Temple Baptist Church - 9-2-2026
1 Corinthians 16:23-24
Introduction:
A. Tonight, as we continue to look at Paul’s final words to this great epistle, I want to look at the last verse, “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen!”
1. Another wonderful look into the heart of the great Apostle Paul. We saw Paul’s humanity in Romans chapter 7:7-25, his weakness and fear in 1 Corinthians 2:3-4, his internal fortitude in Acts 7:21-27, his finishing in 2 Timothy 4:6-7, and tonight, a softer part of his inner man as he declares his love for this carnal, confused, sometimes rebellious, often divided church!
2. A man noted for his straightforward preaching and teaching of God’s Word which can sometimes be misinterpreted. Straight preaching is something commanded by God, not made up by man. Straight preaching is a divine charge that is not to be questioned. It is to be obeyed by God’s man!
2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
B. Christian love or charity is a wonderful gift given to every born-again believer with no exceptions.
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
C. But the burden of the pastor is a great one that he cannot share with others. Therefore, his love must be the same as all others as a believer, but different from all others as a pastor! Paul gives a brief explanation of this in his Second Corithian Epistle:
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (24) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (28) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
D. The pastor’s love for his flock must be a special love as he is the under shepherd who feeds and cares for the Shepherd’s, God’s sheep, individually, and flock of God, corporately!
1 Peter 5:2-3 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (3) Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
E. A long introduction because many of God’s people do not understand the pastor’s love for God’s people and His church!
1. A pastor's love is more than affection for a congregation. It is a shepherd's love—a love that reflects the heart of Christ. It cares for people, prays for them, teaches them, encourages them, corrects them when necessary, and remains faithful even when ministry is difficult.
2. A pastor’s love for the people in the church is a sacrificial love. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
F. The characteristics of a Pastor’s love:
1. A Compassionate Love - Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (The pastor will not harshly judge or put down the sheep but will gently help them through problems in spite of their attitudes!)
2. A Consistent Love - Colossians 1:3-4 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
1 Corinthians 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. (The pastor should love the entire congregation equally. Respect of persons is sin!)
3. A Continuing Love - 2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
1 Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (The pastor will love those who mistreat him.)
4. A Chastening Love – 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
1 Corinthians 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. (The pastor’s love must sometimes be tough love.)
5. A Charitable Love - 2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. (I Corinthians chapter 13 describles charity, a love that does not have to be returned.)
6. A Challenging Love - 2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. (Certain people make it hard at times, but the pastor loves anyway!)
7. A Caring Love - 1 Corinthians 16:24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. (The most troubling of all churches got the only “I love You” from Paul. It speaks loudly of his love for them. (By the way, I do know where the Corinthian Church’s pastor was in all this but, evidently, he was not getting the work done!)
8. A Costly Love - John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (The pastorate will cost the man of God life. This is the reason that so many men get out of the pastorage, with which there is a great burden to bear, and only fill pulpits, where there is no burden to bear. A man that I know well, in a good local church without a pastor for over a year, said that there were several who filled the pulpit during this time of searching for a pastor, but none were will to take the work! May God give us some men of God who are willing to take the greatest of all works of God, pastoring a local church!)
