[1] #294, The Greatest, Sunday, 11-25-2007, Pastor Mark Boucher

Text: 2 Peter 1:5-8; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Theme: Love is letting God’s heart beat in and through you.

INTRODUCTION:

1. I brought my message with me to Maine.
   1. What would Jesus do? Do everything in love.
2. As Americans, our values and lifestyle are far apart.
   1. “Love is the greatest, I just can’t stand some people.”
   2. “People should be sensitive to others, but I had my reasons to curse them.”
3. Peter ends his list of virtues with love (agape)

Text: 2 Peter 1:5-8

1. The highest form of love ever known.
   1. We are so confused about love. (The definition of love takes up 4½ pages in the Oxford dictionary.
   2. Demonstrated b God through Jesus Christ.
2. 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

1. Watch for the warning signs for heart disease and failure.
   1. Heart attacks are usually preceded by “signals.”
   2. What are some signals of love growing cold?
   3. Dizziness and confusion about God’s priorities and ours.
   4. We tend to emphasize gifts above character.
   5. If I can just speak in tongues …
   6. We tend to emphasize sacrifice over character. (v3)
   7. Some martyrs were just showing off.
   8. Sacrifices won’t make up for lack of love.
   9. Another warning sign: irregular heartbeats, heart murmurs.
   10. Love does not envy (v4)
   11. Love does not boast (v4)
   12. “It is not proud …” (v4) ~ Do I try to impress others?
   13. “It is not easily angered.” (v5)
   14. Love keeps no record of wrongs. (v5)
   15. “Love does not delight in evil” (v6)
   16. A person filled with God’s love can’t laugh at evil and filth.
2. Exercise your heart in the love of God.
   1. How can we strengthen our hearts?
   2. Practice patience and kindness everyday (v4)
   3. Love is like the motor oil that keeps the parts from destroying each other.
   4. Love is a candle burning, not a firecracker.
   5. God is not looking for superstars, just lights.
   6. Find joy in what gives God joy.
   7. “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.” (v6)
   8. Stay positive in a negative world.
   9. In the last days the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24).
   10. “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (v7)
   11. “No matter how bleak your circumstances, you can always love and still feel good about life.”
   12. People fail, but love never fails. (v8)

“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?

1. Receive the love of God.
2. Repent for lack of love in our words and actions.
3. Keep fighting the battle for love. “Jesus reduce me to love.”