Love When it’s Tough
Series: Grow 1 Corinthians 13
April 30, 2017
Pastor Brian Erickson
22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forebearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things
there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
How do you identify a true follower of Christ?
Matthew 7:20; John 15:5
It starts with love
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Four steps to growing the ‘fruit of love’ in your life…
1. Pull the weeds
1 Corinthians 13:4-6
2. Plant the seeds of true, genuine love
1 Corinthians 13:7-8a; 1 Peter 4:8
1) Love always protects
2) Love always trusts
3) Love always hopes
4) Love always perseveres
3. Love those who don’t deserve it
Matthew 5:46; John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 13:13
4. Realize that we don’t deserve God’s love
Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 13:13
Today’s sermon can be heard online or downloaded at lakewoodfc.com. CD recordings can be
ordered at the Signup Counter located on the wall to the left of the Information Desk.
Life Application Questions
QUICK REVIEW
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything that
particularly caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
MY STORY
1. What person in your life has been the best example of love? Explain how.
2. Have there been times in your life when you have been tough to love? How
did it feel when people loved you anyway? Can you give some examples?
DIGGING DEEPER
1. There are people in our world who will say they are Christians, but they are
Christians in name only. Brian asked us, “How do you identify a true follower of
Christ?” What do these verses say about that?
Matthew 7:20
20
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 12:33
33
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its
fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
Luke 6:43-44
43
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each
tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes,
or grapes from briers.
John 15:5
5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you
will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Most people, when asked if they are a loving person, will say, “Absolutely”.
But Brian took us deeper, asking, “What about people who are not lovable?
What about people who don’t love you back?”
What makes you hesitant to show love to someone who doesn’t deserve it?
2. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 that the Corinthians wanted to
have the ability to perform miraculous signs and wonders. So Paul reminded
them what the priority is and what they should be seeking after. What is that
priority? Read these verses.
John 13:35
35 “
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one
another.”
1 Corinthians 13:1
1
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am
only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 John 4:7-12
7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone
who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love
among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live
through him. 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. 11 Dear friends, since God so
loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God;
but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in
us.
When it comes to talking about Jesus to those who don’t know Him, there’s
an old adage that says, “They won’t care how much you know until they
know how much you care.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
Can you think of a time when you were blown-away by the talent of some
Christian speaker or performer, and you went up to talk to them, and they
blew you off? How did that make you feel, not only about them, but about
their ministry and message?
3. Last week Brian said that in order to grow the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ in your life,
the first step is ‘pulling the weeds’ of the sin nature. The next step is ‘planting
the seeds of true, genuine love.’ The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:7 that
“Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.” Read these verses.
Proverbs 10:12
12
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
Galatians 6:2
2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
2 Timothy 2:24
24
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to
everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
James 1:12
12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the
test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to
those who love him.
How would you define ‘true, genuine love’?
Many people attend church because of what they can get out of it. Others
attend church because it’s an opportunity to serve others. Why do you
attend church?
4. As Christians we sometimes approach our faith as if we did God a favor by
accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. But Brian made it clear that we do
not deserve God’s love. How did God show His love to us? Read these verses.
John 3:16
16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:8
8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 8:38-39
38
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Galatians 2:20
20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me.
James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Why
do you think that is?
Are you ever overwhelmed when you think about God’s love for you? Explain.
TAKING IT HOME
Based on this week’s sermon and homework, what is the most important thing
for you to remember and why?