Love: The Greatest Gift

OBJECTIVE

• Today's objective is to see why love is the greatest gift and why it's the center of our service by reading 1 Co. 13.

INTRODUCTION/HOOK- 5 Minutes

• It's the thought that counts
  • Sometimes, what makes a gift so special is the effect put into the gift
  • A homemade gift may turn into something invaluable if there are certain sentiments of love, memories, or associations made with that gift
  • Love may take something ordinary and make it extraordinary
  • God does the same with service----through love, our service becomes real and powerful because when love is present, God is present
• Batteries
  • Does everyone see what I have in my hand?
  • It's a battery, and it's something I bet all of you depend on every day.
  • Batteries are little power packs that let us run all these things without having to be plugged into a stationary power source.
  • We use batteries in all kinds of devices: cell phones, iPods, wireless microphones, toys.
  • Even cars run on bat­teries.
  • What other things can you think of that require batteries?

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 25 Minutes

• 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 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. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Memory Verse

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Co. 13:13)

CONTENT - 20 Minutes

• Love Powers our Service
  • As a battery powers an electronic device, love powers the work of the Apostles and the services today
  • Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Jn. 3:16)
  • Because of His great love for us, He laid down His life for us, so that we may have life
  • As His great love for mankind compelled Him to die for us to save us, likewise the love for God and humanity powers the Apostles and ministers of the Lord to serve
• Love Fulfills our Service (1 Co. 13:1-3)
  • When our service is filled with love, God is glorified and people feel as if they are experiencing God in a personal way
    • Because God is love, experiencing love is feeling God first-hand, hence people who attend a church filled with love say they feel God, but those who attend a church without love feel that God is not present
  • When our service is filled with love, our intentions are clear, and nobody needs to guess why we are reaching out or performing acts of kindness
    • The unconditional love of God transforms humanity because we seek God's love
• Qualities of Love (1 Co. 13:4-8)
  • Patient and Kind
    • As God is patient with us and bears with our weakness, so the servant is patient with those whom he serves and with those he serves, so that the mercy of God is evident
  • Humility
    • Love is humble and rejoices in others and accepts correction, whereas envy brings forth pride, which destroys the servant
    • The humble servant will serve the community and will understand criticism and admonishments to come from a place of love and correction, therefore growing
  • Bears all things
    • Love will cause a servant to bear all the difficulties of service and will cause a servant to persist when a situation seems impossible
    • When a servant endures difficult circumstances to serve a person, love is manifest because love is what motivates us to sacrifice
    • Love for God and the congregation will cause a servant to bear with insults, criticisms, and blame, even with responding by being kind and polite
  • Hopes for all Things
    • Love hopes for the salvation of every person, and doesn't give up on anyone
    • There is a temptation in service to give up on a person or situation because it seems hopeless, but a servant will continue despite the situation
• Love is not just Words, but it is Action
  • Although words are good and are at times necessary, action is greater than words
  • Jesus said that He loved mankind, but these words were understood in His sacrifice
  • We may say encouraging words, but it is the action of love that demonstrates the grace of God
  • As servants, we are called to serve with actions of love, and if God gives us grace to speak, then we may speak
• Through Love we Learn Christ (1 Co. 13:8-13)
  • Love is the greatest teacher
    • We do not need sermons or clever words to show people who Christ is
    • Although we learn every day and study the church doctrine, the clearest way to reveal Christ is through love
    • Through experiencing love, the person experiences God first-hand
  • Love Transforms us
    • Through love, Christ fulfilled the law that we may have grace and salvation
    • We no longer live according to the letter of the law, for the letter kills, but rather we live in love according to the Spirit, for the Spirit brings forth life and so that we are transformed through mercy, understand, and compassion
    • Ultimately it is Christ who transforms us according to the Resurrection so all who participate in service, whether servants or served, may be sanctified in Jesus
    • Therefore love is the greatest among faith and hope, for we will see Christ with our own eyes, and our hope will be fulfilled, but we will always have love in Christ

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

• How can we demonstrate love in our service?
• Why are acts of love greater than words?
• How may our love be demonstrated through actions?

APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

• Often times in service, love is manifest in the little things
  • Many people feel disconnected from the church when they feel nobody notices them
  • Little things like remembering someone's name, remembering to pray for them, letting them know you're on their mind, and being there when they need help are incredible signs of love that are more powerful than lessons or empty words
  • For example, when someone misses church, they may feel that no one missed them and may not feel inclined to go, but when someone calls them and tells them they noticed the person was absent, they will feel that they have a place in the church
• Acts of love are greater than words because words are easy to say, but action demonstrates sacrifice and true care, which makes a person feel valued and important
  • Many stray away from the Church because they see some sort of hypocrisy
  • In love, there is no hypocrisy, but true purpose to serve the person in sincerity
  • Therefore, when a servant acts out of love, they live the words of Christ, and since those words seem real to the person, they understand the Gospel and Christian message
• We may show love through actions by praying for a person, making sacrifices to serve them, or being present with them in their hard times

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

• Encourage your child to perform acts of love and kindness
• Talk to people at Church and work together on organizing selfless acts
• Remind your child to ask about people and to see how they are

LESSON ATTACHMENTS