Becoming a More Loving Person

Developing Spiritual Character:  
Becoming A More Loving Person:  
Galatians 5:22-23 & 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

(To download and print blank sermon notes to complete while you listen, click HERE.)

God seeks to develop and display the character of Christ through the followers of Christ!

An Important Distinction:

• Gift of the Spirit - Salvation

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,” (Ephesians 1:13)

• Gifts of the Spirit - Service

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4–7)

• Fruit of the Spirit - Character (Galatians 5:22-23)

Love is probably one of the most misunderstood words in the world.

Two Popular Misconceptions about Love

1. Love is primarily a Feeling

Love often is accompanied by and produces feelings, but love is more than just a feeling

2. Love is Uncontrollable

Jesus commanded that we love others

Two Powerful Correctives

1. Love is a Choice

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14)

Love is therefore controllable

2. Love is something we Do, it is an Action

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

It is possible to express love to someone we don’t like

Steps Toward Becoming a More Loving Person

1. Experience God’s Love

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

“that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17–19)

Unloved people are often unloving people

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12

2. Forgive Others

“bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13)

We cannot give total love when our heart is divided

A Past that is not processed properly is still impacting the present

3. Think loving Thoughts

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

We can choose to focus on other’s needs, hurts problems, desires and goals; not just our own

4. Act in love

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27–28)

Three Actions Steps:

• Do Good: Serve them, help them, meet their needs
• Bless: A positive word spoken about or to others
• Pray: Pray for God’s blessings in their lives

Look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

5. Expect the Best (1 Corinthian 13:7)

Love is contagious; it has the power to change people

Treat people the way you want them to become

When we expect the best, we often bring out the best in others

Resurrecting a Dying Love

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4–5)

Three Steps To Rekindle Love:

• Remember
• Repent
• Redo

Making It Personal:

• Have you experienced God’s love for you through Jesus Christ?
• What specific steps do you need to take this week to become a more loving person?
• Who needs to experience love from you this week, regardless of their choices or actions?
• Choose this week to focus on what you can control in your relationships – your thoughts, your words, your attitudes, your actions.