Love: is our motivation

Intro: *Talk about the 7 Values Series.

Title: Love: is our motivation

Story: What motivates you?

What motivates you to work out? Maybe a desire to live a healthy lifestyle. Or maybe it’s to live a long life. For some it’s to just simply look good. :) But something is motivating you to work out, sweat, and feel the burn. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy working out and staying healthy just as much as the next person, but if I could sit and eat oreos with cold milk all day and have the same effect I think you know which one I’m going to go with!

What motivates you to go to work? Maybe you just need something to do with your life, that could be true, but probably not! We all work for one reason… we’re hungry. We gotta make that money so that we can put food on the table, have a roof over our heads, provide for our families, and give generously to others. Right?! Even if your motive isn’t solely for the paycheck, which I understand, there’s still that in the background that’s on your mind as you work hard and long hours during the week.

The reality is that we always have a motive going on in the background that is the reason for why we do things.

When you think of your relationships…(Pause) what is your motive behind them? (Long pause)

Are you a life sucking friend? Or are you a life giving friend?

Life sucking friends are “me-centered”. Life giving friends are “others-centered”.

Big Idea: “Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 CSB

Passage: 1 Corinthians 13 CSB

Background:

Paul is writing this letter to a church in Corinth that he planted on his second missionary journey. Some time has passed, approximately 5 years, and he heard of the struggles they were facing. He writes this letter to address some problems in the church, provide solutions, and to teach believer how to live in a corrupt city.

In this text, Paul is addressing the churches many struggles: the abuse of the spiritual gifts, envy, selfishness, impatience, and actions that were not pleasing to God. He goes on to share the greatest thing that provides life and power. The only way spiritual gifts can be used properly, effectively, and creatively is if they are motivated and ministered to in love.

Illust: What happens to my finger when I cut off blood flow? (Rubberband)

It has been said that love is the “circulatory system” of the body of Christ. You cut off the blood flow and that part of the body becomes useless and good for nothing. Such is the Christian life. Serving, generocity, faith, and gifts are all good things, but without love, they are nothing.

Paul points out 5 spiritual gifts: tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, and giving (sacrifice). He points out that without love the gifts are NOTHING. Warren Wiersbe writes, “Ministry without love cheapens both the minister and those who are touched by it; but ministry with love enriches the whole church.”

1. God taught us about love:

   1. “And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.” - 1 John 4:16

   2. God demonstrated love:

   3. “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16

   4. Jesus led by example and gave us the command:

   5. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” - John 13:34-35. Our human understanding of love is flawed, but the more we know Jesus, the better we learn what true love really is!

Main Points: Why is love our motivation? Because…

1. Love (Jesus) Never Gives Up

   1. Love always protects, love bears all things regardless of what comes!
   2. John 4:18… “Perfect love drives out fear.” When you are motivated by fear, you can give up. But when you have deep convictional love, there’s nothing that can stop you.
   3. “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.* You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!* I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but* even in darkness I cannot hide from you.” Psalms 139:1-12

2. Love (Jesus) Never Loses Faith

   1. Love believes all things and looks for the best in everyone.

   2. We are a faith church.

      1. We show up with expectant hearts and attitudes. Believing in miracles. Believing that God is going to show up and speak to us.
      2. We are a faith church. We look forward to Sundays because we know we are going to be encouraged to pursue God’s calling on our lives. We’re going to be prayed over! We’re going to be spoken truth in love!
      3. We are a faith church. Seeing the best in people. Knowing that nobody is perfect, but showing Christ’s unconditional love regardless.

3. Love (Jesus) Is Always Hopeful

   1. Love hopes all things and remains steadfast during difficult times.

   2. Illust: If we’re being honest we all need this in our lives. We need people to be hopeful for us. When you are in the depth of pain, hurt, or frustration, how good to have that one person speak hope over your life?!

      1. You’re going to get through this!
      2. God has a greater purpose for your life!
      3. You’re going to be ok!
      4. I’m here for you and I’m not going anywhere!
         3. Is there somebody out there today that needs a little more hope in their life? You’re going to find that job! You’re going to see your loved ones come to know Jesus! You’re going to overcome that addiction in Jesus name!

4. Love (Jesus) Endures Through Every Circumstance

   1. Love always perseveres
   2. Love endures all things (without weakening)

   3. Question: How will we stand out as disciples of Jesus?

      1. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:35

Aren’t you glad that God NEVER gave up on you...

Aren’t you grateful today that God believes in you...

Our God remains steadfast and is hope in every season...

His Love endures through every circumstance and never fades!

No love is greater, higher, sweeter, and stronger than the love of Jesus!

“We love because He first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19. Because of His great love we have the capacity for that level of love. We have the ability to love with this kind of radical and unconditional type of love.

Walking Points:

1. Receive - The first step in making love your motivation is to make Christ the Lord of your life.

   1. If tonight is the first night that you heard of the Good News of Jesus Christ, I want you to take that first step and put your faith and trust in Him tonight.

   2. The Gospel:

      1. Problem - Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned…”
      2. Penalty - Romans 6:23 “for the wages of sin is death…”
      3. Provision - Romans 5:8 “but God demonstrates His love…”
      4. Decision - Romans 10:9-10, 13:10, Ephesians 2:8-9 “If you confess with your mouth…”
         3. “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:12-13
      5. Respond - Love is not static. Love moves us to action and obedience to the Father.

   3. The first step of obedience is baptism.

      1. Matthew 28: 19 “Therefore go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

         2. The next step is to obey all that He has commanded in His word and through His Holy Spirit.

      2. You don’t obey someone you love because you have to, you obey them because you get to, it’s a privilege.

      3. Reflect - In what areas of your life have you lost love as your motivation?

   4. I want to challenge you this week to let love be your motivation and genuinely serve those around with no strings attached.

   5. Speak of the hope and love you have in Jesus Christ with boldness this week. Someone you know needs to hear Good News this week!

“We love because He first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19

Closing: Faith, Hope, and Love, but the greatest is Love.

“We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Thessalonians 1:3 CSB

Closing:

Love = Sacrifice. C’mon church. Are we willing to lay our lives down for the people around us. Are we willing to lay our lives down for this city. For that close friend or family member. When God calls us to love, He is calling us to a great sacrifice. Which is both painful and challenging, but it’s worth it! It’s always worth it!