To his Christian friends in Corinth, St. Paul sends his famous "love talk." "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." How many couples have chosen those words for their wedding day? How many simply cherish those words of love?

There was a young man who went off to college. At every break, he would bring home a different girlfriend. His father was fairly amused, but every time, his mother had something to say. "Son, she’s beautiful, but perhaps she’s a little too somber." Or the next, mom would say; "Oh I don’t know, she just so particular." Then with another she said, "She sure strikes me as too mousy for you, my dear."

At last the young man brought home this splendid woman. So bubbly, so brash, so bright. He knew something was special, something was familiar. It finally dawned on him; "No wonder I’m head over heels, she’s just like mom." And of course, mom was thrilled with the girl.

But wouldn’t you know it? His father took the young man aside. "Son, I’ve always kept my opinion to myself. As long as you’re happy, I’ll love this girl. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something that I just don’t like about this girl."

While trying to build a new relationship, I must confess that I have more to learn about the ways of love. Say you do too? Who here would like to be more loveable? Who aspires to be more loving? "And I will show you a still more excellent way," Paul promises. Show us, Paul, as the sermon title teases. Show us how to be a better lover.

"I would love the people in my life better, if only……" Only what? What would it take? I wonder if Paul is giving us his "if only" list. "If I speak in tongues of men and angels…. If I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith so as to move mountains…… If I give away all I have and if I deliver up my body to be burned….."

Ever the missionary, Paul was always hurrying to touch hearts in another culture, to share Jesus’ love with new people. "If only I could speak all their languages, speak like an angel. If only I could preach with prophetic power, grasping and giving away all the marvelous wonders of God’s Word. If only I could move mountains, with faith jump the furthest sea. If only I were more willing to give all I’ve got, to give myself just like Jesus did."

So, what more do you need to be a better lover? If only. If only. "But if I have not love, I’m just making noise. I’m a bell clanging in an idol’s temple. Without love, I am nothing. Without love, I gain nothing. What about you? Are you without love or with love?

The Good News is that you have been loved – loved by God unconditionally, undeservedly. God has poured out his heart on you, and you are filled to brimming over with love from God.

Imagine that Paul’s list of "if onlys" has come true in you. Imagine that God has set your tongue free to speak all languages, to speak of love like the angels. Imagine that God has given you the powers of prophets, the wisdom of Solomon and the faith of mountain movers. And imagine that you give, you share, all that God has given you. You even pour out your very life, all in the cause of God’s love.

And then, would God love you a little bit more? Or would things be just like they are today, with God already holding back nothing?

Did God love Paul because of what Paul did for God? Of course not. God loved Paul from the start. At first, Paul hated Jesus, and was determined to wipe out Christ’s people. But in his love, God got Paul’s attention.

Why does God love you? Because of you? Probably not. God loves you because of himself. The best we can do is bow before God, like Charlotte Elliot, who wrote the hymn; "Just as I am, without one plea." Purely, perfectly, finally and forever, God loves you.

How often have we prayed; "God if only you would change me, then I would love more. If only you would make me more like Jesus, then I would love like Jesus."

Maybe we should have been praying; "God you have loved me, you have baptized me. Lord, help me believe in your love. You give me all your heart. Help me live your love. Move me to live from your heart."

What more do you need to be a better lover? Nothing! Only Jesus.

Look again at Paul’s words. Does Paul really describe anyone? Someone you know? Who speaks to your heart, who speaks the language that opens every heart? Who speaks a word sweeter than angels? Who speaks with nothing but love? Who? The power prophet who knows all of God’s mysteries, that’s Who. With mountain moving faith, he gives all he has. He gives himself, body and soul to God’s furious hellfire, giving himself for his loved ones. This one is love.

Did you hear about the fellow who played the part of Jesus in the church Passion play? Shouldering that heavy cross, stumbling up the church’s long driveway, he felt so honored. When his friends from church played their parts, some moaning and others jeering his "Jesus," the actor was near tears.

Then he heard the voice of his neighbor, a neighbor with whom he had some issues. The neighbor joined the jeers, tossing out silly lines. "You think you’re so big ‘Jesus’. Too busy to mow your lawn?" The jibes went on and on, even turning personal and nasty. "Your house is ugly – almost as ugly as your daughter."

"Jesus" finally had enough. Throwing down the cross, he stomped over to that neighbor. Hot words that I can’t repeat here were exchanged. The Passion play ground to a halt. Everybody tried to smooth things out.

Afterwards, the director told "Jesus," "Tomorrow night, we’ll have to let your stand-in play the Lord." The poor man was so embarrassed. Heartsick, he begged, "Please, I can do this."

Sure enough, the next night, his neighbor came back for round two. It wasn’t long until you could see "Jesus" red-faced, struggling under that cross. But the neighbor kept dishing it out. "And don’t even get me started on your momma!" His teeth clenched, "Jesus" cocked his head and fixed his stare on his tormentor. "I’ll deal with you after the resurrection!"

Is that our Jesus? All our nastiness hits his heart. Yet, he carries our sins clear to the grave. His heart filled with only love, he rises, lives and loves me still today. Don’t you want to be a better lover, just like Jesus?

Paul’s words so beautifully describe love. Does he describe you? Does he describe me? Steve is patient and kind. Steve does not envy or boast. Steve is not arrogant or rude. Steve does not insist on his own way. Steve is not irritable or resentful. Steve does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Steve bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Thanks for not laughing, booing, or throwing hymnals. My love does fail. My heart goes dry. I am painfully aware that I need to be a better lover. Do Paul’s words describe you? Does Paul’s portrait of love really depict anyone?

Jesus is patient. He has never said, "I forgave you before. No more." Jesus is kind. He’s always nudging us, "Are you stuck? I’ll help." Jesus doesn’t envy. He doesn’t boast. That’s a ridiculous picture – Jesus on the throne of heaven, bragging about being perfect and being love. In truth, Jesus is at the throne pleading, "Father, see these wounds you gave me for them? Forgive them, guard them, guide them."

Jesus is not arrogant or rude. He does not insist on his own way. Gladly giving himself into the hands of God, he begs, "Father, not what I want. Your will be done."

Jesus is not irritable or resentful. He does not rejoice at wrongdoing done against him. Do sin and death do wrong against you? Does the devil wrong you? The devil is delighted when you do wrong. Everything that’s wrong with you, and every wrong done to you kills Jesus. Gentle as a lamb, he takes up the cross.

Jesus rejoices with the truth. Jesus bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. All that his Father promises is poured out by Jesus though the Holy Spirit to make it all come true for you. Jesus never ends.

From where can you get more, better love? Nowhere but Jesus.

God has given us each different abilities. You have your unique experiences and your own dreams. And so we each make our unique contribution. Isn’t that why God has brought us together in this church family? He loves for us to love one another. We can love with such a love that it spills over to those who do not yet know Jesus. We know where our love comes from. Jesus loves us, and we’ve got God’s Word on it. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Two brothers were excited about going to the country for church camp. For these boys, it would be their first week away from home – their first week away from the big city. Their mother scraped together her very last penny, walked to the Goodwill thrift store, and bought a couple of big, old suitcases, camp clothes, used shoes, and even a couple of bags of candy.

The brothers stood in the excited crowd in the church parking lot when they heard the bad news. The big bus broke. The little bus can’t fit everybody. Maybe somebody will somehow be able to come back tomorrow for the rest of you. But today, only one boy from each family can board this bus. One boy, one bag, and that’s all.

The little brother burst into tears. "That’s okay," said the older one, "you go."

"No, you go," he blubbered. "I can’t go without you anyway."

"Follow me," said the big brother. He quickly led his brother behind the church. He placed his brother’s bag there with the garbage can, and opening his own luggage, dumped his stuff into the dumpster. He put his suitcase on the ground and whispered, "Keep quiet and get in." Stooping over and straining to balance the big back on his back, he trudged up the bus steps.

What weight would Jesus take on his back, to get you to paradise? Who can take in the depths of his love? Let us love one another, for love is from God. Amen.