It is that time of year when preachers are thinking about sermons about love and Valentine’s Day. Love is probably one of the most complicated and confusing topics in Scripture. There are literally thousands of verses that talk about love, but despite what we read in the Bible, we still have a hard time understanding it. We may love our favorite TV shows and we may love our job, but we love our spouse too! We love our children and our families, and all of these statements of love mean something different.

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, most people are thinking about Agape love and having a special someone for the big day. Pastors are trying to decide how to incorporate the holiday into their sermons. Since it is one of the most popular topics in the church, here are some verses you could use to talk about love in your sermons about love.

Genesis 29:20

“So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.” Can you imagine waiting seven years to marry someone? Many adults and teenagers don’t even want to wait an extra 10 minutes to cook in the oven instead of the microwave! Jacob had to wait years just to get the woman he wanted, and many men won’t wait that long today. With our fast-paced lives and the internet at our fingertips, the idea of perseverance has gone by the wayside.

This passage of Scripture puts circumstances in the proper perspective for singles. It is easy to get frustrated about not having a mate or someone special, but God will bring the right person into your life at the right time.

Ephesians 5:25

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Husbands need to learn how to love their wives. Many men are guilty of spending too much time working or watching TV to spend time with their spouses, and that can cause a lot of issues over time. Husbands have to be willing to make sacrifices to spend time with the family and the wife.

1 John 4:18

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Fear is the opposite of love. When we have fear, we cannot have love. Most Christians don’t understand this Scripture, so that means it would make a great verse to reference when you are preaching on sermons about love.

1 Peter 4:8

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Love is the key to restoring relationships and marriages. When we put all of our hope and trust in Christ, God can do the impossible in our lives. The Lord wants to work through our lives by teaching us how to care for everyone regardless of how they treat us. We are supposed to love our enemies, and we can only do this through God’s love.

John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” This is a key verse about love. We are supposed to love everyone more than we love ourselves. This means that we are going to make sacrifices from time to time where we put others first.

When you are preaching on sermons on love for Valentine’s Day, remember that love is much more than agape love. Love is one of the central themes of Scripture, and God’s love should be evidenced in our lives every day.