Mother’s Day, 2010
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
- Honored to be called as your Pastor (ensure everyone has my contact info)
- Open door policy ALWAYS -- just call or come by
- Website is in design format and will be released next weekend
- Gone this week for work – home on Friday but have the cell
- Next Sunday after AM service meeting with the Deacons
Introduction
- In your Bibles, go to 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13
- Mother’s Day is always a special day, because it should remind us of love
- It should remind us of the great gift of love that each of us has been given
- Fact: To be born, considering the alternative, is in itself a gift or act of love
- Because God has loved us, because God has demonstrated His love, by sending His Son to die for us – we can sleep not only with Mother’s love, but God’s also
- Let’s look at an incredible definition of love, and seek God’s face this morning
- Stand and read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 / Pray
Point 1 – There’s Hope for Us
- We must understand the context of this passage to be able to fully grab it
- On the surface, appears that Paul is simply telling us how to live, but there’s more
- Acts 9 records for us the conversion of Saul to Paul, and shows us the fear of God
- Yet, even in that fear – even in that despair – God showed mercy to Paul
- Paul was a murderer; he was an agent of the Romans; sent to destroy the church
- His life mission was to weed out and kill the followers of “The Way” (expound)
- But here, on the road to Damascus, God’s love was shown even to this murderer
- APP: If God could reach out and love a man like Paul – there’s hope for us
- Love is something we have as a gift from God for us, and to be used by us
- How we treat one another in this world is outlined in this passage
- TRANS: Let’s reflect on this passage and examine our lives before a Holy God
- Ask yourself, “What is Love?” (APP: Mother’s Day and beyond …)
Point 2 – What is love?
- As believers we must examine love, and comprehend how to show it … always
- It must be the central act that the whole world sees and hears, without delay
- Love is patient: How patient are you when things don’t go your way?
- Love is kind: Are you able to hug complete stranger; like a homeless person?
- It does not envy: God instructed us not to covet (Ex 20); we must grasp this
-- What we have is FROM God, and what we need will be given BY God
- It does not boast -- it is not proud: Love is not about us; it’s about Christ!
- It is not rude, it is not self seeking: Do you seek love for wrong reasons?
- It is not easily angered: patience; grace; mercy is underserved (mercy at cross)
- It keeps no record of wrong: Do you have a checklist of sins? Why? Consider if someone kept a checklist of your sins? (There is none righteous (Rom 3:10))
- Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth: Happiness is in the truth; being miserable and having that grey cloud always is NOT living in truth (ref 1 John 1:7)
Key Application ...
- Note this last verse here and the key word that is used (always means ALWAYS)
KJV: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
-- It always protects: Shielded from danger
-- It always trusts: Having complete confidence and faith in
-- It always hopes: promise, being optimistic (there’s a future to be had)
-- It always perseveres: Refuses to stop, diligent, pursuing
- God pursued us intentionally to be redeemed to Him: Christ was the final way
- Romans 5:8 quotes, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
- APP: It does not matter who it is – our reflection of love MUST be shown
- Whether it’s loving our Mom’s today; or loving a stranger on the street – we must love in all things and be part of bringing people to Jesus Christ
Conclusion
- Paul knew this and in this passage he was remembering what he was given in life
- He was remembering that true love never fades, and never looks for ways out
- God’s love for us is unwavering; without excuses or apologies for being shown
- On Mother’s Day we remember the love that we have been shown; gift of life
- APP: But do we eagerly show that same love to those around us? (Expound)
- APP: Do we show others who the true and living God is/bring His love to all?
- As believers, we must follow in total submission to this love; willing to die for it
- We must be eager to love one another, for love is all that will matter in the end
(Invite singers)
- Love of Christ needs to be first – accept Him as savior: Salvation is calling
- Love of one another is a fruit of following Christ: Is repentance needed?
