Living Out Love: Actions, Forgiveness, and Community

Devotional

Day 1: Love as a Deliberate Choice

Love is not merely an emotion but a series of deliberate actions that reflect God's preferences. In 1 Corinthians 13, love is described through actions such as patience, kindness, and humility. This kind of love requires us to engage with others in a way that mirrors Christ's love for us. It is an active commitment to put others' needs before our own and to act in ways that are consistent with God's will. This love is not passive; it demands intentionality and effort. [50:49]

1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Reflection: Think of a specific way you can show deliberate love to someone in your life today. How can you make this action a reflection of God's love?

Day 2: The Freedom of Forgiveness

True love does not keep a record of wrongs. Holding onto past grievances only burdens us and hinders our ability to love freely. Forgiveness is essential, not because it negates the wrong done, but because it frees us from the weight of resentment and allows us to live more fully in Christ. Forgiving others is a reflection of the forgiveness we have received from God. It is a step towards healing and restoration, both for ourselves and for our relationships. [01:07:20]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?

Day 3: Empowered by the Holy Spirit

We cannot love as described in 1 Corinthians 13 on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us, remind us of Christ's teachings, and empower us to live out this love. The Spirit helps us to prefer what God prefers, transforming our natural inclinations into godly actions. This divine assistance is crucial for us to love others in a way that is consistent with God's will and character. [01:19:44]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's help to love others more fully? Pray and ask for His guidance and empowerment today.

Day 4: Love in All Relationships

Love is not limited to romantic relationships but extends to all interactions within the church and community. Whether married, single, or widowed, we are called to love others as Christ loves us. This love builds deeper relationships and fosters a supportive, caring community. It is through these acts of love that we can create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. [56:01]

Romans 12:10 (ESV): "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

Reflection: Identify one person in your church or community who might need extra support or encouragement. How can you show them Christ's love in a practical way this week?

Day 5: Balancing Love and Justice

While love does not keep a record of wrongs, it does not ignore sin or eliminate consequences. There is a place for justice and accountability within the church and society. Love involves walking with others through their struggles and helping them find restoration, not ignoring or enabling harmful behavior. This balance ensures that love is both compassionate and just, reflecting the character of God. [01:10:53]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: Think of a situation where you need to balance love and justice. How can you approach this situation in a way that reflects both God's compassion and His righteousness?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to worship and reflect on the profound nature of love as described in 1 Corinthians 13. We began by acknowledging the importance of community outreach, particularly through our upcoming Vacation Bible School (VBS) and the Benevolence Fund offering, which supports those in need within our church and community. We then delved into the essence of love, emphasizing that love is not merely an emotion but an action that reflects God's preferences and commands.

We explored the characteristics of love, noting that it is patient, kind, and not envious or boastful. Love does not insist on its own way, nor is it irritable or resentful. We discussed the importance of not keeping a record of wrongs, understanding that true love forgives and does not hold grudges. This kind of love is essential not just in marriages but in all relationships within the church and beyond.

We also touched on the practical aspects of living out this love, such as engaging in discipleship, participating in small groups, and serving both the church and the community. The goal is to grow together in faith and demonstrate Christ's love through our actions. We acknowledged that while love does not ignore sin or eliminate consequences, it calls us to forgive and leave judgment to God.

Finally, we celebrated communion, remembering Christ's sacrifice and the new covenant established through His blood. This act of remembrance reinforces our commitment to live out the love described in 1 Corinthians 13, both within our church and in our daily lives.

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Key Takeaways

1. Love as an Action, Not Just an Emotion: Love in 1 Corinthians 13 is described through actions—patience, kindness, and humility. It is not merely a feeling but a series of deliberate choices that reflect God's preferences. This love is active and requires us to engage with others in a way that mirrors Christ's love for us. [50:49]
2. Forgiveness and Letting Go of Resentment: True love does not keep a record of wrongs. Holding onto past grievances only burdens us and hinders our ability to love freely. Forgiveness is essential, not because it negates the wrong done, but because it frees us from the weight of resentment and allows us to live more fully in Christ. [67:20]
3. The Role of the Holy Spirit: We cannot love as described in 1 Corinthians 13 on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us, remind us of Christ's teachings, and empower us to live out this love. The Spirit helps us to prefer what God prefers, transforming our natural inclinations into godly actions. [79:44]
4. Love in Community: Love is not limited to romantic relationships but extends to all interactions within the church and community. Whether married, single, or widowed, we are called to love others as Christ loves us. This love builds deeper relationships and fosters a supportive, caring community. [56:01]
5. Consequences and Justice: While love does not keep a record of wrongs, it does not ignore sin or eliminate consequences. There is a place for justice and accountability within the church and society. Love involves walking with others through their struggles and helping them find restoration, not ignoring or enabling harmful behavior. [01:10:53]
### [70:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:34] - Benevolence Fund and Community Outreach
[15:13] - Opening Prayer
[16:17] - Worship and Fellowship
[17:19] - Introduction to 1 Corinthians 13
[43:35] - The Essence of Love
[45:04] - Engaging in Discipleship
[46:25] - Growing Together in Faith
[47:56] - Applying Biblical Stories to Our Lives
[50:49] - Characteristics of Love
[52:39] - Love Never Ends
[54:16] - Love in Different Relationships
[56:01] - Love in the Church Community
[67:20] - Forgiveness and Resentment
[70:53] - Consequences and Justice
[79:44] - Role of the Holy Spirit
[87:53] - Closing Prayer and Communion
[101:19] - Closing Song and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the characteristics of love as described in 1 Corinthians 13? [50:49]
According to the sermon, what does it mean that love "does not keep a record of wrongs"? [01:00:37]
How did Jesus demonstrate love and forgiveness during His crucifixion according to Luke 23:34? [01:12:42]
What does Galatians 6:1-2 instruct believers to do when they see a brother or sister caught in sin? [01:23:35]

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to understand love as an action rather than just an emotion, according to 1 Corinthians 13 and the sermon? [50:49]
How does holding onto past grievances hinder our ability to love freely, as discussed in the sermon? [01:07:20]
What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping us to love as described in 1 Corinthians 13? [01:19:44]
How can the church community support each other in living out the love described in 1 Corinthians 13? [56:01]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you found it difficult to forgive someone. How did holding onto that resentment affect your relationship with them and your own well-being? [01:07:20]
Think of a specific relationship in your life where you can practice the patience and kindness described in 1 Corinthians 13. What practical steps can you take this week to show love in that relationship? [50:49]
How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit to guide your actions and help you love others as God prefers? What specific prayer or practice can you incorporate into your daily routine to seek the Spirit's guidance? [01:19:44]
In what ways can you contribute to building a supportive and caring community within your church? Identify one action you can take this week to show love to a fellow church member. [56:01]
How do you handle situations where you feel wronged or hurt by someone? What steps can you take to let go of resentment and forgive, while still addressing any necessary consequences or justice? [01:10:53]
Reflect on the concept of love not being resentful or keeping a record of wrongs. How can you apply this principle in your interactions with family, friends, and coworkers? [01:00:37]
During communion, we remember Christ's sacrifice and the new covenant established through His blood. How does this act of remembrance reinforce your commitment to live out the love described in 1 Corinthians 13 in your daily life? [01:31:59]

Sermon Clips

1. "One of the things the church is called to do is care for the church, to care for the people that we are part of. And that's what that Benevolence Fund is. And that's what that Benevolence Fund is for, is to help care for the needs of people within our church family." [14:34] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "As followers of Christ, God is with us. You know, sometimes I think as Christians, sometimes I think as the church, we can forget that far too easily. We can think that we've got to do the work of God. We've got to do this. We've got to do this to accomplish what God wants. We've got to move the ball along to get God where he needs to be, or maybe he wants to be. Listen, when we follow Christ, when we follow him, that's what we're doing. We're following." [43:35] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We believe the church is called to go. We're supposed to serve. Both one another and the community that we live in. And we do all these things because that's what we've been called to do as followers of Jesus Christ. Gather with other believers so that we can grow, so we can be equipped, so we can mature. We grow in those settings so we build deeper relationships with one another. Deeper knowledge and care and concern and love and grace for one another." [46:25] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "How we apply that to our lives is that God's ways, God's plans, God's purposes are not always ours. He accomplishes things in ways that He chooses to accomplish them. And He just calls us to follow and do what He's told us to do. And as we grow, we learn those things. As we sing silly songs. I've told you this before. I love it when we sing that song. Man, the fruit of the Spirit. Followers of Jesus. Man, we really get that. We really, really live out the fruit of the Spirit. What does that show the world around us about the God we love and we serve?" [47:56] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." [52:39] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Love is not about the things we say. Love is about the things we say. Love is about the things we say. Love is demonstrated through our actions. And that's one of the things that we have talked about from the beginning with 1 Corinthians chapter number 13, is we have actually, as the church, done a disservice to this chapter by so often applying it to marriage. We read this at weddings, and this is love. Yeah, that's true. If you're here today, and love like this is not exhibited in your marriage, there is a serious problem. But this was not given by Paul only to the married people in Corinth. This was given to the church." [54:16] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Love does not keep a record of wrongs. Love is not resentful. I am not the judge, jury, and executioner. Now, just to reiterate, love not keeping a list of wrongs, love not being resentful does not mean there are no consequences. There are far too many people, there are far too many people who in an effort, a good effort to say, I want to follow what God has said. I want to follow the Holy Spirit. I want to follow and do what's right. There's far too many people who have put up with something that is wrong, put up with abuse. Allowed things to continue that should not continue." [01:21:54] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Love covering a multitude of sins says, I'm not tracking that on your account. I'm not writing this one down for later. I want to love you and care for you, and I'm going to walk with you in a normal, striving to be healthy relationship. Church life, marriage, parent to child. This is what love looks like. This is how love acts." [01:25:53] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Pray this week, Lord, show me. Show me the lists that I'm holding. Show me the resentfulness that I have. And then take the next step and make it right. Maybe you just need to ask God for forgiveness and deal with it and move on. Maybe you need to go to somebody and you need to ask their forgiveness for resentment that you've held on to that's affected the way you've treated or interacted with them." [01:27:53] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We believe the church is called to go. We're supposed to serve. Both one another and the community that we live in. And we do all these things because that's what we've been called to do as followers of Jesus Christ. Gather with other believers so that we can grow, so we can be equipped, so we can mature. We grow in those settings so we build deeper relationships with one another. Deeper knowledge and care and concern and love and grace for one another." [46:25] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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