July 20, 2008 Sermon Notes

Pastor Matt Anderson – July 20, 2008
“How to Love Difficult People … and not so Difficult People”
U Picked It series, part three

 “But now I want to lay out a far better way for you.” –the apostle Paul

The greatest hindrance to love: my own expectations

I Corinthians 13.1-3 – the foundation of love

I Corinthians 13.4-7 – practical expressions of love

I Corinthians 13.8-13 – the future of love

Scriptures to digest:

• Matthew 22.34-40
• John 13.34-35
• Romans 8.38-39
• Romans 12.9
• I John 4.7-21

 

 

A morning thought…

J. Allan Peterson, in The Myth of the Greener Grass, writes:

Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. “I do not only want to get rid of him; I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me.”

Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan. “Go home and act as if you really loved your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that you’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him.”

With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, “Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!” And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting “as if.” For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing. When she didn’t return, Crane called, “Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?”

“Divorce!” she exclaimed. “Never! I discovered I really do love him.” Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as often repeated deeds.