GVCC Sermon LOVE part 1 (NOTE: this sermon was inspired by Pastor Rick Warren)

Garden Valley Community Church
Pastor Shane Moffitt                    February 26^th 2012

 “1 Corinthians 13 ~ LOVE” series

Part 1: What Matters Most

 “Three things will last forever—

faith, hope, and love —

and the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 & Galatians 5:6

LOVE: giving someone what they NEED the most ~

when they deserve it the LEAST ~                         
at GREAT personal cost to you ~                
without getting ANYTHING in return

IF I DON’T LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE

1.  NOTHING I SAY WILL MATTER

1 Corinthians 13:1  ~ God works in hearts

2.  NOTHING I KNOW WILL MATTER.
1 Corinthians 13:2a ~ the world needs love

3.  NOTHING I BELIEVE WILL MATTER.
1 Corinthians 13:2b ~ NOTE: James 2:19

4.  NOTHING I GIVE WILL MATTER.
1 Corinthians 13:3a ~ not for wrong motives

5.  NOTHING I ACCOMPLISH WILL MATTER
1 Corinthians 13:3b ~ Life is ALL about  
relationships NOT  accomplishments

WHAT IS LOVE?

#1. LOVE IS A COMMAND
2 John 1:6 ~ Love is NOT a feeling
God will never give you a command without 
giving the ability and power to accomplish it

 #2. LOVE IS A CHOICE
1 Corinthians 14:1a  
Choosing to love when you don’t feel like
it is a higher love than when you do feel like it

 #3. LOVE IS CONDUCT
1 John 3:18
Love is something you DO ~ more than talk

#4. LOVE IS A COMMITMENT
1 John 4:16
Our relationship with God is largely affected
by our relationship with other people

HOW TO BUILD A LIFE OF LOVE

 1. LEARN how mature love acts and responds

 2. START your day with a daily reminder to love

 3. MEMORIZE what God says about love

 4. PRACTICE acting in unselfish, loving ways

 5. GET COUNSEL from other loving people