2 Greatest Impact

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Big Idea: If love can change your heart it can change the world.

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Introduction

Denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus means learning to live and to love as Jesus does.
Brief recap – Paul writing to church in Corinth to answer questions about gifts of the Spirit. The greatest gift, the most excellent way (of life) is love. Fruit of the Spirit is more important that Gifts of the Spirit. Love being the first of the fruit of the Spirit. No matter the gifts if you don’t have love you are not effective.
After seeing that the gift of love is greater than the other gifts of the Spirit, we look at what love is and does.

Love Is and Love Does

Read
1 Corinthians 13:1–13 CSB
1 If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. 13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 CSB
4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 13:4 CSB
4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant,
Love Is and Love Does
Love is:
(Run through the verses and talk about what each phrase means. State negatives as positives.)
Love is:
Notice: These characteristics listed are all relational - you actively relating to others. Not about general characteristics but how we relate to others around us.
Patient - calm waiting despite difficulties, patient with others rather than just circumstances
Kind - to treat others well, (it’s a response) responding to those difficulties with kindness.
Love is not:
Replacing negative with positive
envious - desire another’s good blessings
envious - satisified
boastful - lifting up self over others
boastful - modest
arrogant - proud, puffed up, show of self importance
arrogant - humble
1 Corinthians 13:5 CSB
5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs.
rude - cutting others down in importance, dishonor
rude - cutting others down in importance, dishonor
rude - considerate, respectful
self-seeking - advancing own agenda
self-seeking - others focused, thoughtful, generous
irritable - easily angered
irritable - cheerful, pleasant, peaceful
begrudging - resentful, remember hurts.
begrudging, resentful - forgiving
1 Corinthians 13:6does not praise evil behavior
v.6 Love shuns wrong and lifts up the truth.
1 Corinthians 13:6 CSB
6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.
rude - considerate, respectful
self-seeking - thoughtful, generous
irritable - cheerful, pleasant, peaceful
does not praise evil behavior or take pleasure in the misfortunes of others.
begrudging, resentful - forgiving
v.6 Love shuns wrong and lifts up the truth.
does not praise evil behavior
praise good, right, doing of what’s true and right. Revelation as in the works of Jesus toward others.
1 Corinthians 13:7 CSB
7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
all things, or always does
all things, or always does
bears, sense of taking responsibility, or a sense of covering over, protecting.
supports, carries the weight
believes, trusts in God and in others, never loses faith
believes, trusts in God and in others, never loses faith
willing to remain vulnerable and transparent
thinks the best of others
hopes, look forward with expectancy
bright outlook for the future
endures, perseveres, remains, continues on
will always be consistent through the changes, troubles, good times, etc.
Summary:
Love is not a feeling. Love is more than just an emotion. Love is an attitude of the heart and soul that sees the value and worth in people, and then puts self aside to go out of the way and provide help or kindness to others.
Love is an investment of self into someone else.
Love always thinks the best of others, sees them as God sees them (created in His image, needing Jesus) looks for ways to help rather than hurt, looks for opportunities for good/kind/helpful works.
Love meets people where they are, accepts them as they are for who they are, affirms their worth, and invests in them.
In Love is the most excellent way.
In love is the first fruit of the Spirit.
In the nature of Christ. put off old, put on new - this is the new nature.
These ideas are just words unless we connect them with situations, responses, and actions.
We really need to know what is the impact of love.

The Impact of Love

To do that we have to begin at the source of love.
Romans 5:6–8 CSB
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christ died for the ungodly.
God loves the sinner, provides Himself.
Nothing we do makes God love us or stop loving us.
First impact of love is our rescue. God loves us and Jesus died for us.
Are we secure in God’s love? God loves. We need to understand to what level He loves us so we can also love.
Are we secure in God’s love? God loves. We need to understand to what level He loves us so we can also love.
(preach it here. God’s unwavering love for us)
Second impact of love is God’s love flowing through us to others.
1 John 4:19 CSB
19 We love because he first loved us.
Are we secure in God’s love? God loves. We need to understand to what level He loves us so we can also love.
1 John 3:16 CSB
16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
(16a) his is how we have come to know love: Jesus laid down His life for us.
his is how we have come to know love: Jesus laid down His life for us.
Romans 5:6–8 CSB
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christ died for the ungodly. God loves the sinner, provides Himself.
Christ died for the ungodly. God loves the sinner, provides Himself.
Example of Jesus – this is His way of life and will be ours as He lives through us by His Spirit.
Example of Jesus – this is His way of life and will be ours as He lives through us by His Spirit.
Jesus loved:
Lepers and blind and lame – healing.
The adultress – forgiveness.
The demon possessed – freedom.
Samaritan woman – meaning and purpose
The Disciples – deep relationship, vision and mission
I think the main point of this week’s message must be God’s love for us and the security that is. The secondary point, then is our love for others based on that secure standing with God.
1 John 3:16 CSB
16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
display (16b) We should lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

What If?

What would be the impact if you knew you were loved like that?
By Jesus – have you experienced His healing, forgiving, freeing, ministering, deep relationship love?
What would be the impact if you loved?
What would be the impact if you loved?
Spouse
Children
Co-workers or boss
Neighbors
Church members
Rios Congregation
Black or Hispanic people (others who are not like us)
Immigrants (legal or otherwise)
Terrorists, abortionists, LGBTQ

Conclusion

Denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus means learning to live and to love as Jesus does. Thankfully, that is only dependent on our willingness, not on our own strength. God’s Holy Spirit works in us to transform our hearts which changes our behavior so we can live the Jesus life.
Love’s greatest impact is forgiveness and freedom to love. (both for you and for those you love)
The world’s greatest need today, as always, is love.
Love is others focused. Sees others as Jesus sees them. Invests in others. values others. (above self)

Big Idea: If love can change your heart it can change the world.

What About You?

Are you secure in God’s love for you?
How can you live out God’s love in you toward others?
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