Sermon July 12, 2026

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE

ARGUMENTS over WHO IS THE “GREATEST OF ALL TIME”

THE APOSTLE PAUL noticed the teamwork between FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE.

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, & your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

                                                                 --  1 Thessalonians 1:3

 ⁵ For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.                      

                                                                 --  Galatians 5:5-6

¹³ And now these 3 remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 

                                                                -- I Corinthians 13:13

   FAITH IS A GREAT THING!

I urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.  -- Jude   23

10    DOCTRINES OF OUR FAITH!

1.  THE INFALLIBILITY OF SCRIPTURES

2.  THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST    

3.  THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS

4.  THE HISTORICAL CREATION OF MAN

5.  THE SINFUL NATURE OF MAN 

6.  THE SUBSTITIONARY DEATH OF JESUS

7.  THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF JESUS  

8.  THE LITERAL RETURN OF JESUS

9.  THE RESURRECTION & ASSIGNMENT TO HEAVEN & HELL

10.  THE SOLE WAY TO HEAVEN IS THRU JESUS 

See:  Hebrews 11:6 and Acts 8:34-38

HOPE IS A GREAT THING!

                                             QT#1   IN WHAT IS OUR HOPE?    

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name

of the LORD our God.  -- Psalm 20:7

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. – I Peter 1:3

                                        QT#2   WHAT INSPIRES OUR HOPE?   

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. – Hebrews 6:19                                                             

If Christ is not raised, our preaching and our faith is in vain. -- I Corinthians 15:14

THE GREATEST THING IS LOVE!

#1 Because LOVE IS THE REFLECTION OF GOD.

“Love is that thing which, if a church has it, it doesn’t really need much else, and

if it doesn’t have it, whatever else it has doesn’t really matter very much.”

“By this shall all men know you are my disciples, if you love one another!” -- John 13:35

#2 Because LOVE IS ETERNAL.

“In eternity, you will no longer need faith because you will have sight.

You will no longer need hope because your expectations and anticipations

will all have been met and exceeded.

But the love will characterize our eternal relationship with God!” -- Tony Evans

God demonstrated his love in this way while we were still sinners Christ died for

us? -- Romans 5:8 Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus

for the forgiveness of your sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. -- Acts 2:38