Core of Christian Living: Love, Follow, and Spread
In this inspiring sermon, we delve into the core of Christian living, exploring the profound significance of love, following Jesus, and spreading the Gospel. Drawing from the teachings of Jesus, we discover the greatest commandment of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the inseparable call to love our neighbors as ourselves. We learn what it means to be true disciples of Jesus, embracing obedience as an expression of love and finding freedom in following His example. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are commissioned to spread the Good News and become living witnesses, impacting the world through our love, compassion, and testimony. Join us as we explore the foundational aspects of Christian faith and how they shape our lives and relationships, inspiring us to be Christ-like examples in our communities and beyond.
Introduction
Love God and Love Others
The Greatest Commandment
“our emotional nature”—the seat of feeling as distinguished from our intellectual nature or the seat of thought, commonly called the “mind” (as in Php 4:7). But neither can this be the sense of it here; for here the heart is distinguished both from the “mind” and the “soul.” The “heart,” then, must here mean the sincerity of both the thoughts and the feelings; in other words, uprightness or true-heartedness, as opposed to a hypocritical or divided affection. But next, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God” with thy soul. This is designed to command our emotional nature: Thou shalt put feeling or warmth into thine affection. Further, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with thy mind—This commands our intellectual nature: Thou shalt put intelligence into thine affection—in opposition to a blind devotion, or mere devoteeism. Lastly, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God”
with thy strength—This commands our energies: Thou shalt put intensity into thine affection—“Do it with thy might” (Ec 9:10). Taking these four things together, the command of the Law is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy powers—with a sincere, a fervid, an intelligent, an energetic love.” But this is not all that the Law demands. God will have all these qualities in their most perfect exercise. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God,” says the Law, “with all thy heart,” or, with perfect sincerity; “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy soul,” or, with the utmost fervor; “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind,” or, in the fullest exercise of an enlightened reason; and “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy strength,” or, with the whole energy of our being! So much for the First Commandment.
love ourselves supremely, this is virtually a command, in the first place, not to love our neighbor with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. And thus it is a condemnation of the idolatry of the creature. Our supreme and uttermost affection is to be reserved for God. But as sincerely as ourselves we are to love all mankind, and with the same readiness to do and suffer for them as we should reasonably desire them to show to us. The golden rule (Mt 7:12) is here our best interpreter of the nature and extent of these claims.
Demonstrating Love in Relationships
Follow Jesus and Obey His Teachings
Becoming Disciples of Jesus
Obedience as an Expression of Love
“Many believed” (v. 30), but the word probably implies only a kind of consent, not a true acceptance. This is obvious because immediately he began to test them. The proof of discipleship is simple, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples” (v. 31, RSV).
Truth for today.—The word “continue” is a vital point in being a Christian. Jesus summoned no temporary followers. That is his word, “follow.” The direction in the Scriptures is faithfulness “to the end.” In the New Testament there is no room for any “inactive” membership in the body of Christ!
Spread the Gospel
The Great Commission
Upon a mountain in Galilee, Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples and gave them the commission which has guided his followers until this day—and will be their guide until the end of the world. All authority in heaven and earth was claimed by Jesus. Upon the basis of that supreme authority, he commanded his disciples to carry out three particular activities in their mission to the world:
(1) Make disciples in all nations;
(2) Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
(3) Teach them to observe all his commandments.