May 6, 2007

Lesson: 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:7a

Sermon Title: The Strength of Love

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INTRODUCTION:

Express Line

My friend, the manager of a grocery store, nabbed a shoplifter in the act. He was escorting the suspect to the office in the front of the store (near the cash registers), when the shoplifter broke from his grip and tried to run.

After a scuffle, my friend pinned him against the wall and looked up to see a number of surprised customers staring at him.

"Everything's fine, Folks," he reassured them. "This guy just tried to go through the express line with more than ten items."

  1. Is this an illustration of strength:

    1. Strength of character.

    2. Strength of decision.

    3. Strength of action.

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MAIN BODY:

  1. It (Love) bears all things, (1 Corinthians 13:7a, NRSVA).

    1. Bears is misleading.

    2. The intent of the Apostle is to help us apply love in a practical way to our relationships.

    3. The word is better translated cover.

      1. It is the same word that is used in 1 Peter 4.8, and in James 5.20.

        1. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins, (1 Peter 4:8, NRSVA).

        2. My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins, (James 5.19-20, NRSVA).

      2. Cover means not to expose.

        1. It means do not be an Exposer.

        2. Not like the person who is called God's Enforcer.

God's Enforcer (1)

Praise God, everyone! Welcome to our annual membership re-commitment committee. Think of this as a tune up for the soul. We're going to run a diagnostic on your spiritual life to make sure you're still committed. My name?

Call me God's Enforcer. And no, there are no other committee members. Yes, it was sad to watch them go but, alas, they wouldn't measure up to The Standard. Huh? Well, I set The Standard. That's my job.

Shall we begin? So ma'am, you and your husband are separated? Why are you still in church? I don't care if he was beating you. Submit, woman! If you were loving him, he wouldn't do that. You might want to deal with the 'Jezebel Spirit' of yours. I don't care if all that makeup is to cover up your bruises and black eye! It makes you look - unchristian. Your membership is suspended.

I realize your son's extended illness has been an economic hardship. I know your wife had to quit her second job to help take care of him but you did sign the Tithe Covenant, didn't you? You're robbing God. Thief, repent! Next?

Sir, I know you're widowed, alone, and your hormones still work. We heard a report from one of our watchers at the computer store that found some pornographic pictures in your computer cache. Is that why you keep coming to the altar to pray? Yes, such things do wage war against the soul, but your membership is still suspended. Well, what about King David? Next!

Certainly, you're a faithful couple. Deacons, no less. Hummm. Tithes in order. Good attitudes, correct clothing. Still, your children talk during service. If you can't run your own house, how will you run the house of God? I don't care if they are adopted from crack addict mothers. They are an irritation during church. Get your home in order first. Suspended.

Your life is exemplary, to be sure. Still, we've had complaints about, what's this? Your 'obsession with torturing and drowning cats' during worship. Excuse me, that charge is incorrect. It says your singing sounds like the torturing and drowning of cats. Way, way off key! Your boisterous braying offends visitors. I don't care if it is 'unto God.' Not in this church! Next?

Homeless? Well, take this hard luck form, fill it our and mail it back. Be sure to include your home address for the committee. You say you don't have a home address? Then you might want to get a clue. Try the Salvation Army. They lack standards.

You still insist the Vision you shared was from God. Yes, I know the Church leadership agreed to help you but we decided in private committee to wait. Well, you could have asked why we decided to wait. Perhaps we could have mentioned this decision to you but it's too late to change things now. Looks like 'God changed his mind' again. Will someone please remove this false prophet? Put a report on her to area pastors as well.

Yes, Reverend. It was a pity, a genuine tragedy. I'm sure your neurotic wife's drug overdose was an 'accident.' We just can't use you anymore. People talk. Thanks for the 30 years of selfless service. Might I suggest a career alternative for you in, say, shoe sales?

Sadly, there's no one left but you and I, Lord. Thy will be done. I have successfully weeded the sinners out of our house. Finally, the church is now perfected. Too bad it's just us.

Lord. Lord? Hello? H-e-l-l-o?

        1. It means more like the reply of a photographer to a client.

Photo Apology (2)

Photographer Ruth Van Bergen specialized in celebrity portraits. One wealthy woman complained that Van Bergen's photo wasn't nearly as good as the first one she had taken.

"You must forgive me." the photographer said diplomatically. "The last time I took your picture, I was ten years younger."

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    1. Cover does not mean cover-up.

      1. Cover Up according to the dictionary is any action, stratagem, or other means of concealing or preventing investigation or exposure.

Jury Duty Excuse (3)

"Please, Your Honor, I'd like to be excused from jury duty," pleaded an anxious-looking man.

"Why should I excuse you?" asked the judge.

"You see, I owe a man fifty dollars, and he's leaving in a few hours for a post abroad. He'll be there for years and I want to catch him before he leaves, for it may be my last chance to repay him."

"Excused," stated the judge coldly. "We don't want anyone on the jury who can lie like that."

  1. There is a way in which you can bear all things.

    1. Your love cannot be weak or inconsistent.

    2. Weak love is prone to be influenced by others.

    3. December 3, 1952, The first time Charlie Brown is called "wishy-washy." (4)

      1. Don't fault Charlie too much.

      2. He is simply reflecting how we so often govern our lives.

    1. To be a bearing wall, you exercise what may be called tough love, or you might exercise what might be called a strong Love.

      1. Love is the strongest force in the soul.

      2. Love is the strongest sustaining power.

      3. Love is the strongest resisting power.

      4. Love is the strongest aggressive power.

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  1. I looked up tough love on the Internet and discovered the web site of the ToughLove Program.

    1. They have THE TEN BELIEFS OF THE TOUGHLOVE ® PROGRAM (5)

The TOUGHLOVE® Parenting Program is a loving solution that empowers families to overcome denial, take action, and take control. TOUGHLOVE provides parents with accurate, actionable information about the problems they and their children face, and the parenting tools to confront and surmount them.

The TOUGHLOVE® Program will help you put structure back in your family''s life; foster cooperation among family members, and develop a support system to plan and achieve your goals. Most of all, with the TOUGHLOVE® Parenting Program you will be able to create a successful future for you and your family.

TOUGHLOVE® is getting families back together, keeping them together, and helping communities confront and overcome crisis.

  • Family Problems Have Roots and Support in the Culture.

  • Parents are People Too.

  • Parent's Material and Emotional Resources are Limited.

  • Parents and Kids are not Equal.

  • Blaming Keeps People Helpless.

  • Kid's Behavior Affects Parents and Parents' Behavior Affects Kids.

  • Taking a STAND Precipitates Crisis.

  • From a Controlled Crisis comes the Possibility of Positive Change.

  • Families Need to Give and Get Support in their Own Community in Order to Change.

  • The Essence of Family Life is Cooperation, Not Togetherness.

  • The Christian's problems have roots and support in Culture and one's self.

  • Christian's are people too.

  • The Christian's material and emotional personal resources are limited.

  • Christian's and God are not equal.

  • Blaming keeps Christian's helpless.

  • Christian behavior affects the world.

  • Taking a stand may participate a crisis.

  • From a controlled crisis comes the possibility of positive change.

  • Christian's need to give and receive support in their own community and from God in order to change.

  • The essence of the Christian's life is cooperation with one another and God.

    1. What does it mean to be tough?

      1. Tough on yourself.

        1. Accept responsibility.

        2. Admit you can be wrong.

        3. Realize that you are in need of help and assistance.

        4. With the help of God use the experiences of life to grow and mature.

      2. Tough with the world.

        1. Face temptations with confidence to overcome.

        2. Do not let other people run over you.

        3. Do not let other people determine the kind of person that you are becoming.

        4. Do not let other people characterize you.

      3. Tough with the people of the world.

        1. Do not take advantage of other people's wrongs.

        1. Adam Clarkes Commentary observes:

"Love conceals every thing that should be concealed; betrays no secret; retains the grace given; and goes on to continual increase.

"A person under the influence of this love never makes the sins, follies, faults, or imperfections of any man, the subject either of censure or conversation.

"He covers them as far as he can; and if alone privy to them, he retains the knowledge of them in his own bosom as far as he ought." (6)

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CONCLUSION

  1. There are many walls in your house or apartment building.

    1. Some may be removed with no danger.

    2. Some walls are "bearing walls."

      1. These walls bear the weight of the superstructure.

      2. The building will sag or collapse if you remove them.

  2. There are many bearing walls in your life and relationships.

    1. Love is a bearing wall!

    2. Be a bearing wall.

    3. Amen!

1. Pastor Tim [posts@cybersaltlists.org]2.

3. Received from Thomas S. Ellsworth. The Good, Clean Funnies List [gcfl-info@gcfl.net]

4. Retrieved from: http://www.snoopy.com/comics/peanuts/meet_the_gang/meet_charlie_brown.html

5. Retrieved from: http://www.toughlove.com/program_benefits.asp

6. Adam Clarkes Commentary on the New Testament First Electronic STEP Files Copyright © 1999, Parsons Technology, Inc. Clarke, Adam

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