A new commandment I give unto you,
that you love one another: as I have loved
you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34
This past Sunday, I was asked to give the sermon...
that you love one another: as I have loved
you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34
This past Sunday, I was asked to give the sermon...
The message was titled, "What Love Is, and What It Is Not." So I had the men look up Matthew 22:36-40 and John 13:34-35. These were my two main texts. And we also looked at John 15:11-14 and verse 17, as well as Galatians 5:6.
I then began to discuss Christ's words as to what are the greatest commandments. The answer is to love the Lord with all our heart, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I also stated that this was not going to be a mushy message. Rather, it was going to be about God's love in action. How God's love is a powerful component of His very character.
I then went on to explain that demonstrating the love of God among one another is just as important as giving our own personal testimonies of how we came to Christ. How the world (non-Christians) are always watching us, which Jesus himself clearly implied in the above passage from the Gospel of John, chapter thirteen. And how we are to walk in this love, demonstrating the reality of it in our daily interactions with people. For this is how Christ himself walked.
I also went into detail about how, by showing genuine brotherly love amongst one another, can be a powerful witness to non-Christians of Christ's ability to transform lives. "By this shall all men know you are my disciples if you have love, one for another" (John 13:35).
I told the guys that, obviously, the Lord wants us to put our love for others on display so that we could show what real godly love is. That doing this will make a good reflection upon the Lord. While, conversely, failing to demonstrate brotherly love will reflect poorly on both the Lord and the church.
In addition, I tried my best to contrast what God's love is, and what it is not. I explained that true love and concern for our brethren will allow for rebuking and correction, if done in the spirit of compassion, and not in a self-righteous way. That godly love confronts. "Open rebuke is better than secret love," I said (Proverbs 27:5). And I also read to them what King David said in one of his psalms. "Let a righteous man smite me, it is a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil" (Psalm 141:5).
I closed by saying that I myself have oftentimes fallen short of loving my brothers and sisters in Christ, the way I should. How we are all "works in progress," but we should prayerfully strive nevertheless to do our best for Jesus. For He alone is worthy, and the world needs to know that our love is real, and not fake.
D.B.
I then began to discuss Christ's words as to what are the greatest commandments. The answer is to love the Lord with all our heart, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I also stated that this was not going to be a mushy message. Rather, it was going to be about God's love in action. How God's love is a powerful component of His very character.
I then went on to explain that demonstrating the love of God among one another is just as important as giving our own personal testimonies of how we came to Christ. How the world (non-Christians) are always watching us, which Jesus himself clearly implied in the above passage from the Gospel of John, chapter thirteen. And how we are to walk in this love, demonstrating the reality of it in our daily interactions with people. For this is how Christ himself walked.
I also went into detail about how, by showing genuine brotherly love amongst one another, can be a powerful witness to non-Christians of Christ's ability to transform lives. "By this shall all men know you are my disciples if you have love, one for another" (John 13:35).
I told the guys that, obviously, the Lord wants us to put our love for others on display so that we could show what real godly love is. That doing this will make a good reflection upon the Lord. While, conversely, failing to demonstrate brotherly love will reflect poorly on both the Lord and the church.
In addition, I tried my best to contrast what God's love is, and what it is not. I explained that true love and concern for our brethren will allow for rebuking and correction, if done in the spirit of compassion, and not in a self-righteous way. That godly love confronts. "Open rebuke is better than secret love," I said (Proverbs 27:5). And I also read to them what King David said in one of his psalms. "Let a righteous man smite me, it is a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil" (Psalm 141:5).
I closed by saying that I myself have oftentimes fallen short of loving my brothers and sisters in Christ, the way I should. How we are all "works in progress," but we should prayerfully strive nevertheless to do our best for Jesus. For He alone is worthy, and the world needs to know that our love is real, and not fake.
D.B.
