Sermons from Good News: Love never fails

Preamble: I want to catch myself and make sure that as I share the truth of God's word on this page, especially in light of what the month of June has become in our country, that I try in some way to balance it with love. After all:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1

that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:14-16

In other words, love is important. One final note, to rebut any arguments claiming "love is love" as a defense for homosexual "marriage":

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10

True love is Jesus sacrificing His life to the fullness of God's wrath in our place, which, due to our human nature, is what we deserve, but through His love we can be free from having to face. This is what love is. Now, onto this post's message:

Church 5/20/2023

Offertory scripture:

Deuteronomy 8:18

Remember God, for He gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His convenient which He had sworn to your forefathers…

Sermon message:

On Wednesday pastor preached about the importance of not failing to love.

Tonight is to follow up on it.

Thesis: Love never fails.

Focus chapter: 1 Corinthians 13

Starting with 1 Corinthians 12 (Paul talking about great spiritual gifts, prophecy, healing, teaching, etc)

To set up chapter 13: 1 Corinthians 12:31
“I will show you a more excellent way”

1 Corinthians 13 is like Christianity 101.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
“If I don’t have love, I am nothing”
“If I sacrifice but I don’t do it out of love, it means nothing.”

So then, what is love?

Answer: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

John 13:35

Others will know us Christians by our love.

We will never rise higher than the level of our love-walk. God can use us more when we walk in love. But God cannot use us beyond the amount in which we let love in our hearts and live out that love that He has called us to. We need to bring down any and all walls that we’ve put up that have kept us from receiving God’s love.

Maturity in God (and our faith) is walking in love.

The enemy of love is offense.

Luke 17:1

Offenses will come. But what you do and how you respond matters. You can choose to take offense, or you can look past it.

If Satan can cause stumbling blocks to trip you up to offend you or cause you to have strife. Strife can destroy relationships, families, and nations. It’s demonic and ungodly.

How do we get past this? Walk in love and forgive those who have hurt you and wronged you.

Faith works by love.

Offense and stumbling blocks can turn into unforgiveness, and then into hatred and bitterness and hard-heartedness, really quickly. Be careful.

2 Timothy 2:24-26

Strife and contention are a snare of the devil. A spirit of lawlessness.

Exhortation: this is Satan’s easy button. Don’t let this be his easy button against you. Don’t let Satan win at pressing your buttons.

Keep your heart soft. Recognize this weakness in you (if it’s there), repent and let God minister to you in the area of your buttons.

Don’t hold offense in your heart. It leads to destruction.

Faith works by love.