SUNDAY sermon notes EIGHT THINGS LOVE IS AND EIGHT THINGS LOVE IS NOT

Sunday evening on November 13, 2016, I was handed a piece of paper by a man named Richard Pike. A piece of paper with handwritten notes that outlined a sermon he was about to get up and present. A sermon about love. But not just a sermon about what love was, but also about what it was not. Here's a look at the outline and verses he used in his wonderful eye opening sermon. (I corrected a few typos and added a few extra words, but nothing that took away from his points!)

EIGHT THINGS LOVE IS
AND EIGHT THINGS LOVE IS NOT

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 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, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away." (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)

INTRO: What good are humans without love?

EIGHT THINGS LOVE IS NOT:

1. Does not ENVY "A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones." (Proverbs 14:30)

2. Is not BOASTFUL "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Philippians 2:3)

3. Is not PROUD "Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord ..." (Proverbs 16:5) "'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.'" (James 4:6)
4. Is not RUDE "Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them." (Colossians 3:19)
5. DOES NOT SEEK IT'S OWN "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness buy denying its power. And from such people turn away!" (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
6. Is not PROVOKED "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another. 'Be angry, and do not sin': do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ... Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:25-29, 31-32)
7. THINKS NO EVIL "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15)
8. DOES NOT REJOICE IN INIQUITY "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)

EIGHT THINGS LOVE IS:

1. It SUFFERS LONG "Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." (James 5:11)
2. It is KIND "Then David said, 'I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.' So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father." (2 Samuel 10:2)
3. It REJOICES IN TRUTH "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2) "but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ" (Ephesians 4:15)
4. It BEARS ALL THINGS "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22)
5. It BELIEVES ALL THINGS "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11)
6. It HOPES ALL THINGS (Ruth)
7. It ENDURES ALL THINGS "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6:9)
8. It NEVER FAILS "But you, beloved ... keep yourselves in the love of God" (Jude 20-21)

CONCLUSION: God is the God of love and His followers must be loving people.