Matthew 7:12.

Vision

What’s going on Port City family and friends? My name is Tanner and I am one of the Pastors here.

Intro

Have you ever gotten used to something and the original effect it once had began to wear off on you?

CFA STORY… They changed the industry with that phrase. But we got used to it. Here’s the point, things can just get old to us once we think we know them. And today’s text is one of those in the Bible.

The title of this sermon is “the golden rule” and my hope is that we walk out with our eyes on Jesus as we partner with him to love our neighbor.

The text is going to help us do 3 things; 1 - reimagine our engine, 2 - reimagine our target, and 3 - reimagine the change agent. If you’re ready, let me hear you say I’m ready.

1. Love: Reimagine the engine

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:12

LAYOUT: 3 phrases and tying back to Matthew 5:17-20

SOTM Summary: So, here’s what I have tried to show you THROUGHOUT the series; the sermon on the mount is Jesus’ kingdom of heaven on earth sermon. The kingdom is here. And it’s right in front of you.

And it’s different than what these religious teachers have been making you think it is.

And so, now Matthew 7:12 is tapping back into Matthew 5:17 to let us know he is capping off the sermon in many ways. NEXT WEEK JON WILL…

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

To get us started, Jesus uses a phrase that should make so much sense to us (LIKE AN ENGINE).

I remember I used to be that TEACHER + MOM + BOXING (THIS STUFF IS CONSTANT)

And we don’t do these things from purely selfish reasons (TO BE HUMAN IS TO HAVE AN ENGINE).

Jesus takes that engine that we all understand and carry; this engine of self interest, and he flips it.

2. Love: Reimagine the target

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

So the engine has been renewed and then re-aimed.

Love is aimed at others. HUNGRY? THIRSTY? COLD? ALONE?

Some have taken Jesus’ words here and implied that they are in fact missing what true love is… (SPRITE? TOO BAD!)

Jesus is just appealing to how well we know what we want, and saying that level of vigilance is used on behalf of others.

You know what you would want, so use that engine towards others. (SPENT FOR OTHERS, NOT ASSERTING SELF ON OTHERS)

It kind of begs the question of what is best for someone, doesn’t it? (STARBURSTS - 4 YEAR OLD)

As we’ve seen throughout this sermon, Jesus is wanting us to think ABOUT what is habitual to us. (2ND NATURE - Self or others?)

Love is action for others.

Something isn’t right when a young man… TEAMMATES…

The author Bob Goff… INTERRUPTIBLE…

Because if we are honest, the reason we settle for good intentions and not actions in our loving of others is the cost to ourselves. (Like when my admin assistant works for another person… I’m more important)

WHEN SELF IS SUPREME, OTHERS HAVE TO GO, OR PAY TO STAY.

I remember a story by a famous Christian figure

Love in action comes down to saying yes. (ps I’m not talking about a pay it forward mentality)

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

Behind the “golden rule” of Jesus is envisioned a whole new world.

Watch this friends, what if following Jesus makes us more human, not less?

3. Love: Reimagine the change agent

Love is the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:20).

So what does this mean? Y’all, this is so important. We know we are supposed to love people. (HOW WE’VE COME TO HEAR THIS)

And here’s the thing, knowing what you ought to do doesn’t give you the power to do it.

Jesus is not prescribing us a formula to earn God’s love here today. He’s describing the lifestyle of entering into his heart and PARTNERING with him in this life as we were originally designed to be.

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Here’s what the New Testament teaches. You and I are not loving. JESUS IS.

So as we think about applying this text, we must understand this isn’t a guilt trip, it’s a field trip.

God is inviting you to get out of the center.

And if you’re in Christ today following King Jesus, start right in front of you. Who is your neighbor?

If you’re a neighbor you’ll always have one in front of you to love.

And as you do, you’ll find that many don’t want you to love them in a way that is ultimately loving.