Scripture: 1 CORINTHIANS 13 (NASB)
1 If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.
4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Transcript
Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, welcome. My name is Jason Vriends, and I will officiate today’s wedding. We are gathered here today, to celebrate the union of two people. To witness and honor their commitment to each other, and to share the joy of this special day. Marriage is a sacred bond—A partnership of love, respect, and mutual support. It is a journey that requires effort, patience, and a deep commitment to each other.
Wait a minute… Stop the music… I don’t see a bride or groom, flowers, or even cake. Also, this doesn’t look like the Chapel of Love? What kind of wedding is this? Phew… I was just about to preach on what is known as the Love Chapter in the Bible. You know, the one that says, “love is patient, love is kind,” And I was thinking to myself, “good luck with that, newlyweds!” Well, it looks like our lovely couple skipped town. Perhaps they realized that we are looking at unconditional love and not romantic love today!
There is a quote from a sermon preached by Dr. Haddon Robinson that said, “Love is that thing, which if a church has it, it doesn’t really need much else, but if it doesn’t have it, whatever else it has, doesn’t really matter very much.” So let me ask you: Is Bethany Baptist Church a Church of Love? Because here’s the truth: Even if we’ve done everything right—attend church, read our Bibles, and share the Gospel, if love isn’t our motivation, we’ve got it all wrong!
It’s confession time: It can happen to any of us, and I’m no exception. It’s Sunday, I’m at church, and there’s a bunch of things I need to do, before the service starts. I’m turning on the computer, projector, and TV. I’m putting out the microphones, setting up the sound system, and doing a sound check. I’m moving from one task to the next, like I’m Speedy Gonzales, ensuring everything is ready for the service.
But in that rush, I realized I was “serving,” but not seeing. I became so busy, that I ignored the very people I was serving, as they arrived for worship. I missed the chance to share a smile, a word of encouragement, or even ask, “How are you doing today?” or “Is this your first time here?” I did the very thing, that today’s scripture warned us about.
So, let’s keep each other honest for a moment. We’ve all done the “right thing”, but for the wrong reason, haven’t we? Like when we volunteer— not because we really care about helping others, but to get that perfect social media post showing us “doing good.” Or when we help a friend move, but secretly think, they owe me one now. We call that a “Kingdom IOU”, right?
Even in our own families, we’ve done things to keep the peace, but deep down, we’re frustrated or annoyed. And let’s bring it home, to right here in our church. Oh, we’re pros at this. We sign up to greet people… but talk more, to the people we already know. We lead worship… but care more about how we sound, than helping others worship. We join committees… for the title, not the mission. We count the offering… to see if we recognize anyone’s name. We’re on the tech team… not because we love serving, but because it’s a good excuse to stay on our phones or hide in the back.
Let’s admit it: Sometimes, our “service” is just like a spiritual vending machine. Drop in a good deed, cling-clang, out pops out a gold star from God (or at least from our small group). But here’s the kicker: Love isn’t a transaction. It’s not about what we get back—it’s about showing the self-less, no-strings attached, love of Jesus.
So, let’s ask ourselves: Why do we do, what we do? Is it to look good… or to show God’s love? To impress others… or to point them to Jesus? To feel important… or to be faithful?
When the Apostle Paul talks about love in today’s scripture, he’s not just giving us a sweet, Hallmark-style pep talk. He’s delivering a wake-up call, a serious rebuke to the Corinthian church—and to us, too. These passages are not about improving your marriage or finding the perfect Valentine’s card. They are about unconditional, self-less love. A love that is not based on merit or good deeds.
But… let’s face it, this isn’t the love that we are used to. In English, we use the word “love” for everything. Your dog? Love. Your Cat? Love. Your phone? Love. Pizza at 3 a.m.? Love. Your spouse? Also… Love. The ancient Greeks had several different words for love such as: family love, romantic love, brotherly love, self-love, you get it… There was a Whole Lotta Lovin Going On in the Greek language. But in English? We’re lazy. We say “I love you” to our spouse AND our pizza. Big mistake. If you told your spouse, “I love you… and also this slice of pizza,” guess what? You’d be snuggling with the couch tonight. There was no sleeping on the couch for the Greeks, they would have said “Honey, I Eros you. But I Ludus this pizza.” Problem solved!
But here’s the thing: All these kinds of love are great, but there is only one form of love, that will change the world. You know, the kind of love that says, “I’m going to scrub the toilet with a toothbrush because my wife asked me to.” Or, “I’m going to sit in the hospital room for 12 hours because my friend needs me.” That’s agape love, folks - and let me tell you, it’s a lot harder to love that way, than it is to love our smartphones or pizza.
And we can see that in today’s scripture with the Corinthian church. Paul spent 18 months in the city of Corinth, building a strong Christian community and church. But once he left, things went haywire. It’s like parents telling their kids to behave while they’re away, only to return to what looks like a tornado threw a party. When the parents ask what happened, the kids shrug and say we had a party—Corinthian style!
The Corinthian church was selfish, ungrateful, and faced numerous issues like divorce, lawsuits, and poor behavior. Imagine a church service, like the game show Family Feud. Every few seconds, someone yells “Survey says…!” and a church member jumps up to share their opinion, disrupting the service. A never-ending competition of “I know the Bible better than you do,” where nobody was actually listening to God.
But wait, it gets worse. The church was located in the original “Sin City”. A place so corrupt, it made modern-day Vegas look tame. You know the saying, “what happens in Corinth, says in Corinth”. Imagine this news headline from the local paper: EXTRA EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT… CHURCH MEMBER SLEEPING WITH HIS STEPMOM (1 Corinthians 5). The church would have just shrugged and said, NOTHING NEW HERE.
Now, you might be asking yourself, why would this be happening to the church? Well, did you ever hear of the saying, “You become who you hang around with?” This was a big issue for the church. They couldn’t separate themselves from the surrounding culture. You see, our human nature tends to draw us closer to linked minded people and pull us farther away from those who think and act differently from us. Think about it: if you grew up in Las Vegas, surrounded by casinos and late-night activities, and then decided to become a Christian, it would be tough to leave that lifestyle behind. The church members were trying to be saints, but they still had a soft spot for the city’s wild side. As the saying goes, “You can take the person out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the person!”
Paul’s message to the Corinthian church, and it is still valid for us today: Without Love, Nothing Else Matters.
Picture a hockey team full of star players. Every game, their names light up the arena’s big screen—the jumbotron. But next to their name, there is something missing… tons of goals… but 0 assists. They’re like human goal machines. But here’s the catch: the team loses every game. Why? They care more about their own stats than winning. The defenseman sneaks up to score, leaving the net wide open. The star player shoots every time, even if a teammate has a better shot. They all want to be called “The Great One,” like Wayne Gretzky. But they’ve forgotten one thing: Gretzky didn’t just score—he passed too.
These players have talent, but they’re missing the point. They think, “If I don’t shoot, I won’t be famous!” So, they hog the puck, ignore their teammates, and chase personal glory—MVP awards, top scorer titles, and having their name in lights. But hockey isn’t a solo sport—A team only wins when players work together. The coach yells, “Pass the puck!” but they don’t listen. They’re too busy practicing their victory dance for the cameras.
We do the same thing. We chase stuff that makes us look good—grades, likes, promotions, careers—while ignoring what really matters: loving others, serving God, and doing our part. Like that defenseman abandoning the net, we leave our God-given roles to chase selfish goals. But here’s the truth: Selfishness doesn’t just ruin the game—it ruins our purpose. Like players chasing stats, we can do “great things” for God, but miss the point if love isn’t our motive. Without love, we’re just a selfish hockey team—obsessed with the name on the back of our jersey, rather than the team’s name on the front. A team that loves and sacrifices for one another stands out. The world notices!
This isn’t just a modern problem—it’s as old as the church itself. Take the Corinthians, for example… The Corinthian church was a talented bunch. They had spiritual gifts coming out of their ears—prophecy, tongues, wisdom, you name it. But the Apostle Paul saw a problem: They were using their gifts to build themselves up, not to build others up. They were doing all the “right things,” but their hearts were far from God.
And that’s why Paul drops these three “IF I” bombshells in 1 Corinthians 13, verses 1 through 3. He says: 1 If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels… 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge… 3 And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and surrender my body… but do not have love… we are a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal, it does us no good.
Paul’s point is clear: Love is our identity: Jesus says the world will recognize His followers by their self-less love for one another (John 13:15). Heaven is our focus: We’re called to fix our hearts and minds on Christ’s priorities, not earthy distractions (Colossians 3:1-4). Sacrifice is our worship: Giving God our whole lives—body, mind, and spirit-is the only reasonable response to His mercy (Romans 12:1).
When we stop stealing the puck and start passing it, the world sees Jesus in us. Jesus gave up everything to save us—the ultimate team player. Let’s follow His example! Play for the team, not yourself. Help others instead of showing off. Listen to Jesus, our “coach.” He said the greatest person is the one who serves others (Mark 9:35). What matters to God? Not awards or stats, but a heart that loves Him and loves people. The Holy Spirit’s assist rate is 100%… but you have to pass Him the puck. We need to stop trying to be “The Great One” and start being the grateful one.
After all, Love Is What God Is Making You Into. Imagine an old, dusty mirror, hidden in an attic. Its glass is clouded by dust, grime, cracks, and fingerprints. But underneath, something is still true: the mirror was made to reflect light. It was designed to show a clear image.
This mirror is each of us right here today. God, who is love (1 John 4:16), made us in His image (Genesis 1:27). But life in a broken world, has dimmed that reflection. Sin has layered the glass with: Selfishness (smudges that make us say, “Me first!”), Hurt (cracks from pain we’ve caused or carried), Pride (dust that keeps us from seeing others clearly).
We’re just like that mirror—designed to reflect God’s love, but distorted by sin. When we prioritize being selfish, hurtful, or prideful, we dim His image in us. And just like we wouldn’t discard a dirty mirror, God doesn’t abandon us in our brokenness. With loving care, He gently restores us, revealing the beauty of His image within us.
Every time you choose patience instead of anger, He polishes a corner. Every time you show kindness to someone who doesn’t deserve it, He buffs out a scratch. Every time you forgive, He fills in a crack. The process is slow—Some days the mirror feels too damaged to ever shine. But God keeps working, whispering, “Love is what I AM. And love is what you are becoming.”
You were made to reflect God’s love—it’s written into your design. This isn’t just a pretty picture—it’s a promise. Scripture shows how God transforms broken mirrors into radiant reflections of His glory. Look at Hebrews 1 verse 3 which says, Jesus is the “exact representation” of God—the standard we’re being restored to. Or 2 Corinthians 3 verse 18 which says, “We all, with unveiled faces, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory.”
You might be asking? How do we know that we are on the right track? Well, Paul gave us a Love Test right here in 1 Corinthians 13 verses 4 through 7. I would ask the tech team to display the Love Test on the screen. I want you to read the words on the screen with me, replacing the blanket with your name.
4 __________ is patient, __________ is kind. __________ is not jealous; __________ does not brag, __________ is not arrogant. 5 __________ does not act disgracefully, __________ does not seek self-benefit; __________ is not provoked, does not keep an account of wrongs. 6 __________ does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth. 7 __________ keeps every confidence, __________ believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Look, I wouldn’t ace this test, and I’m guessing that some of you won’t either—and that’s ok. God isn’t scolding you; He’s transforming you. Every time you choose love over pride, mercy over bitterness, or humility over selfishness, you’re letting God buff His character into you (Ephesians 4:22-24). And here’s the thing: these choices are not just for today—they’re rehearsals for eternity. The apostle Paul said it plainly: prophecies fade, knowledge passes away, and even spiritual gifts have their time, but Love Is the Only Thing That Lasts.
Picture sitting around a campfire on a cold night with a bunch of your friends. The flames grow high, crackling and glowing. You roast marshmallows, laugh, and share stories by its light. But eventually, the fire burns down. The wood turn to ash. The warmth fades. All that’s left are a few glowing embers… and the memory of the time you all shared.
Imagine if one of your friends scooped up some of the embers, carried them home, and kept them alive? Years later, that tiny spark is still burning—a flame that never dies. This is love. God is always nurturing the spark within each of us, trying to kindle the true flame of our spirit.
In 1 Corinthians 13:8-13, Paul says spiritual gifts like prophecy, knowledge, and miracles are like that campfire—powerful and awe-inspiring, but temporary. They’re for now, to light our way in a dark world. But love? Love is the ember that never burns out. It’s the only thing that lasts into eternity.
The campfire’s flames (and our spiritual gifts) are for a season. They help us now, but one day, when we see God face-to-face, we won’t need them. The embers (love) are forever. Love outlives every accomplishment, every talent, every victory. Paul says we’re like people squinting at a blurry reflection (v. 12). We don’t fully grasp God’s plan yet. But love is our practice for eternity.
Imagine if you could see others with a “forever glow”—their eternal souls, their worth to God. How would you treat them? The coworker who annoys you? A forever soul. The family member who hurt you? A forever soul. The stranger you ignore? A forever soul. The church goer who let you down? A forever soul.
Do one thing today that only Jesus would do. Something that only love explains: Call someone who’s lonely. Bless an enemy (pray for them, serve them). Choose silence over a hurtful remark. One day, the campfire of this life will burn out. The gifts, the achievements, the applause—all gone. But every act of love will still be burning bright in eternity. So, tend the embers now… “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
You might know the Bible backward and forward—but if you don’t love, you’ve missed the point. You might serve, give, or even pray—but if you don’t love, it’s just noise. You might spot everyone else’s flaws—but if you don’t see your own love-less-ness, you have a problem. Love isn’t an add-on for Christ like living—it’s the foundation. It’s what we as Christians are wired to breathe, to be, and to live. This isn’t a call to shame, or a call to blame, it’s a call to freedom. It’s an invitation to live the life you were meant to live. Today’s your chance for a grace-filled reset.
Church, let’s flip the script: From: “Your Actions Speak Louder Than Words” To: “Your Motivations Speak Louder Than Your Actions”
Let’s stop being known for what we’re against and start being known for Who we’re for. Let’s love so boldly that the world has no choice but to ask, “What’s different about them?”
In closing, I want to share with you a beautiful illustration of a father’s love for his child. A true reflection of our Godly Father’s love for us, and what our love for each other should be like too. There was an earthquake in Armenia in 1988. This earthquake left 30,000 people dead in 4 minutes. Among the countless buildings that collapsed, one of them was a school, where there was many Elementary children. All the parents who had survived, ran to the school, to see if their kids were alive, and all they found was a pile of rubble.
Each of the parents, removed a few bricks, from the top of the rubble, and shouted for their kids. After a few minutes, they realized that this was hopeless, so they all just stopped, except one dad. He kept going, brick after brick, ripping them off, and calling his child’s name. After 5 hours, all the parents left him. After 12 hours, all the parents were mocking him. After 38 hours, he took one final brick off, and there was his son, with his friends, in a pocket of air. The son said, see guys, I told you my dad would get us out of this.
This is the love of God for you-while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For God so loved the world, that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Will you show the world this same kind of love?
Amen, and Amen.
