Let Love Lead the Way

Bible Reading

Please, find and hold your place in Matthew 22 & look with me at 1 Cor. 13.

Alan Redpath said “one could get a spiritual suntan from the warmth of this chapter.”

Today we together are going to commit to letting Love Lead the Way. Not as a conference them but as a more excellent way of life.

Context:

The temple model: exclusive, assigned, rigid.

I would not be up here today, I am not of the tribe of Levi.

Singers and their successors were appointed by David.

The church model: inclusive, Spirit-led, open.

Through Christ, the whole community has become a “royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9).

Spiritual gifts are distributed by the Spirit “to each one as He wills” (1 Cor. 12:11).

Anyone—slave or free, Jew or Gentile, male or female—might be given a role to build up the body.

In Corinth, this led to chaotic gatherings at times:

Multiple people speaking in tongues without interpretation (1 Cor. 14:27).

Prophets speaking over each other (1 Cor. 14:29–31).

The Lord’s Supper becoming disordered, with some feasting and others left out (1 Cor. 11:20–22).

In short, freedom without love produced chaos. Paul’s “more excellent way” of love is the guiding principle that makes the new system work.

1 Corinthians 12:31 (KJV)

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Often ask for Kristen to play as we read our Scripture today I feel like we need more than that.

1 Corinthians 13:1–7 (KJV)

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Sermon Introduction

July 18, 2021. First Sunday morning as the Senior Pastor

Knew this would be the passage.

My tendency toward complicated thing and becoming overwhelmed.

Wanted to lead in a “simple and sincere” manner.

What is the key to the Christian life? (Cartoon)

Matthew 22:36–40 (KJV)

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

1. God defines love for us. v.4-5

A. What love looks like.

Love is patient and kind (v.4a) 1 Corinthians 13:4 “4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”

Love not reactive and not looking to give up but is enduring.

Kindness is patience in action or “a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good.”

Love does not envy, boast, or puff up (v.4b).

Paul contrasts love with pride.

Envy is a form of selfishness, and bragging is the outward expression of pride.

Real charity doesn’t look inward to self, but outward to others, resisting “the craving to be admired.”

Love does not dishonor others, seek its own way, or get easily angered (v.5).

Love is not rude; it minds its manners.

Love is not self-seeking: it releases outcomes to God instead of grasping for control.

Anger is an “alarm” showing an outcome goal is not getting met

Love quiets that alarm by trusting God.

B. What love won’t do.

Love keeps no record of wrongs (v.5b). 1 Corinthians 13:5 “5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”

It doesn’t keep a record of offenses.

Self-protection says, “I’ll never let them hurt me again.” Love says, “I trust God enough to forgive.”

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth (v.6). 1 Corinthians 13:6 “6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”

Love doesn’t celebrate when someone fails or when sin wins.

Love is always aligned with God’s truth; it rejoices when others are sanctified, not when they stumble.

Love refuses to quit on people (v.7a). 1 Corinthians 13:7 “7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

Paul uses four sweeping verbs: bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Never stops trusting, never loses hope, never gives up.

C. What love always does.

Love reflects God’s mercy shown upon the cross.

When we think of love we think of a cross and not an artificially shaped heart. Romans 5:8: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Charity is “a selfless, sacrificial act of the will, choosing to seek the highest good of others, even at great personal cost, because it reflects the love of God in Christ.”

Love makes deliberate choices, and isn’t just a strong emotion.

Paul describes love entirely in verbs—love is something you do, not merely something you feel.

Do not waste time wondering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did.

Obedience comes first; feelings often follow.

D. Love is the most excellent way.

We need a more excellent way.

Paul introduces this chapter with 1 Corinthians 12:31 “31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”

Without understanding love’s true nature, we can’t grasp why it is absolutely necessary.

Love is the way of Christ; without it, the Christian life collapses.

We must not take our finger from this verse and create our own personal agendas.

Instead of obeying the Great Commandment—to love God and love others—we slip into a life where the goal is “make sure you get your needs met and never experience pain.”

This becomes our own personal agenda that motivates our behavior.

Goals determine behavior.

Story of forgetting the goal of showing love to my family - goal became do not let kids wake up Stephanie - so that she will tell me I did a good job.

In other words, we trade loving God and others for chasing self-fulfillment and self-protection.

Self-fulfillment is chasing the love and acceptance of others to try and feel complete

Self-protection is working to avoid pain, loss, or disappointment at all costs.

The Path we Know and the More Excellent Way SLIDES

Transition: If we are not led by love - we will be unloving and to be unloving is loud but useless.

2. Without Love, Everything Else Is Nothing

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 “1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

A. Without love, our lives mean nothing.

Eloquence without love = noise. v.1

1 Corinthians 13:1 “1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

In Corinth, eloquent speech and ecstatic languages were prized.

A gong makes sound but no melody.

Love gives gifts their true purpose—to build others up.

You can be a gifted preacher, singer, or teacher—but without love, it’s just performance.

Knowledge without love = emptiness. v.2a

1 Corinthians 13:2 “2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

Corinth was a Greek city steeped in philosophy and rhetoric. Made its way into the church.

Sound teaching is vital, but its goal is love. 1 Timothy 1:5 “5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:”

Knowledge without love says, “I want to win.” Love with knowledge says, “I am here to help.”

Faith without love = nothing. v.2b

1 Corinthians 13:2 “2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

Even miraculous, mountain-moving faith is worthless without love. Faith must work through love (Gal. 5:6).

If you pray that God moves mountains and you pray for them to land on your enemies you aren’t going to be helping people.

Sacrifice without love = wasted. v.3

1 Corinthians 13:3 “3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

Even giving everything or even dying a martyrs death by fire can be done without love. Motive matters. God looks at the heart.

Why do I give or serve? Out of love or duty, pride, recognition?

B. With love, everyday moments become ministry.

Romans 5:5 “5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

1. Love transforms relationships (vv.5–6).

1 Corinthians 13:5–6 “5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”

Love is not rude, self-seeking, easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love is not provoked; it minds its manners.”

A kind word, an overlooked offense, a gentle answer, ordinary moments become extraordinary with love.

2. Love helps us perseveres when it would be easier to quit (v.7).

1 Corinthians 13:7 “7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

When you keep showing up for family, keep praying for the lost, keep forgiving the stubborn, those ordinary acts bring God glory.

In God’s eyes, the small done in love outweighs the great done without it.

3. Love can be expressed on the smallest of occasions.

1 Corinthians 13:4 “4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”

Even small acts of patience, kindness, and humility shine with eternal weight when rooted in love.

It doesn’t take a large bank account of talents to be a loving person.

Transition: We must resist our own personal agenda and let love lead the way.

3. Love Must Lead Our Daily Decisions

Do you have your finger still in Matthew 22, Good keep it there. Not just for the sermon but for the rest of our lives. When you forget what your goal in life is, look here. 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

A. Our goal effects our behavior.

Illustration: Physical Education Teacher in a Prison, students weren’t interested until he taught them how to Pole Vault / Goals effect behavior.

The love of God shed abroad in our hearts should cause an overflow that really shapes our lives.

“The first duty of every morning is to get my heart happy in God.”

Another way to say it is “experience the love of God, so all that you meet will be able to as well.”

You can be in a room for of people and feel all alone - until someone pulls up a chair and talks with you.

You can live in this world where God is working and feel alone - until you pull up and chair and let Him work in your life.

Like the prisoners I should happy with my assignments because it gives me a chance to reach my goal - love other people.

B. When serving let love lead the way to putting people before performance.

1 Corinthians 16:14 — “Let all your things be done with charity.”

Recognize the pull toward wanting recognition.

Decide to put loving others as your goal.

Let your goal shapen how you go about what you are doing.

C. When speaking let love lead the way to compassion over winning.

1 Corinthians 13:4 “4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”

Recognize the urge to be be seen as smart and right.

Decide to build people, not break them.

Do the loving thing in your words and tone.

D. When wronged let love lead the way to showing mercy.

1 Peter 4:8 “8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

Recognize your desire for revenge.

Decide to release vengeance and seek their ultimate good.

Do the loving thing that breaks the cycle.

Conclusion: Living the “More Excellent Way” of Love

What We Know About Love

God defines it (patient, kind, humble, forgiving, truthful, enduring).

Love is a choice, not just a feeling—modeled by Christ on the cross.

If you feel like you never have truly experienced love - let me tell you because of Christ this simply is not true.

Why Love Matters Most

Without love, even the greatest gifts, knowledge, faith, or sacrifices are nothing.

Love gives eternal value to everything we do.

How Love Shapes Our Daily Life

Serving: choose people over performance.

Speaking: choose compassion over winning.

Being wronged: choose mercy over retaliation.

Our Call Today

Set aside personal agendas.

Let God set your life’s goal.

Look daily for opportunities to demonstrate the love of God.

Let love lead the way. Love isn’t just the more excellent way it’s the only way that looks like Jesus. And right now our world desperately needs a clearer picture of Him.