It’s that time of year when preachers are thinking of sermons on love and Valentine’s Day. Love is probably one of the most complicated and confusing topics in Scripture. There are literally thousands of verses that talk about love, but despite what we read in the Bible, we still have a hard time understanding it. We may love our favorite TV shows and love our job, but we also love our spouse! We love our children and our families, and all these declarations of love mean something different.
When it comes to Valentine’s Day, most people think of agape love and having someone special for the big day. The pastors are trying to decide how to incorporate the holiday into their sermons. Since it is one of the most popular topics in the church, here are some verses you could use to talk about love in your sermons on love.
Genesis 29:20
“So Jacob worked seven years to repay Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed only a few days.” Can you imagine waiting seven years to marry someone? Many adults and teens don’t even want to wait 10 more minutes to cook in the oven instead of the microwave! Jacob had to wait years to get the woman he wanted, and many men won’t wait that long today. With our fast-paced lives and the internet at our fingertips, the idea of perseverance has gone by the wayside.
This passage of scripture puts circumstances in proper perspective for singles. It’s easy to feel frustrated about not having a partner or someone special, but God will bring the right person into your life at the right time.
Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Husbands need to learn to love their wives. Many men are guilty of spending too much time working or watching TV to spend time with their spouses, and that can cause a lot of problems over time. Husbands must be willing to make sacrifices to spend time with family and wives.
1 John 4:18
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love expels fear, because fear has to do with punishment. He who fears is not perfected in love.” Fear is the opposite of love. When we are afraid, we cannot have love. Most Christians don’t understand this passage of scripture, which means it would be a great verse to reference when you’re preaching sermons on love.
1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, love one another deeply, for love covers a multitude of sins.” Love is the key to restoring relationships and marriages. When we put all our hope and trust in Christ, God can do the impossible in our lives. The Lord wants to work through our lives teaching us how to care for everyone no matter how they treat us. We are supposed to love our enemies, and we can only do so through the love of God.
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” This is a key verse about love. We are supposed to love everyone more than we love ourselves. This means that we are going to make sacrifices from time to time to put others first.
When you preach sermons on love for Valentine’s Day, remember that love is much more than agape love. Love is one of the central themes of Scripture, and God’s love should be evident in our lives every day.