*Love Unleashed: The Power of the Greatest Commandment
William Palmer
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INTRO
Talking About Love
Trigger: Today’s theme
Idea: Supreme act, Where it comes from, What looks like — Mark 12, John 17, Luke 10
Defining Love
Trigger: How do you define love
Idea: It’s difficult
Wordly Love
Trigger: Caricature
Idea: Superficial understanding in American culture
Luv Phenomenon
Trigger: Sentimental
Idea: Informal, shallow expression
Trivializing Love
Trigger: Fuzzy Feelings
Idea: Love equated with mundane likes
Love as Preference
Trigger: Preferences
Idea: Love linked to personal choices —> b/c choices abundant
Culture of Bingeing
Trigger: Binge Culture
Key Ideas: Food, TV, social media, news
Shifting Affections
Trigger: Treasure shifts = Values shift
Key Ideas: Focus on accumulating experiences,lack of deep connections
Channel-Surfing Analogy
Trigger: Flipping Channels
Key Ideas: Restlessness, never settling
Impact on Commitment
Trigger: Flexible Commitments
Key Ideas: Easy to break, lack of depth
Gratification vs. Giving
Trigger: Gratification
Idea: Prioritizing personal needs over giving
Personal Needs First
Trigger: Self-focus
Idea: Personal needs overshadowing sacrificial giving
Avoiding Deep Relationships
Trigger: Reluctance
Idea: Hesitance to engage in deep, meaningful relationships
The Subtle Slide into Idolatry
Trigger: Called to Faith in Action
Idea: Living out faith beyond mere belief
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Mind and Heart Direction
Trigger: Thought Focus
Idea: Where our heads go, our hearts follow
Idolatry Concern
Trigger: First Commandment
Idea: Anything above God as idolatry
Gradual Shift
Trigger: Creeping Change
Idea: Subtle shift towards self-indulgence and materialism over things of God
We easily fall into idolatry, for we are inclined to it by nature; and coming to us by inheritance, it seems pleasant.
Martin Luther
Inclination to Idolatry
Trigger: Natural Inclination
Idea: Quote by Martin Luther on idolatry's deceptive pleasantness
When something seems “pleasant” we equate that with goodness and we pursue it
Pleasantness Equals Goodness
Trigger: Pursuiing “pleasant-ness”
Idea: Equating pleasant things with goodness leading to misplaced trust
Heart of Idolatry
Trigger: Misplaced Trust
Idea: Trusting in things other than God reflects core of idolatry
Trusting in the Lord
Trigger: Salvation Trust
Idea: Questioning trust in God beyond salvation—>Trusting him with happiness/fulfillment
Affection for Godly Things
Trigger: Affection for God > Things of world?
Idea: God’s values vs, self-focused desires
Gospel/Word/Prayer/Communion w_God/Community/Spiritual growth
Realigning Focus
Trigger: Evaluation
Idea: Questioning our motives - comfort and self-glory vs. serving God
Jesus's Key to Realignment - Love
Trigger: Mark 12:28-34
Idea: Jesus's teaching as the guide for aligning life with God's will
Primary Purpose
Loving God Supremely
Loving Others Sacrificially
Sharing in the Loving Unity of the Trinity
Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”
Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
But after that no one dared question Him.
Love’s Supremacy
The Greatest Thing
Trigger: Mohammad Ali
Idea: I am the greatest
Jesus Asked What is Greatest
Trigger: Q: Greatest Commandment
Idea: Scribe's question and Jesus' profound response
Diluted Love vs. Jesus' Clarity
Trigger: Striking Contrast
Idea: Jesus's contrast with diluted concept of LUV
Shema's Totality
Trigger: All-In Love vs. Channel Surfing
Idea: Loving God with all heart, soul, mind, strength
Modern Chaos vs. Jesus' Focus
Trigger: Realignment
Idea: Jesus simplifying life’s priorities in a chaotic life
AirBnB Illus
Trigger: Relaxing vacation in woods
Idea: Simplfies life, cuts thur chaos—PRIMARILY::RELAX
Twist on Greatest
Trigger: <> option
Idea: <> Option among options — COMMAND
You SHALL love the Lord with all of your being
Love as Command
Trigger: Cultural Objection
Idea: Worldy Love = feelings and emotions and desires
Will vs. Feelings
Trigger: Love's Nature
Idea: Biblical Love = as an act of will aligning with God’s truth
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Love is a picture of Truth Lived Out
Truth in Action
Trigger: Practical outworking of Love
Idea: Command of love = daily manifestation of God's love in our lives
The command of love is a calling to grow in God’s image
Lingering Question
Trigger: Commanded Love
Idea: Addressing the question of commanded love
Jesus on Love and Obedience
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Trigger: John 14:15
Idea: Jesus linking love with obedience
Idea: Contemporary love is between equals
Idea: Relationship to Christ is not one of equals
Love-Obedience Connection
Trigger: Biblical Perspective
Idea: Loving Jesus means following His commands
Love Among Equals vs. Christ
Trigger: Unequal Love
Idea: Realign thinking — love between equals and our love for Christ
Christ's Lordship
Trigger: Master Relationship
Idea: Jesus as master deserving obedience, not an equal
Recognizing Our Place
Trigger: Not Highest Beings
Idea: Acknowledging our subordinate position to God in the universe
Love’s Source
Shema's Divine Call
Trigger: Participating in Divine Love
Idea: Shema > mere command
Idea: The Shema as an invitation to join in the highest order of divine love
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John 17's Context
Trigger: High Priestly Prayer
Idea: Jesus interceding for disciples and believers on the crucifixion's eve
OT High Priest Parallel
Trigger: Atonement Parallel
Idea: Jesus as the High Priest — holy of holies (inner sanctum of the Temple), fulfilling the role on behalf of humanity
Oneness in Christianity
Trigger: Jesus' Prayer for Unity
Idea: Believers united with each other and the Trinity
Idea: That we may all be united in love with each other and may be united in love with Father & Son
Trinitarian Unity
Trigger: Beyond Human Unity
Idea: Invitation to join the unity of the Father and Son
> Worldly Love Between Two
Trigger: Inclusive Love
Idea: Christian love surpassing typical exclusive relationships
Mirror of the Trinity
Trigger: Reflecting Divine Love
Idea: Christian love reflecting the Father-Son relationship
The Father and The Son: Source of Christian Love
Intimate Participation
Trigger: Deeper than a Model
Idea: Invited into Jesus' unique relationship with the Father
Love's Command and Communion
Trigger: Beyond Enlightenment
Idea: Command of love as a path to communion with the Trinity
The command of love goes beyond walking an “enlightened path” to communing with the Trinity
Unique Christian Distinction
Trigger: Unparalleled Faith
Idea: Christianity's unique invitation to divine love
Love’s Sacrifice
Love as Command and Calling
Trigger: REMEMBER: Love = Growing in God's Image
Idea: Love as a command and a calling to participate in love between Father & Son
Practical Outworking of Love
Trigger: Jesus’s reply—>Love for Others
Idea: Jesus linking love for God to love for neighbors, Leviticus 19:18 reference
You shall not seek vengeance, and you shall not harbor a grudge against your fellow citizens; and you shall love your neighbor like yourself; I am Yahweh.
Inseparability of Love of God + Love Others
Trigger: Inseparable Commandments
Idea: Love for God and neighbor as intertwined
Love that ascends to God, extends to others
Equal Love for Self + Others
Trigger: Not passive in our own lives —> good
Idea: Treat others the same
Idea: This is what it looks like to live in the Kingdom of God
C.S. Lewis On Love
Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained
C. S. Lewis
Love Takes Action
Trigger: Not only feelings or intellectual
Idea: Practical…moves to action
Lived Out Unity
Trigger: Jesus’ prayer in John 17
Idea: That we would live this way
Jesus Gives Example
Trigger: What would this kind of love look like?
Idea: The Good Samaritan
Rethinking Neighbor
Trigger: Defining Neighbor
Idea: Exploring who qualifies as a neighbor, lawyer's question in Luke 10:25
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
And he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Parable of the Good Samaritan
Trigger: Unexpected Mercy
Idea: Samaritan's act of compassion, Luke 10:30-37
SUMMARY: A man (Jew) was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked, robbed, beaten, and left almost dead on the side of the road.
Both a priest and levite come by and see him and decides to cross to the other side of the road and pass by the man w/o helping
But a Samaritan comes along sees him…puts oil on his wounds and bandages them
Put the man on his donkey and takes him to an inn and took care of him for 2 days
The Samaritan pays the inn keeper 2 pieces of silver and promises to pay more if the man runs up larger bill
Jewish Rabbis' Approach to Commandments
Trigger: Understanding leads to simplification
Idea: Reduced commandments to 613 for manageability, yet struggled with who qualifies as a 'neighbor'
Idea: Loving God + neighbor is hard
Defining 'Neighbor'
Trigger: Self-justification
Idea: The dilemma of deciding who deserves help and who doesn't
Idea: If I can disqualify someone as my neighbor then I don’t owe them anything
Priest and Levite's Reaction
Trigger: Legalism
Idea: Avoided helping to maintain ritual purity, prioritizing law over compassion
Idea: Would have to sacrifice a heifer burning to ash
Samaritan's Compassionate Response
Trigger: Unconditional help
Idea: Crossed cultural boundaries to assist, demonstrating true neighborly love
Idea: Utter hatred among Jews
Idea: In fact one rabbi said if a Samaritan stops to help you, you should spit in his face
The Samaritan's Sacrifice
Trigger: Generosity
Idea: Offered extensive help and assumed financial responsibility, showing deep empathy
Idea: Bandaged wounds/donkey/inn = 2 pieces silver/cared for 2 days
Idea: Offered to pay more if bill was higher
Lawyer's Question and Realization
Trigger: Reflection
Idea: Shifts perspective from defining a neighbor to being one through compassion
Idea: Lawyer asking wrong question
Becoming a Neighbor
Trigger: Right question
Idea: How do I become a neighbor to someone?
Idea: We become a neighbor when we feel compassionate
Idea: Not everyone...We embody neighborliness in familiar settings, applying empathy where we have influence
Idea: Rather than make excuses for NOT helping — ask where can I help and love others in my life
Idea: Loving neighbor sacrificially = Gospel
Jesus as the Ultimate Good Samaritan
Trigger: Modeling Jesus’ love
Idea: Bringing the Gospel to life
Jesus as the Ultimate Samaritan
Trigger: Gospel Embodied
Idea: Giving compassionately and sacrificially = The Gospel
Jesus’s Love Unexpected
Idea: Samaritan's love reflects Jesus’ love, Romans 5:7-8
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus Did Exactly This
Trigger: Died for unrighteous, undeserving people
Idea: Agree with rabbis:
Hard to love God + others
Easy to make excuses NOT help others/easy to not love how God says we should
Easy to say “This person is NOT my neighbor”
Easy to put other things before him and put our trust in our own plans
Nature of Sin
Trigger: Rebellion Against God
Idea: Sin as turning away from God, Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Jesus' Love Costly
Trigger: Costly sacrifice
Idea: Jesus' humiled to death, Philippians 2:6-8
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Idea: Like the Samaritan - Jesus’ love was costly
Cost of Jesus' Love, pt 2
Trigger: Gave up divine privilege with God
Idea: Became a servant in the form of human—rescue us
Jesus Didn’t Pass Us By
Trigger: We reject him
Idea: Would you cross to help someone who would spit in face — Jesus did and paid with life
Jesus’ Love Compassionate
Trigger: Incarnation
Idea: Compassion = Jesus drew near to us
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Drawing Near = Discover Someone
Trigger: Rather than judge
Idea: Discovering people vs judging people — risky & irrational
Love That Transcends
Trigger: Trinitarian Transformation
Idea: Jesus' love transforming the concept of neighborly love
Extending Love from God
Trigger: Love Extends—others
Idea: Jesus’s love descends to us
Idea: Our love = participates in Trinitarian love
Love Doesn’t Define God
Trigger: God is love (1 Jn 4:8)
Idea: Jesus’ love for us is the very source of true love
Love that ascends to God, extends to others
Love that transcends in God, descends to us
Supreme importance: Loving God—Loving Others
Trigger: Ascending, Descending, Extending
Idea: All of our devotion has no meaning, hollow rituals
Deeds as Expression Love
Trigger: Our actions are expressions of self
Idea: Actions should express our love for Jesus
Imagine a candle, standing tall and crafted with care, yet dormant in its potential. Unlit, it's merely a sculpted piece of wax, possessing the capability for light but not yet fulfilling it. This candle represents each person before they embrace faith. Just as a candle is set aflame to achieve its true purpose of casting light, so too are individuals ignited with purpose when they become believers.
Upon accepting faith, like the wick catching fire, a transformation occurs. The candle begins to glow, shedding light and warmth in the darkness. It's no longer just wax and wick; it has a mission, a reason for being. Similarly, once ignited by faith, people find their primary purpose: to live out a life of love and devotion to God, illuminating the world around them with acts of kindness, compassion, and love for others.
This burning candle doesn't choose where to shine; it simply does. In the same way, believers don't selectively show their love and faith – it becomes a natural, all-encompassing part of their existence, touching lives in every direction. As the candle burns, it consumes itself in the service of light, just as individuals dedicate themselves to a life of service, fueled by their faith. The candle, once lit, fulfills its purpose. So too do believers, set ablaze with divine love, fulfill their purpose in loving God and loving others.