In Pastor Todd’s final message to our church, his parting words were about the one thing God values most – “love.”

As a church, we have been blessed by Todd and Kim’s 16 years with us and they have demonstrated, over and over again, their love for their church community. Let Todd’s last sermon at Westheights ring true for each one of us as we listen to this message and then live it out in our lives.

IF I COULD TELL YOU ONE LAST THING

Message by Todd Lester – October 1, 2017

NEVER STOP LOVING

1 Corinthians 13:13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Psalm 39:4 Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is.

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

Mark 12:29-31 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Galatians 5:14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

 

THREE TRUTHS TO REMEMBER

1. THE BEST USE OF LIFE IS LOVE

1 Corinthians 14:1a Let love be your highest goal!

1 Corinthians 13:3 (Mes) If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere.

2. THE BEST WAY TO LOVE IS TIME

1 John 3:18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

This poem was written by a workaholic dad:

I have a son who’s five years old, a boy so very fine.

When I look at him it seems to me that all the world is mine.

But seldom do I ever see my son awake and bright.

I only see him when he sleeps. I’m only home at night.

When I come home so weary in the darkness after day

My wife says to me, “You should have seen him play.”

So I stand beside his bed and I look and ponder there

And I wonder if he’s dreaming, “Why isn’t Daddy here?”

Ephesians 5:2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Victor Hugo, Les Miserables: You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.

3. THE BEST TIME TO LOVE IS NOW

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Ephesians 5:16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

Proverbs 3:27-28 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbour now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

For Sermon discussion resources click here:    Oct 1 Sermon Resources

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