Loving Others

In: 1. We all love to talk about who is the greatest of all time

· Nic Saban- GOAT

· Basketball- Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell

· Sports- Michael Phelps, Wayne Gretzky, Roger Federer, Jim Thorpe

· Bands- Beatles, Elvis, Rolling Stones, Queen, Led Zepplin

· Football- Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers

· Toys- GI Joe, Barbie, Slinky, Play Dough, Potato Head

· Cars- Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, Corvette, Chevelle

· Invention- lightbulb, phone, airplane, car, printing press, gun

· Candy- M&M, Reese’s Peanut butter cup, Twizzlers, Hershey’s, Gummy Bears

· Restaurant’s OKC- Nic’s Grill, Cheever’s, Cattleman’s, Charleston’s, Toledo’s

2. Greatest Commandment

a. Rabbis taight there are 613 commandments in the Bible

b. The pomegranate has also become a symbol of the 613 laws of the Torah thanks to the age-old theory that each fruit holds 613 seeds. Interestingly, a 2006 experiment by Columbia graduate student Alexander Haubold gathered data by counting the seeds of 206 pomegranates from around the world and found the average number of seeds was exactly 613

c. The GOAT of all commandments- Matthew 22:36-40 Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments

d. Loving God and Loving People are tied together

1) Galatians 5:13-14 Through love serve one another. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself

2) We can love people and not love God, but we can’t love God and not love people

3) 1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

3. Theme for 2024- Faith Expressed through Love

a. Galatians 5:6 The only thing that matters is faith expressed through love

1) Common theme through the New Testament

2) 1 John- Cyclical idea of faith produces loveproduces actions/obedience proves faith

3) Our Faith is expressed through the way we love God, others, lost

b. How will our faith express our love for God?

c. How will our faith express our love for Others?

I. We Value RELATIONSHIPS

A. God wired us to need relationships

1. Genesis 2:18 It is not good for man to be alone

a. Emperor Frederick, who ruled the Roman Empire in the thirteenth century wanted to know what man's original language was: Hebrew, Greek, or Latin? He decided to isolate a few infants from the sound of the human voice. He reasoned that they would eventually speak the natural tongue of man. Nurses who were sworn to absolute silence were obtained, and though it was difficult for them, they abided by the rule. The infants never heard a word, not a sound from a human voice. Within several months they were all dead

b. In the early 1900’s the mortality rate was high in most orphanages. In 1920, Dr J Brenneman, a hospital pediatrician, introduced a rule in his ward that every baby should be picked up, carried around and “mothered” several times a day. Death rates fell immediately. They discovered if a baby isn’t held it’s neural pathways don't develop, and they become apathetic and many will die.

2. Some don’t feel like they need others, but others need you

a. Impossible to live our lives alone without affecting others

1) Romans 14:7 No one lives to himself, or dies to himself

b. Samson was a loner. They had to hire friends for him for his wedding

c. David surrounded himself with friends

1) 2 Samuel 21:16-17 a giant named Ishbi-Benob, was about to kill David with a spear that weighed nearly 8lbs. “But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his rescue and killed the Philistine. After that, David’s men declared, "You are not going out to battle again. We can’t take the risk”

2) Sometimes we can fight our giants alone, but other times we need our friends

B. Spiritual depth requires relationships

1. The level of discipleship is proportional to the level of relationship

a. Students I was closest to were usually more spiritually mature

2. Discipleship/Relationship- require knowing others and being known yourself

a. Knowing others- asking questions, learning, observing in all different kinds of scenarios. Laughing together, crying together

b. Being know- is opening up to others and sharing your joys and sorrow, triumphs and failures

c. Husband and wife “knowing” each other- being naked, honest, nothing to hide

d. We need to be known in such a way that we can’t hide and we can’t run

1) Aron Ralston 127 hours didn’t tell anybody where he was going

3. Fellowship- Koinonia (MSG life together)

a. Close association, mutual involvement, community, joint participation, sharing everything

4. Relationships bring accountability

a. Accountability means taking responsibility for one's actions, decisions, and commitments. It involves being answerable for the outcomes and consequences of our choices

b. Involving others to help you reach your goals and commitments

c. An accountant ensures that financial records are accurate, legal, evaluate and give guidance, risks assessment

* We value relationships

II. We value GROWING Relationships

* Getting better, stronger, deeper, more mature

A. Growing in our relationship with God

1. A natural birth ushers a person into natural, human relationships. To be ushered into spiritual relationships calls for a spiritual birth

2. Last week- do we have a plan for spiritual growth?

3. Are we working that plan?

B. Growing in our relationship with our spouse and family

1. Can you name 2 things you’re doing to grow closer to your spouse this month?

a. Date nights, talking, asking questions (dating- observe in groups)

2. Intentional time with your kids

a. Kids spell love T.I.M.E.

b. When were old no one will remember we stayed late at the office but our family

C. Growing in our relationship with others

1. Do we make time for our friends, eating out, fellowship groups

2. We need adult relationships (date night)

a. Kids will be ok with a babysitter (teens)

3. Peers- all generations, date night

a. We all need people in front of us and behind us

* We value Growing relationships

III. We VALUE Growing Relationships

A. God values relationships

1. Jesus came and died so we could have a relationship with God

a. What value does God put on a relationship with us? The death of His Son

2. How did Jesus change the world? He invested in people, relationships

3. Our society today has lost the art of having face to face relationships, conversations/texting

4. Our relationships matter to God

B. Our faith should produce a desire to have growing relationships

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other

2. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

3. John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another

C. Why Groups?

1. The bigger we get the smaller we have to get

2. For Pastoral care

3. Available groups

a. Bible Groups- all seasons of life, styles, topics

1) Nine that meet at 9:45am (Spanish speaking)

2) Six that meet at 11:00am

3) Ladies Bible Study on Tuesdays @ 9:30am

b. Serve Groups- serve others

1) Care for the Homeless- meets regularly to go and minister to the homeless

2) Fine Linens- helping women in our community be able to come and receive gentle used clothing at no cost to them

3) Loaves & Fishes- Prepare, stock and distribute food for those in our community who are in need

4) Prison Outreach- ministerial services to inmates at prisons and service here

5) Quilts of Prayer & Comfort- make quilts for those who need comfort and prayer during illness or difficult times

6) Stonerollers- do homeless ministry, help widows and make hospital visits

c. Interest Groups

1) Biblical Citizenship

2) Kayaks

3) Men’s Breakfast- 2nd Saturday breakfast and fellowship

4) Motorcycles- group rides, dinner rides

5) Primetime- 55+ - 2nd& 4th Tuesday

6) Oasis- 55+ - day trips once a month

7) Senior Adult Singles- 3rd Tuesday Game night

8) Moms- encouragement, prayer

d. Support Groups

1) Bridge to freedom- Wednesdays- serving offenders & prison ministry volunteers

2) Living Free- Wednesdays- personal freedom

3) Foster Care/Adoption-

4) Periodically- help & guidance through Divorce, Grief, finances

4. Start a group- Quarterly training & expectations- February, April, September

* We Value growing relationships

Cn: 1. Boat stories- last week- ask for His help, let him in the boat, get out of the boat

2. Luke 5:1–7 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two empty boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

a. Made room for Him

b. Listened to him (awkward silence)

1) Maybe this paid off their debts or set them at a place they could take off for a while and follow him

c. They would have sank if they didn’t have help

d. God wants to bless us

1) But his blessings can sink us if we don’t keep them in perspective

2) If we isolate ourselves and it pulls us away from other believers

3) Missing too much for sports, lake, camping just be careful

4) The first step away from God is a step away from His people

e. Called others for help

3. The harvest God wants to give us requires partnership (with God, with others)

a. Personally

b. As a church body

4. What role does your faith play in your relationships with others?

Al: 1. Are your relationships healthy and growing?

2. Sinking and need help