Embracing the Eternal Power of Love
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone! It's a joy to be here today, and I hope you're as excited as I am. We've been journeying through our sermon series, "Love God, Love People," and today we wrap it up by focusing on the permanence of love and the importance of sowing love into the world around us. We've discussed the example of Christ and the challenges of loving others despite their flaws and heartbreaks. Today, we delve into the eternal impact of our choices and the importance of maintaining a long view of love, the gospel, and the redemptive work of Jesus.
We began by reflecting on the concept of love in our lives. Love is a word we often use casually, but do we truly understand its significance in the gospel of Jesus Christ? John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. This love is not just for us to receive but also to share with others. We are called to love God and love people, and this love should be evident in our actions and choices.
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul emphasizes the permanence of love. Love is greater than faith and hope because it endures forever. The Corinthian church, known for their beautiful but imperfect mirrors, serves as a metaphor for our understanding of divine reality. Our current understanding is dim and incomplete, but one day we will see clearly. Love remains past all things because it is the basic character of God Himself.
We also discussed the importance of loving ourselves. You cannot give what you don't have. If you can't look in the mirror and say, "I love you," then you cannot give the kind of love that God calls us to give to others. This self-love is not about vanity but about recognizing that we are created in God's image and are loved by Him.
Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 13 is clear: without love, all other spiritual gifts and actions are meaningless. Love is patient, kind, and enduring. It does not boast, is not proud, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love never fails. This is the kind of love we are called to show to the world.
We shared a powerful story about a wife who, filled with hatred for her husband, was advised to act as if she loved him. Her actions changed her feelings, and she discovered that she truly loved him. This story illustrates that love is not just a feeling but an action. When we act in love, our emotions often follow.
As we conclude, I urge you to take an inventory of your life. Where do you see love at work in you? How do you actively love God and others? If you find a deficiency, consider actionable steps to align your time, energy, and money with the love God calls us to show. Remember, God loves you, and He calls us to love others in the same way. This love is not limited by class, characteristics, or personality. God came to seek and save all who are lost, and we are called to share this message with everyone.
Let's stand together and commit to loving like God loves. Let's evaluate our lives and make adjustments where needed. Love is the greatest commandment, and it is what will last above all else. Thank you for your commitment, and may God bless you as you go forth to love God and love people.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Eternal Nature of Love: Love is greater than faith and hope because it endures forever. Our current understanding of divine reality is dim and incomplete, but one day we will see clearly. Love remains past all things because it is the basic character of God Himself. This eternal nature of love calls us to invest in relationships and actions that reflect God's love. [43:54]
2. Self-Love as a Foundation: You cannot give what you don't have. If you can't look in the mirror and say, "I love you," then you cannot give the kind of love that God calls us to give to others. This self-love is about recognizing that we are created in God's image and are loved by Him. It is essential for loving others effectively. [45:08]
3. Love in Action: Without love, all other spiritual gifts and actions are meaningless. Love is patient, kind, and enduring. It does not boast, is not proud, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love never fails. This is the kind of love we are called to show to the world, and it should be evident in our actions and choices. [48:42]
4. Transformative Power of Love: Love is not just a feeling but an action. When we act in love, our emotions often follow. The story of the wife who acted as if she loved her husband and discovered she truly did illustrates this. Our actions can change our feelings and lead to genuine love. [54:07]
5. Taking Inventory of Love: We are called to take an inventory of our lives to see where love is at work. How do we actively love God and others? If we find a deficiency, we should consider actionable steps to align our time, energy, and money with the love God calls us to show. This self-evaluation helps us to love like God loves and advance His kingdom. [01:04:20]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[11:35] - Worship: Worthy is the Lamb
[21:04] - Identity in Christ
[27:34] - Speaking the Name of Jesus
[39:06] - Introduction to Love God, Love People
[43:54] - The Eternal Nature of Love
[45:08] - Self-Love as a Foundation
[48:42] - Love in Action
[54:07] - Transformative Power of Love
[01:04:20] - Taking Inventory of Love
[01:07:07] - Closing Prayer and Commitment
[01:08:45] - Announcements and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 - "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal..."
2. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
3. 1 John 4:8 - "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Corinthians 13, what are the characteristics of love? ([48:42])
2. How does John 3:16 describe the nature of God's love for the world?
3. What does 1 John 4:8 say about the relationship between knowing God and loving others?
4. In the sermon, what story was shared to illustrate that love is an action, not just a feeling? ([54:07])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize that love is greater than faith and hope in 1 Corinthians 13? How does this relate to the permanence of love discussed in the sermon? ([43:54])
2. How does the concept of self-love as a foundation for loving others challenge or affirm your current understanding of love? ([45:08])
3. The sermon mentioned that love is not just a feeling but an action. How does this align with the story of the wife who acted as if she loved her husband? ([54:07])
4. What does it mean to take an inventory of your life to see where love is at work, as suggested in the sermon? ([01:04:20])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Where do you see love at work in you? How do you actively love God and others? If you find a deficiency, what actionable steps can you take to align your time, energy, and money with the love God calls us to show? ([01:04:20])
2. Think about a time when you struggled to love someone. How can the story of the wife who acted as if she loved her husband inspire you to take loving actions even when you don't feel like it? ([54:07])
3. How can you practice self-love in a way that is not about vanity but about recognizing that you are created in God's image and are loved by Him? ([45:08])
4. In what ways can you sow love into the world around you, knowing that love is the basic character of God and endures forever? ([43:54])
5. Identify one relationship in your life where you can invest more love. What specific actions can you take this week to show love in that relationship?
6. How can you remind yourself daily of the eternal nature of love and its importance in your actions and choices? ([43:54])
7. Consider the areas of your life where you might be keeping a record of wrongs. How can you work towards letting go of these records and embracing the kind of love that "keeps no record of wrongs"? ([48:42])
Devotional
### 5-Day Devotional: Love God, Love People
---
Day 1: The Eternal Nature of Love
Description:
Love is a fundamental aspect of God's character, surpassing even faith and hope in its permanence. Our current understanding of divine reality is limited, much like looking through a dim mirror. However, love endures beyond all things and will remain when everything else fades away. This eternal nature of love calls us to invest in relationships and actions that reflect God's love, knowing that these investments have lasting significance. As we navigate our lives, we should strive to embody this enduring love in all our interactions, reflecting the very essence of God.
[43:54]
Bible Passage:
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." — 1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV)
Reflection:
Think about a relationship in your life that needs more of God's enduring love. How can you invest in this relationship today to reflect the eternal nature of God's love?
---
Day 2: Self-Love as a Foundation
Description:
You cannot give what you don't have. If you can't look in the mirror and say, "I love you," then you cannot give the kind of love that God calls us to give to others. This self-love is not about vanity but about recognizing that we are created in God's image and are loved by Him. It is essential for loving others effectively. When we understand and accept God's love for us, it becomes the foundation upon which we can build our love for others. This self-love empowers us to fulfill the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves.
[45:08]
Bible Passage:
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." — Psalm 139:14 (ESV)
Reflection:
Take a moment to look in the mirror and speak words of love and affirmation to yourself. How does recognizing your worth in God's eyes change the way you approach loving others?
---
Day 3: Love in Action
Description:
Without love, all other spiritual gifts and actions are meaningless. Love is patient, kind, and enduring. It does not boast, is not proud, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love never fails. This is the kind of love we are called to show to the world, and it should be evident in our actions and choices. Our daily lives should be a testament to this love, reflecting God's character in every interaction. By embodying these attributes, we can make a profound impact on those around us, demonstrating the transformative power of God's love.
[48:42]
Bible Passage:
"Let all that you do be done in love." — 1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)
Reflection:
Identify one specific action you can take today to show love to someone in your life. How can you make this a regular practice?
---
Day 4: Transformative Power of Love
Description:
Love is not just a feeling but an action. When we act in love, our emotions often follow. The story of the wife who acted as if she loved her husband and discovered she truly did illustrates this. Our actions can change our feelings and lead to genuine love. This transformative power of love shows that by choosing to act lovingly, we can change not only our own hearts but also the hearts of those around us. Love in action has the power to heal, restore, and bring about profound change in relationships and communities.
[54:07]
Bible Passage:
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." — 1 Peter 4:8 (ESV)
Reflection:
Think of a challenging relationship in your life. What loving action can you take today to begin transforming this relationship?
---
Day 5: Taking Inventory of Love
Description:
We are called to take an inventory of our lives to see where love is at work. How do we actively love God and others? If we find a deficiency, we should consider actionable steps to align our time, energy, and money with the love God calls us to show. This self-evaluation helps us to love like God loves and advance His kingdom. By regularly assessing our actions and intentions, we can ensure that our lives are a true reflection of God's love, making a lasting impact on those around us.
[01:04:20]
Bible Passage:
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" — 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
Reflection:
Take some time today to reflect on your life. Where do you see love at work, and where is it lacking? What specific steps can you take to align your actions with God's call to love?
---
May these devotionals guide you in deepening your understanding and practice of God's love in your life.
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Love God. Love people. I threw in a personal quote here of mine. I just made it up. I don't plan on making money. But if you want to throw donations down towards the youth, you can do that. The more we grow in our love to Jesus, the easier it becomes to love others like Jesus." [56:30]
2. "When all fades away, when nothing of this life remains, God will still be there. His love will still be there. And for us believers, we trust by faith that we will spend eternity with God engulfed in. So the reality brings us back to a sharp focus of the call and the command of Christ to love God and to love people. That is what matters. That is what will last above everything else." [59:23]
3. "We must discover the power of love. The power, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make this old world a new world. We'll be able to make men better. Love is the only way. So I ask you this morning, how has the power of love impacted your life? Where have you seen your redemption, your forgiveness, your compassion? How do you love others?" [01:00:18]
4. "God is love. I love that. If that doesn't rejuvenate your hunger and your passion to not only to love him more, to love him stronger, but to do the same thing to those around you, to spread that love. Because, friends, it doesn't do much good if you walk up and say, I'm a Christian, and you self-proclaim that, but they look at you and they, I don't know. You look like you're a Christian. We're not perfect. But I think sometimes we fall to that as an excuse." [01:03:10]
5. "If you haven't ever heard that God loves you, which I think most of you have, but let me just say and echo, God loves you, and he's calling us to love the way he loves. They might look different. They might act weird. They might look weird. They might talk weird. They might talk educated and smarter than you. They might talk educated. might talk dumber than you it doesn't matter the class it doesn't matter what their characteristics are it doesn't even matter what the personality is god came to seek and to save all who are lost we don't get the option of choosing who we want to to speak the message of christ to amen" [01:05:27]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as often repeated deeds. See, the thing about this story is that their love for each other, didn't just all of a sudden reappear in that moment. They didn't go from hate, real hate, to love. Love was always there. Because love is unfailing. Love never dies. Love was always there, but they couldn't see it over the hate. They couldn't see it over the cluttered mind. They couldn't see it beyond their own emotion. But when she was challenged to do all the things that she wanted to get vengeful for, then it became real." [55:49]
2. "We realize that there's only a few important things in life. We begin to see more clearly that the things like our profession and our possessions are truly not as important as the people around us. This clarity seems to be a bit of what Paul is describing in 1 Corinthians 13 this morning. When he compares what he sees now to seeing our reflection in a mirror, which at the time that he was writing this, would have been a very dim and imperfect image." [57:33]
3. "What we see and understand now is in dim reflection of divine reality. It's a gross understatement to say that there's still so much we just don't know. And with that said, we can know what God has revealed to us through his word, which brings us back to 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 13 again. There we go. All right. What does it say? Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become what? But love will what? Are you starting to see the recipe here?" [58:31]
4. "He's saying, look in the mirror. And see yourself, and love yourself the way that I see you and the way that I love you. Because when he made you, he made you perfectly in his image. But so often, we look in the mirror. What do we see? We see our deficiencies. We see our flesh. We see all of our defects, right? I looked in the mirror when I was a little kid growing up. And I looked in the mirror, and I didn't like the size of my lips. No, I don't care. You don't like them? Don't look at them. They kind of consume my face, so it's hard to not see them. But I couldn't look in the mirror because I couldn't see past my lips, literally." [46:17]
5. "Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud. It's not rude. It doesn't demand its own way. It's not irritable. Oh, okay. I'm just going to keep going. It keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice, but it rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up. Love never loses faith. It's always hopeful, endures throughout every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. Everybody say useless. But love will last forever." [49:18]
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