The Greatest
#294, The Greatest, Sunday,
Text: 2 Peter 1:5-8; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Theme: Love is letting God’s heart beat in and through you.
INTRODUCTION:
- I brought my message with me to
- What would Jesus do? Do everything in love.
- What would Jesus do? Do everything in love.
- As Americans, our values and lifestyle are far apart.
- “Love is the greatest, I just can’t stand some people.”
- “People should be sensitive to others, but I had my reasons to curse them.”
- “Love is the greatest, I just can’t stand some people.”
- Peter ends his list of virtues with love (agape)
Text: 2 Peter 1:5-8
- The highest form of love ever known.
- We are so confused about love. (The definition of love takes up 4½ pages in the
- Demonstrated b God through Jesus Christ.
- We are so confused about love. (The definition of love takes up 4½ pages in the
- How important is love? How important is your heart to your body?
Theme: Love is letting God’s heart beat in and through you.
What can we do to strengthen our hearts in God?
Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
- Watch for the warning signs for heart disease and failure.
- Heart attacks are usually preceded by “signals.”
- What are some signals of love growing cold?
- Dizziness and confusion about God’s priorities and ours.
- We tend to emphasize gifts above character.
- If I can just speak in tongues …
- We tend to emphasize sacrifice over character. (v3)
- Some martyrs were just showing off.
- Sacrifices won’t make up for lack of love.
- Another warning sign: irregular heartbeats, heart murmurs.
- Love does not envy (v4)
- Love does not boast (v4)
- “It is not proud …” (v4) ~ Do I try to impress others?
- “It is not easily angered.” (v5)
- Love keeps no record of wrongs. (v5)
- “Love does not delight in evil” (v6)
- A person filled with God’s love can’t laugh at evil and filth.
- Heart attacks are usually preceded by “signals.”
- Exercise your heart in the love of God.
- How can we strengthen our hearts?
- Practice patience and kindness everyday (v4)
- Love is like the motor oil that keeps the parts from destroying each other.
- Love is a candle burning, not a firecracker.
- God is not looking for superstars, just lights.
- Find joy in what gives God joy.
- “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.” (v6)
- Stay positive in a negative world.
- In the last days the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24).
- “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (v7)
- “No matter how bleak your circumstances, you can always love and still feel good about life.”
- People fail, but love never fails. (v8)
- How can we strengthen our hearts?
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
What can we do to have more of God’s love beating through us?
- Receive the love of God.
- Repent for lack of love in our words and actions.
- Keep fighting the battle for love. “Jesus reduce me to love.”