August 9, 2026 Sermon

Guest Preacher:  Rev. Steven Lacey

Sermon Title:  “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing”

Scripture:  1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

The Gift of Love

1If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 9For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; 10but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. 11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

It is, in my belief, a word that is one of the most unused and at the same time, overused words in the English language. To the point that it can almost be abused by people making use of it when there are far better words which would explain more clearly, what it is they are trying to say.

In fact, once again, it is my belief that there are even times where it is difficult for one person to understand what is meant by another, when they use it. And that word ladies and gentlemen is love.

A topic which I chose to talk about today, as it has been much on my mind as of late as just recently, Susan and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. That began with a beautiful wedding ceremony at the First Christian Church of Palo Alto where we had met during my first year of seminary when I was called to serve the church, first as Youth Pastor and then later as Seminary Intern.

It was a beautiful service in every way perhaps not quite as elaborate as the one Taylor and Travis had recently but it was everything we could have wanted it to be.

So, let’s talk about love and my difficulty with that word of just how and when it is used. For I can stand before you and tell you that one of the snacks I love the most, is peanut butter on toast. Further, if you know me well, you know I love cats, more than I do dogs. And for exercise,  I love being in the pool for fun at home, I love being on the computer. When I choose what to wear, I love my plaid shirts. Further, I love my church family and preaching on Sunday mornings. And finally, there are few times of the year that I love more than Christmas.

Oh yes, and did I forget to mention that I love Susan too. Right up there with peanut butter, plaid shirts, penguins, and preaching the gospel.

Yes, love, is a great word, for so many reasons which can be used in so many aspects of our lives, to describe our feelings, towards one thing or another.

And it is a word, a concept, that we know that God loves also for there are very few concepts in the bible, that are talked about as much in as many different places, as is love. For you can find God’s wisdom concerning it in each of the Gospels:  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. You can find it in Paul’s letters to the Romans and to the Corinthians in 1st John and 1st Peter. In fact, if you looked carefully enough you will find it in every book of the New Testament except the Book of Acts, And if you are that type of person who likes to count, and has nothing but time on your hands depending on which version of the bible you pick up, you will find it used in the New Testament between 200 and 600 times.

Love which is so important in our lives being an empowering force in our lives, an uplifting, inspiring, motivating force in our lives (use the force Luke)

And so, it is good that God talks about it so much helping us to see that love is an action verb requiring intentional actions and choices from one person, in regard to another.

And just who should we love? The bible is good at answering that question. Of course, the answer is:  we should love our neighbor as ourselves as we hear in Matthew 22 where we learn that that commandment is the second most important thing, that we should do as children of God. Right after loving our God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Fortunately, most often, that loving your neighbor admonition is fairly easy to do, unless you are unfortunate enough to have one of those neighbors that reminds you of what the Hatfields and McCoys went through for generations.

And even then God wants us to love. (Though he knows it will not be easy to do but he wants us to try.) He wants us children of God  to make the first move on his behalf. (Which is something he asks of us to do over and over again). For what God is saying to us:  if we do not set the example, how will others know how to follow?

It is put this way in Matthew 5 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Explaining further he says:  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

And that is just the beginning about what the bible has to say on the topic of love.

In line with that, another point that I believe that we need to hear is why love is so important especially in our relationships with family members, and with those friends who we care about the most.

It is that, as it says 1 Peter 4:8…That love covers a multitude of sins.

Meaning, that it is not good, either for ourselves, or those we are angry with…upset with…hurt by…to keep our hearts filled with anger towards another…

For as my prayer professor, Flora Wuellner, taught us, there is only room for one emotion, one thought, in your mind at a time. So, make it a good one.

When these kinds of emotions rise to the surface, it is important says the scriptures, to forgive quickly and move beyond something that has happened in the past, of which you can do nothing about, and instead focus on the future relationship.

We are encouraged in these situations to prioritize reconciliation and grace, over the keeping of….and continually returning  to….the wrongs which have been done to you. Which can become, as one author put it, like a donkey millstone around your neck or as another mentioned, becomes like the chains that Jacob Marley bore if you remember, the Christmas Carol

Now this is something I am sure….those who are parents, or have been in charge of caring for children, learn quickly. For how often have acts been committed, that are almost immediately regretted, with people wishing somehow,  that they could push a reset button….and try that situation again.

Using a slightly paraphrased version…That lesson is what we hear about in Proverbs 10:12 where it says:  That hatred (brought about by anger or upset) that kind of hatred stirs up strife but love covers all offenses and allow you to forgive and move ahead with your life.

Now, I do not think this point can be stressed enough, that just like food, water, air, rest and exercise, just as they are vital to our continuing life existence…we cannot…or at least should not….live a life without love.

In fact, that point is made so well, and so strongly, in the most famous of love passages in the bible, I Corinthians 13. Which starts out with these great jux-ta-po-si-tions…..(In other words, side by side comparisons.) Pointing out on one hand, how important something is, and then on the other, pointing out that love is even more so.

For instance, it begins with this one:  If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels (Think of what that phrase is saying…)

If a person has the ability to speak to others in such a way that they understand clearly, and those people are moved and inspired by the point he or she is trying to get across and as well, if that person is able to share the wisdom of the angels with others (Which is every pastor’s dream of course to be able to do.) If that person can do all of that, it still pales in comparison…. Let me repeat that…it still pales in comparison to the importance of having love in your life.

The passage goes on to say:  if I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Imagine, the ability to look into the future and see what it is that humankind is going to need, so work can begin now on developing it.

Imagine being able to unravel the mysteries of life, and find answers or solutions to them. (Look out Sherlock Holmes, there is another great thinker afoot.) Imagine having the ability to do all that…but still, if you can do all that and do not have love in your life, you are nothing. (A very powerful scripture passage, don’t you think?)

Yes, everyone, all of humankind, needs love which can come to us, be part of us, in so many different ways.

Forty-five years with the woman you married….definitely.

The love of your children, grandchildren, etc. Are there any better words to hear than:  Grandpa, Grandma, we’re here?

How about the love of your pet or pets, who are so devoted to you, that their world revolves around you.

Or about doing something with your life that you truly love and have devoted yourself to…a job, a profession, a career….or a hobby that you totally immerse yourself in and which brings you such joy in doing.

Yes, we all need love….the bible tells us so. And isn’t it great…that it is out there in such abundance, to the point that we just have to reach out and grasp it. Hold it…embrace it…and make it part of our lives.

So, with all of that in mind, as you leave our worship service this morning, as this sermon comes to a close, think about what is it…who is it…that you love and why it is you do so? And then go home and make sure they know that…For there is nothing better to hear from one person to another…than the words, I love you.

Amen.

Rev. Steven Lacey