New Covenant Church
Join us at one of our three services on Sundays, at 9:30AM and 11:15AM at our South Campus, and at 9:30AM at our North Campus! Visit wearencc.com for more information.
John 15:12-13 ESV
The great apostle Paul gives us a definition...a list of what it looks like to love like Jesus.
All of these have nothing to do with the other person...they all have to do with us.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
- V 4. LOVE IS PATIENT
- We can’t be patient with people, until there’s an opportunity to be patient.
- Love is not pushy. If someone is pushy, it’s not love. Love actually pushes us to be patient
God does not push us...but is patient with us in our shortcomings
- Patience allows for grace that the relationship needs to succeed
- V. 4 LOVE IS KIND
- Kindness is exhibiting strength to not respond how you want to respond.
- It is loaning someone your strength rather than reminding them of their weakness.
- Kindness is love’s response to weakness.
Romans 2:4 NLT
- What would change in your relationships if you loaned strength instead of pointing out weakness? - How much would be diffused if we operated out of kindness?
- V. 4 LOVE DOES NOT ENVY, IT DOES NOT BOAST, IT IS NOT PROUD
- These are all toxic traits that destroy love, because they all turn everything back on you.
- When you walk in love...you allow the other person to shine.
- Do you try to take the attention when someone else is getting praised?
- Love is willing to step aside and let the other person get all the attention...even in an area
where you are strong. Where maybe you feel you are better than the other person.
- V. 5 LOVE DOES NOT DISHONOR
- Love does not disgrace another person, but strives to honor and bring honor to. This is hard in our own homes...in close relationships. Familiarity can cause dishonor
Mark 6:4 ESV
- Honor is necessary to every healthy relationship! - It’s a placing of high respect or esteem on another person. - Your relationship WILL NOT succeed if there is no honor.
- V. 5 LOVE IS NOT SELF-SEEKING
- Probably one of the hardest because we inherently are selfish people. - You don’t know how selfish you are until you get married. - Marriage shows you how selfish you really are.
- V. 5 LOVE IS NOT EASILY ANGERED
- We all have “triggers.” If they push your buttons...it’s your buttons that you are allowing them to push. - Love absorbs not reflects
- The question has to become...why am I so angry? What do I need to correct in me?
- V. 5 LOVE KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS
- We don’t keep a record of our wrongs...only theirs. We do it to keep score and build a case against them. God does not keep a record of our wrongs!
Hebrews 8:12 ESV
- We have to choose to forgive quickly and often. You may not forget...but don’t hold on to it
V. 6 LOVE DOES NOT DELIGHT IN EVIL BUT REJOICES IN THE TRUTH
- Love does not try to find ways to get away with bad behavior. Instead, it treasures truth, celebrates good behavior. It’s celebrating truth even when it means you are wrong.
V. 7 LOVE ALWAYS PROTECTS
- In a healthy relationship you should feel safe.
- Does your spouse feel they can confide in you or do they hide from you?
- V. 7 LOVE ALWAYS TRUSTS
- V. 7 LOVE ALWAYS HOPES
- V. 7 LOVE ALWAYS PERSEVERES
- Persevere in the greek - It means to remain under the load
- To feel what love feels you have to do what love does even when it’s hard.
1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV