Sunday Sermon

Value of Love Dave Shaner October 10, 2004

Introduction: Many books give all kinds of definitions of love, but too many are going to the wrong book.

I. What the Bible says about love:

A. Love is a ________________.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.  - II John 6

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.  - Romans 13:9-10

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  - I John 4:10-11

B. Love is a ________________.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  - Colossians 3:14

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.  - I Corinthians 14:1

C. Love is not ________________.

D. Love is a ________________.

1. I John 4:8; I John 4:16

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

2. God does two things to increase your love capacity:

a. Fills you with the ___________ ______________.

b. Places you in a __________ ______________.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  - Hebrews 10:24-25

E. Love is ________________.

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.  - I John 3:17-18

F. Love is a ________________.

II. I Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

A. No amount of speech, knowledge, prayer or giving matters.

B. ____________ minus __________ = ____________.

C. Luke 18:9-14

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Conclusion: The value of your life is determined by whether you've learned the value of love. What do you want to be remembered for?

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