Love Is The Answer

Sermon for 2/3/2008

Love is the Answer

Introduction:

Blessid Union of Souls- Violence is spread worldwide and there are families on the street

And we sell drugs to children now oh why can’t we just see

That all we do is eliminate our future with the things we do today

Money is our incentive now so that makes it okay

But I believe that love is the answer I believe that love will find the way

I believe that love is the answer I believe that love will find the way

WBTU:

A. Basically the Bible agrees with these statements. Love is the answer.

B. Read 1 Corinthians 13.

C. We are starting a series on 1 Corinthians 13 for the next several weeks. This sermon is a general introduction.

Thesis: This morning let’s start our discussion on love from 1 Corinthians 13.

For instances:

I. I Corinthians 13:11 (Something is lacking because we are adults)

A. When my children get into a fight, we have them say they are sorry and then hug.

B. The children do it reluctantly. “Why can’t you just love each other?”

C. Same dynamic is in effect when someone comes to me with marriage problems. I ask them, “Can’t you just love one another? Can’t you forgive one another? Can’t you be kind to one another?” And, basically, the response was “No, I can’t. I’m out of love. I don’t have any more love for that person or I don’t have any more forgiveness.” And those are honest replies. How can I help people love somebody?

D. Many times I give them tips on how to love each other. Show clip from Andy Griffith Show Andy, the Marriage Counselor.

E. I even show them why they need to love each other- Commanded in Bible.

F. “What’s my motivation?” This famous line has been uttered in many movies. Alfred Hitchcock even alluded to it in describing his work with some of the actors in his films: “When an actor comes to me and wants to discuss his character, I say, ‘It’s in the script.” If he says, ‘But what’s my motivation?’ I say, ‘Your salary.’”

G. Many times our motivational techniques are somewhat lacking. Like Andy the Marriage Counselor, we fail. Why?

H. Loving people isn’t always easy. The vow breakers, truth benders. The money grubbers and backstabbers we meet, work with, and marry. How do we love someone who is hard to love? What’s our typical strategy for treating a troubled relationship? Try harder. So we try. Teeth clinched. Jaw firm. Conventional wisdom says that a lack of love implies a lack of effort, so we dig deeper, strain more. We’re going to love if it kills us! And it may do just that.

I. Preachers are guilty of doing this. “Love each other!” we tell the church. “Be patient, kind, forgiving! The beatings will continue until you love each other.” Reminds me of my children when they are having troubled relationships. Could it be that we are missing a step?

J. Max Lucado says, “We think that love is an emotion, so if we don’t feel love toward a person, we don’t love them (this is a childish view of love). My understanding of the biblical view of love is that it’s not so much a feeling as it is a decision, as it is resolve, a commitment, more loyalty than emotion. There is no person I’m going to feel like being around every single day. And I think I married the greatest person in the world. But there’s going to be some days in our marriage that I don’t feel like being with her but if my love is based on feelings, then I’m not going to stick it out. What I’m suggesting is God’s love for you isn’t based on his feelings toward you, but based on a covenant he’s made with us. If I can receive his covenant with me, then I in turn can give that covenant of love to others.”

K. Could it be that the first step of love is not toward them but toward God? Could it be that the secret to loving is first receiving God’s love?

II. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (God is love)

A. Those verses are so romantic. Said at most weddings.

B. Go through verses and in place of love put Crystal. So romantic but definitely not truthful!

C. Go through verses and in place of love put Davon. Now we have a problem. Davon is not patient, Davon is not kind. Ask my wife and kids. This statement that Davon never fails is bordering on blaspheme.

D. This paragraph sets a standard that no one can meet. No one that is except Jesus.

E. (1 John 4:16 NIV) God is love. God the Son and God the Father are one. Therefore, Go through verses and in place of love put Jesus.