Love (Communion Sunday)

This sermon looks at the definition, dimensions and direction of the biblical virtue self-control, including a surprising discovery: Self-control requires us to have more desire, not less!

The world often sees gentleness, or meekness, as weakness. The Bible has a different view. Biblical gentleness is strength under control. God desires to cultivate in us the gentleness that we see in the life of Jesus. This sermon explores how gentleness enriches relationships, and it also describes practices that help cultivate gentleness in our lives.

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The biblical virtue of goodness is about the fulfillment of purpose. Scripture makes it clear that God is the source of all goodness, so in order to grow in goodness, it’s important for us to understand and live in alignment with God’s purposes.

Early Christians were often referred to as “the kind ones”. Do we give people reason to refer to us in this way today?

Patience is not a sign of weakness but of strength to actively make positive progress in the most trying social or interpersonal circumstances; patience is to be manifested and sustained in our relationship with God, others, and self.

Jesus doesn’t tell us to be right, he tells us to be loving. Jesus didn’t say the world will know us by how right we are. He says the world will know us by our love.

Biblical joy isn’t about our earthly wants and desires. It’s about desiring God and what God desires.

When you make God the centre, the results are what Paul calls the fruit of the spirit. Fruit isn’t something you grow on your own. Fruit is something God does.