The Greatest of These Is Love
Month 10: Loving One Another · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: 1 Corinthians 13:13 & Colossians 3:14
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love. — 1 Corinthians 13:13
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. — Colossians 3:14
Memory Verse
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.”— 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Matthew 21–22
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time.The Heart of It
We've reached the soaring finish of the love chapter, and it's worth slowing down to worship. "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love" (). Faith, hope, and love are three of the most precious things in the Christian life. But Paul says love is the greatest. Why? Think about it together. One day faith will become sight, when we finally see Jesus face to face. We won't need to believe in what we can see. Hope will be fulfilled, when everything God promised has come true. We won't need to wait anymore. But what about love? Love will never end. Love is what we'll be doing in heaven forever, because love is the very life of God Himself.
Paul says something similar in . First he lists wonderful things to "put on," like tender mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. Then he says, "And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity." Love is like the belt, or the sash, that holds the whole outfit together. A family can have rules, schedules, knowledge, and even spiritual gifts. But love is the thing that ties it all into something beautiful and whole. So as this week comes to a close, let's worship the God who is love (). He poured His love into our hearts by the Spirit. And He is making our family a place where the greatest thing of all gets practiced every single day.
Around the Table
Faith, hope, and love are all wonderful — but love is the BIGGEST and BEST! And love lasts forever.
Let's do it: Sing "Jesus Loves Me" together, then take turns saying "I love you because…" to each person at the table.
Faith will become sight and hope will come true, but love never ends. That's why it's the greatest!
Let's talk: Why do you think love is the one thing that lasts forever, even in heaven?
Love is the bond that ties every other good quality together into something whole. It's the sash that holds the whole outfit on ().
Let's go deeper: Looking back over this week, which truth about love do you most want to "put on"? How will you practice it at home?
💬 Conversation Starter
If you could keep only one thing forever and everything else disappeared, what would you keep?— Paul says love is the one thing that lasts forever — so it's the best thing to keep!
🛡️ Defending the Faith
How do we know love is really the greatest, and not just a nice idea? Because love is rooted in the unchanging character of God Himself. "God is love" (). And what flows from who God is, forever, will outlast everything else. We share that confidently and gently (), letting our own love back up our words.
For Dad · Go Deeper
This is a Family Worship day, so let your aim be worship, not just instruction. Lead your kids to delight in a God who is love, not merely to learn about love. There's a deep theological reason love is "the greatest." Love is eternal because God Himself is an eternal community of love. Father, Son, and Spirit loved one another before the world began. When the Spirit pours love into our hearts (), He is drawing us into the very life of God. So a home that practices love isn't just behaving well. It is living out a small picture of the Trinity, and a preview of heaven. End this week by helping your family see that loving one another is not a chore on the to-do list. It is a foretaste of forever. Then make sure your kids hear, plainly, that you love them. And that God loves them even more.
Draws on: Sam Storms, One Thing: Developing a Passion for the Beauty of God.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, You are love itself. You loved us before the world began. Thank You that love is the greatest gift, the one that lasts forever. Help our family put on love above everything else. Let love be the thing that holds us together. Make our home a little picture of heaven. In Jesus' name, amen."
Faith and hope are precious. But love is the greatest, because love lasts forever.