Lovely Neighbors
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Today is our last conversation in this series on love, and we are going to end by talking about how we are called to love others. Our call to love other people is inseparable from our call to love God.
While the world tempts us to see people as objects to be used for our own gain, God calls us to selflessly love, remembering that each person is loved by God and created in his image.
God’s design for love is radically different from what the world presents, and when we love this way, the world will notice!
Play Video
Body
What is love to you and how do you show that love to others?
Have you every tried to love someone well? What worked and what did not?
Story of holding Mason and Sam
The reality is that loving others is difficult. Why?
People are difficult
We are difficult - We are hard to love. and maybe we are very easy to hate. (sin brought hate into the world)
It is easy to look at people as objects. Pick and choose, look the other way when it isn’t me, not even think of it as another human we are talking about or seeing on social media or a movie.
Porn - just a picture - not a real person
tik tok of people getting hurt - funny right?
Objects
Look at social media/news today - it is all hate towards others
Republicans vs Democrats
Young thinkers vs old thinkers
Neighbor vs neighbor (dog barking, dirty lawn,…)
Chiefs vs Broncos
Israel vs...
It is easy to judge others around us for their beliefs, passions, lifestyles, and so much more.
When we look at people thru our own eyes, it is easy to find ourselves judging instead of loving.
But if we could look thru Jesus’ eyes, what would we see?
You see, when we read what Jesus said about the most important commandment we see that he lays out 2 commandments.
Last week we talked about the 1st: love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
So who is your neighbor?
Is our neighbor those closest to us, those easy to love, or those in our family? You may be thinking to yourself, “I can love my friends and my family but ____ is too much”
Story of the Good Samaritan
The reality is that whoever you come into contact with is your neighbor
Whether that person is someone you get along with or not, you are called to love them
Check this out: Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Look at this verse: What reasons does Jesus give for why we should love our enemies?
so I can be a child of God
everyone is in the same boat: rain/sunshine
ungodly love what is easy - God called me to more
Be perfect like God!
It is easy to love people that love you back - mostly. That kind of love comes naturally.
You don’t need God’s help to do that
But here, Jesus is calling us to do something completely unnatural, something that requires supernatural help - love our enemy
This kind of love sets followers of Jesus apart from everyone else
It is not normal to be kind to people that are unkind - this extreme love marks us as children of God.
In our culture “Love me” has come to mean “agree with me”. What are some ways you could love your “enemies” even if you don’t agree with their beliefs, politics, or lifestyle?
And that is how the world will know the love of God! thru watching us - loving all: democrat or republican, black or white, friend and foe....
I know that it is hard
I have been hurt before too
It is easy in moments of hurt to not love and walk in unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness is like drinking rat poison and expecting it to kill the other person
It will only kill you
But when we love someone who hurts us, it will actually bring us freedom in the process - to not be controlled by what that person can do/say...
It is not easy, but we can love our enemies because Christ 1st loved us and we are called to be like Christ.
Conclusion
Who would agree that this world needs love? desperately?
I know it is hard - but isn’t it necessary?
I know that I needed love - I need to know how to love, I also have to admit something about that 2nd commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself”
I didn’t really love myself so what did that mean for my neighbor
But God has taught me thru His love, how to love myself, and love my neighbor…correctly.
And He will help you too! Whether it is in figuring out what LOVE is, loving God, loving others, or loving yourself - if you let Him
The truth is - God loves you - no matter what!!! And He wants to have a relationship with you!
Will you commit to loving others the way that God loves you?