Dr. Stanley teaches from 1 Corinthians 13, the often-referenced passage on love. This is the most incomparable treatise on love to be found anywhere. Learn the simple yet profound way in which the apostle Paul described love.
Sermon Outline
We work, rest, plan, and go about the activities of daily life. But when all is said and done, there’s only one thing that truly matters, and God is committed to helping us discover and strengthen it. Today, Dr. Stanley explores the value of sacrificial love.
Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Supporting Passages: Matthew 22:37-39; John 14:17; John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 5:22-23
God considers genuine love greater than all other gifts and even more essential than faith and hope (1 Cor. 13:1-3, 13).
► “No one has ever been able to come close to the simple yet profound way Paul described love.”
The Lessons of Love:
Learning to love God and others is the point of living (Matt. 22:37-39).
Agape love says, “I’m committed to your happiness, your security, and your well-being.”
It also pledges, “I’m committed to helping you become the person God wants you to be and achieve the goals He has set for your life.”
We love others to differing degrees—agape (sacrificially) or phileo (affectionately).
Genuine love flows from the indwelling presence of God.
Our human love will always be imperfect, whereas the love of God is flawless.
When Jesus comes to dwell within us, His love flows out through us.
All people can experience love to some degree, but believers love with the genuine love of God.
► “Love is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is a flowing of the Spirit of God through us.”
The Holy Spirit …
Baptizes believers into Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
Is our Helper who dwells within us (John 14:17).
Enables us to become godly people who achieve God’s goals.
Teaches us how to express love toward the Lord and others.
Always works to conform us to the likeness of Jesus Christ.
► “If you look at the life of Jesus, what was He doing? Loving, loving, loving, loving, loving.”
How is love expressed through the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)?
Joy is love enjoying.
Peace is love resting.
Patience is love waiting.
Kindness is love reacting.
Goodness is love choosing.
Faithfulness is love keeping its word.
Gentleness is love empathizing.
Self-control is love resisting temptation.
► “Agape love is forgiving and forgetting and reaching out and building up and encouraging—no matter what.”
Living without love isn’t what God intended.
God places an extremely high value on our caring for others the way He does.
We are most like God when we are genuinely loving someone (John 15:5).
Nothing equals loving someone unselfishly and being loved that way in return.
After Watching
Dr. Stanley asked if there is anyone to whom you can say, “I love you unselfishly. I’m willing to serve you, sacrifice for you, and be used by God to build you up into the person He called you to be.” Is there someone you love like this?
What small sacrifice, act of forgiveness, encouragement, or other gesture could you make for someone today to practice agape love?
