Sermon: 10.18.2026

Title: The Way We Play

Series: The Huddle

In Week 3 of The Huddle series, Pastor Patrick Hardy turns to 1 Corinthians 13:1–8 to explore how love changes the way we play as a team. While this familiar passage is often read at weddings, Paul originally wrote it to a divided church struggling with conflict, competition, and disagreements over spiritual gifts. Patrick explains that even the most impressive gifts, the deepest knowledge, and the greatest acts of service mean nothing if they are not motivated by love. Just as a baseball team needs to communicate and work together, the church must learn to speak and act in ways that build up the body of Christ rather than tear it down. We can say all the right things and still damage relationships if we fail to communicate with love. Patrick challenges listeners to put others first, celebrate the successes of their teammates, and stop prioritizing the need to be right over the responsibility to love.

Patrick highlights three ways love changes how we play: it changes the way we speak, the way we treat people, and our willingness to remain committed when relationships become difficult. Genuine love means serving without needing recognition, refusing to keep score of others’ mistakes, and pursuing peace even when people disappoint us. But Patrick acknowledges that this kind of love cannot be produced through sheer willpower or simply trying harder. Instead, it grows out of a life transformed by Jesus, who first loved us, served those who could offer him nothing in return, and gave himself for us on the cross. As a church, our unity is not built on having the same personalities, preferences, or opinions, but on following Jesus together. Patrick closes by challenging Generations to consider whether its words, actions, and relationships are building up the team or tearing it down. If we want our community to see the love of Jesus, they need to see it in the way we love one another.