we building our lives upon?

- Is it the type that becomes brittle during a conflict, or is it the type that remains steadfast during challenging times?

- God's love doesn't leak—it covers, it protects, and it perseveres.

- Today, we'll learn how that kind of love can change our relationships and our faith.

- Let us open our hearts to the Word and discover the love that truly bears all things.

1 Corinthians 13:7 NET 2nd ed.

7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

SERMON

SLIDE 3 MAIN POINT 1

I. Love bears all things.

- The phrase bears all things' suggests a profound aspect of love’s nature—it willingly carries burdens and withstands difficulties.

- In the original Greek, the word translated as bears' (stego STAY ROW) can mean to support, to protect, or to cover over.

- The word means to cover closely in order to keep water out, and it generally refers to bearing up under conditions.

- It truly implies a form of love that provides refuge to others during challenging times, akin to sheltering them beneath a roof.

- Love does not leak!

- This implies that love not only endures hardship for the sake of others but also protects them, refusing to expose their faults or abandon them in times of trouble.

- In essence, this part of the verse portrays love as strong and resilient.

- True love doesn’t falter when faced with challenges.

- It chooses to carry the weight of others' weaknesses, mistakes, or burdens with patience and compassion.

- It’s not blind tolerance, but a deliberate, selfless act of enduring out of care for another.

- This concept is powerful because it moves love out of the realm of emotion and into concrete action.

- It indicates that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to support and uphold others, even when it is difficult.

- When we say that love bears all things, it doesn't mean that love ignores wrongdoing or denies reality.

- Rather, it emphasizes that genuine love chooses to remain under the strain of difficulties without giving up.

- It's about perseverance and a protective spirit that guards others from undue harm or exposure.

- When things get tough, love doesn't quickly give up or abandon others.

- Instead, it stands firm and offers support even when situations become burdensome.

- This aspect of love is particularly challenging because it calls for endurance in the face of trials, patience with others' weaknesses, and a willingness to carry emotional or relational burdens.

- It's sacrificial and steadfast.

- Love bears not just some things or only bearable things, but all things — pointing to the unconditional and enduring nature of true love.

- So, in practical terms, love that bears all things means being there for others consistently, staying committed through ups and downs, and offering grace and support when it's most needed.

- It's a call to show resilient kindness and faithfulness, reflecting the kind of love that God shows to us.

- Love 'covers' and protects others from harm, shame, or exposure.