INTRODUCTION
SLIDE 1- MAIN SLIDE
- Have you ever been betrayed, tricked, or lied to?
- I would imagine all of us could sadly say yes to that.
- When we observe the world around us and watch the media, we notice that everything is often portrayed in the worst possible light.
- That is unless what is happening fits the agenda of whichever source you are tuned into.
SLIDE 2- TITLE SLIDE
- When we are children, we tend to believe in everyone.
- We had an innocence about us that I believe makes it easier to love people.
- But what happens over time?
SLIDE 3- THE CHALLENGE OF TRUST
- We begin to understand the cruelty and deceitfulness of people, losing the innocence we once had and replacing it with the harsh realities that the world reveals about human nature.
- Once we reach that stage in life, things become more challenging because, understandably, we no longer take people at face value; our experiences have taught us that we cannot trust them.
- Depending on the severity of your burn, you might believe that you can never think well of others.
- When I worked with animals at the shelter, I would notice this behavior in certain animals.
- Some of them arrived from environments where people had mistreated them.
- Those cats and dogs took a lot of love and patience to get them to trust people again.
- What is one of the most challenging actions we must take to improve our ability to love?
- Today, as we continue our quest to love better, we will dive into the issue of love believing all things.
- We will see what this statement from Paul means and also what it does not mean.
- If we are going to learn to love better, we need to grasp the difficult concept that love believes all things.
- The part of verse 7 we will focus on today describes the relentless, active nature of this aspect of love, and today's focus is on one crucial aspect: "love believes all things.
- Let’s look at our main passage together.
1 Corinthians 13:7 NET 2nd ed.
7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
SERMON
SLIDE 4- MAIN POINT 1
I. Love believes all things? Really?
- This statement about what love does can be difficult and confusing.
- Most of the other statements can be a bit difficult at times; however, love believing all things?
- That can be a challenge.
- "Believes all things" signifies a charitable judgment and a predisposition to trust.
- It means approaching others with an initial assumption of their sincerity and good intentions, rather than with suspicion and cynicism.
- "Believes all things" does not mean that love is easily fooled or naive or that it ignores truth and discernment.
- Look at what Jesus told His disciples as He sent them out.
Matthew 10:16 NET 2nd ed.
16 “I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
SLIDE 5- WHAT IT MEANS
- Love believing all things does not negate the need for the use of discernment.
- This isn't about being susceptible to deception but rather about beginning our interactions with the assumption of innocence.
- It reflects God's own love, which sees potential and value even when we fall short.
- The word believe comes from the same root as the word faith.
- Believe means to trust, put faith in, and rely on, along with many other words that convey the same thought.
- This is where it gets a bit spicy: love believing all things doesn't imply a gullible or naive acceptance of falsehood, but rather a profound choice to trust, to see the best in others, and to hold steadfastly to faith.
- When the evidence indicates that you are being deceived, simply believing in love does not provide clarity; therefore, we must accept the lie.
- Love's belief is not blind to reality but chooses to focus on the best possible interpretation and the potential for good in people and situations.
- It looks for evidence of God's grace at work, even amidst imperfections and failings.
- This hopeful belief can be transformative, encouraging growth and redemption in others, rather than condemning them based on past mistakes or present weaknesses.
- We can go through life being skeptical of everyone around us, and when we live that way, we will miss a tremendous number of blessings.
- Are there people we cannot believe?
- Absolutely.
- You can handle those types of people, but if you see everyone that way, you'll be lonely and sad.
- One of the things that can help us believe in others is that love maintains faith in God's ability to work in an individual's life.
- Even when a person seems resistant or unchanging, love holds onto the belief that God can bring transformation, sanctification, and redemption.
- It's a faith in God's promises and His ongoing work in His creation and His people.
- This prevents us from giving up on others, as we trust in a God who specializes in making all things new.
- Because love believes the best, it "bears all things" and "hopes all things."
- A trusting heart is more willing to endure patiently with others' shortcomings (bearing) and to look forward with positive expectation for their future (hoping).
- It means not rushing to judgment or writing people off.
SLIDE 6- TOXIC
- It is too easy to write off people as toxic.
- I mean, who wants to have toxic stuff in our lives?
- I would caution you to be careful how you use the label “toxic” on others.
- Labeling someone as toxic is easy because it allows us to avoid dealing with them.
- As we apply that label, it becomes easier to use it on others we find difficult, leading us to dismiss those who disagree with us or whom we struggle to understand.
- Do you think that Jesus was in the habit of writing people off as toxic?
- In fairness, are there toxic people? Yes; however, if you find yourself writing off many people as toxic, maybe you…
- Loving and believing in all things involves a willingness to walk with people through their struggles while maintaining faith that positive outcomes are possible.
- This belief doesn't mean avoiding difficult conversations or accountability, but it approaches them with a heart aimed at restoration rather than condemnation.
- Doubt can be a barrier to love.
- Can you fully love someone you doubt or cannot trust?
1 John 4:18 NET 2nd ed.
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.
- When we choose to believe all things, we push aside doubt and fear.
- We trust that God is at work in the lives of those around us.
- We need to practice trust and faith in our relationships, even when it is challenging.
- Let’s move to our second observation.
SLIDE 7- POINT 2 SLIDE
II. What does love believing all things look like?
- When we possess a love that believes all things, what does that look like in our lives?
- Believing all things in love is crucial for building strong and healthy relationships.
- One result of having a love that believes in all things is that we will experience stronger and more fulfilling relationships.
- Think about how fulfilling a marriage would be if it were anchored by a love that believes all things.
- Not being able to trust people or always thinking the worst of people is exhausting.
- There is freedom in being able to approach people thinking the best of them.
- Instead of making them prove you can trust them, make them show you that you cannot trust them.
- Jesus Christ demonstrated perfect love by believing in humanity and sacrificing Himself for our redemption.
- Think about the ways Jesus showed trust and faith in His disciples and in all humanity, even when faced with betrayal and rejection.
- At its core, love transcends doubt and fear.
- It embodies a belief in the inherent potential of every individual.
- Love encourages us to see the beauty within, even when it is obscured by faults or failures, urging us to reject cynicism in favor of patience and understanding.
- When we can believe all things, we will see a better attitude in ourselves; we will be less cynical and more encouraging.
- You have been around people who are pessimistic about others.
- Do you generally find that person to be happy and joyful, or something less than that?
SLIDE 8- WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
- In practical terms, love that believes in all things encourages us to see the best in others and support them with our trust.
- It challenges us to continue believing in their potential, commitments, and promises.
- In a world where doubt and skepticism often prevail, love's ability to remain trusting becomes a beacon of hope and relational stability.
- Because of our view of love, we become optimistic encouragers instead of people who discourage others and tear them down.
- A trusting attitude can transform relationships and inspire those around us.
- One way to destroy a child is to be constantly discouraging to them, always telling them they can’t.
- One thing about my father was he always believed in me.
- He always told me that if I set my mind to do something, he knew I could do it.
- When we possess a love that believes all things, we become an encourager, and we inspire those around us to grow and reach their full potential.
- Love naturally carries an inherent trust, choosing to believe the best in others.
- Our mindset becomes rooted in trust and positivity.
- Love allows us to extend grace by trusting others' intentions and maintaining hope even amid doubt.
- It fosters an atmosphere of faith and confidence.
- You become a person others want to be around!
- Let’s look at a final observation.
SLIDE 9- POINT 3 SLIDE
III. The benefits of love believing all things.
- There are many benefits to having a love that believes all things.
- Here are a few.
SLIDE 10- PART ONE
- The benefit to our relationships.
- We cultivate a spirit of trust by communicating openly and valuing transparency in your relationships.
- Open dialogue builds a foundation of trust and understanding, allowing love to flourish.
- Encouragement in doubt.
- We become a source of encouragement to those who may feel uncertain or discouraged.
- When we express belief in their capabilities and dreams, we reinforce their confidence and potential.
- Fostering Unity.
- Our attitude will help build trust and promote collective growth within our communities.
- Our actions can reflect the essence of believing in the goodness of others, encouraging a united and supportive community.
- We feel better about ourselves.
- When we can love like we are called to do, being a positive person is more energizing than being negative.
SLIDE 11- PART 2
- We draw others closer to us.
- When we see and seek the best out of people, we become a person who others want to spend time with.
- We model the love that Jesus has for us.
- When you read the New Testament, do you see Jesus as someone who loved us or who looked at everyone with skepticism?
- Do you think that Jesus saw the best or worst in us?
- When we see that God so loved the world that He sent Jesus, do you think God has a negative view toward humanity, or do you think He sees the best in people?
- Yes, there are wicked people, but did God allow the bad to sour Him on the rest?
CONCLUSION
- Love isn't about being naive; instead, it involves maintaining faith in others, choosing to see the divine potential and goodness that God sees in them.
- Paul's message encourages us to extend trust by creating a nurturing environment.
- Love's belief in all things inspires us to trust and have faith in the potential and goodness of others.
- By integrating this perspective into our lives, we build stronger relationships and contribute to a community that thrives on mutual trust and support.
SLIDE 12 YOUR CHALLENGE
- We need to reflect daily on how we embody this aspect of love, aiming to nurture an environment of trust and faith.
- Let me encourage you to reflect on your interactions: do you tend to assume the best in others, or do you default to skepticism?
- This week, make a conscious effort to believe in the inherent potential and good intentions of those around you.
- Cultivate an atmosphere of trust and encouragement in your relationships.
- By focusing on believing the best in others, we transform our relationships and mirror the unconditional love that God has for each of us.
- Let's strive to embody this aspect of love in our daily lives, knowing that through trust, we can build stronger, more meaningful connections.
