First United Methodist Church
Clinton, Mississippi
Perfect Love – Sermon Series
What comes to mind when you hear the word “love?” You may think of Valentines’ Day, with colorful hearts, roses and candy when you think of the word love. You might think of your family and the loving memories you share with those you cherish. And while love can be found in relationships and in things both in and of this world, we serve a God who loves more deeply and intimately than we can imagine. Love that casts out any fears we have – PERFECT LOVE.
September 5 – Love that Seeks us Out
Time and time again, God goes before His people to rescue and redeem them. We see this in Israel, here in Hosea and all throughout the Old and New Testaments. What a beautiful reminder that this prevenient grace is an act of love.
Hosea 2:14-15
New Revised Standard Version
14 Therefore, I will now allure her,
and bring her into the wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her.
15 From there I will give her her vineyards,
and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she shall respond as in the days of her youth,
as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.
​September 12 – Love that Makes a Difference
Justification is offered to all who earnestly repent and seek to live in peace with God our Father. What perfect love God has for His beloved children – to forgive in the face of the deepest sin.
Romans 5:1-8
New Revised Standard Version
Results of Justification
5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access[b] to this grace in which we stand; and we[c] boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we[d] also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
September 19 – Love that Lasts a Lifetime
The Holy Spirit is forever working in our lives, sanctifying us in our faith. In today’s passage, we see Jesus both show the disciples love and command them to love others as well, but he doesn’t just say to love them. He tells the twelve specifically how to love others – by serving them. As we serve our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are sharing the love of Christ.
John 13:12-17
New Revised Standard Version
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants[a] are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
​September 26 – Choir Dedication
Today is an extended time of worship through music of varying kinds. Worship as an act of love – a way that we can fully participate in showing the Father our love for Him, as we glorify His name.
Psalm 100
All Lands Summoned to Praise God
A Psalm of thanksgiving.
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;[a]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.