Sacrificial Love

Welcome & Opening Prayer

Turn to 1 John CH. 3— V. 11

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Open in PRAYER!

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I. Introduction: The Church’s Struggle to Love

Paradox: I FIND it INCREDIBLY PARADOXICAL THAT CHRISTIANS CAN BE KNOWN for UNKINDNESS— & CHURCHES KNOWN for DIVISIVENESS.

SOME—BEST PEOPLE — CHRISTIANS

SOME—NASTIEST PEOPLE—CLAIM to BE CHRISTIANS

**CHURCH HURTS—PEOPLE DON’T RETURN—BAD EXPERIENCE W/ “CHRISTIANS”**

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Testimony: FRIEND WARNING—NEVER GET INVOLVED CHURCH BOARD

Pondering: BOARD FULL of SAVED PEOPLE—REALLY SUCH a PROBLEM???🤔

=> THANKFUL, G.C. is DIFFERENT <=

CERTAINLY SOMETIMES SAVED PEOPLE DON’T ACT THAT WAY

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Transition: APOSTLE JOHN— GOING to REMIND US:

“THE” CHRISTIAN DISTINCTIVE

LET’S CONTRIBUTE to the SOLUTION...

READ: V11-24 (CH. 3)...

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II. Passage Reading

1 John 3:11–24 (ESV)

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;

20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Declaration: This is God’s Word for us this morning...

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III. Context Recap: “Family Traits”

Last Wk:

APOSTLE MARVELED—WHAT LOVE,, CHILD of GOD 🤯

=> INCOMPREHENSIBLE— GOD MAKES ENEMIES HIS CHILDREN

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CHILD of GOD—MADE KNEW, BORN AGAIN—

— SPIRIT INHABITS YOU...

Passage Idea: If you are born again, live like it.

GOD’S DONE a SUPERNATURAL WORK on the INSIDE—SHOULD BE: EVIDENCE on OUTSIDE

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CONTINUING in LAWLESSNESS—PROBABLY NOT BORN AGAIN

CHILDREN of DEVIL

CHILDREN of GOD

NO OTHER FAMILIES!

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Transition: JOHN LEFT OFF:

1 John 3:10 (ESV)

10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

NOW,, HE’LL PICK UP AGAIN W/ CONCEPT of LOVING BROTHER...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 11...

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IV. Passage Exposition (1 Jn. 3:11-24)

1. The Message from the Beginning: Love One Another (vv. 11–12)

1 John 3:11 (ESV)

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

“FOR” CONNECTS CONTEXTS.

ONE WHO DOESN’T LOVE —NOT FROM GOD. (V10)

=> WHY??

=> => THIS = MESSAGE— “LOVE!”

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Exhort: MESSAGE from BEGINNING

2 GREAT COMMANDMENTS: LOVE GOD & LOVE NEIGHBOR.

John 13:35 (ESV)

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

NOT CHRISTIANITY 201—301—401— 10-01!!

LOVING OTHERS = CHRISTIANITY 101.

ELEMENTARY!

Illustration:

THIS ISN’T CALCULUS, PHYSICS, or BIOLOGY...

THIS = ALPHABET!!

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Transition: To further BACK THIS UP, JOHN is going to USE a FAMILIAR STORY as an example:

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 12...

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Sub Point: A Comparison with Cain (v12)

12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

POSITIVE: LOVE OTHERS...

NEGATIVE: NOT LIKE CAIN! — (((GEN. CH. 4)))

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Background: CONSIDER— 1ST MAN BORN INTO WORLD—MURDERER!

Reason: JEALOUSY— GOD ACCEPTED ABEL’S SACRIFICE...

CAIN’S WORKS = EVIL

ABEL’S = RIGHTEOUS

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✨Focus:

LOVE — ENDS W/ PERSONAL SACRIFICE.

HATRED— ENDS W/ OTHER-SACRIFICE✨

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Transition: JOHN’S MESSAGE—AGAIN BLACK & WHITE…

2 CATEGORIES…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 13-15...

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✅ 2. Love as a Sign of Life: Assurance in Christ (vv. 13–15)

1 John 3:13–15 (ESV)

13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

CHRISTIAN WON’T FIT in W/ WORLD...

CAIN HATED ABEL, SO WORLD HATES CHRISTIANITY...

WORLD HATED CHRIST— HE TESTIFIED “IT’S WORKS ARE EVIL” (JN. 7:7)

LOVEY-DOVEY JESUS = PHONY— WORLD HATED HIM THEN & NOW.

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BELIEVER CAN HAVE ASSURANCE!😃

WE’VE PASSED from ETERNAL DEATH to ETERNAL LIFE— SIGN = LOVING BROTHERS

✨Focus: AGAIN—JOHN SHOWS US WE CAN LIVE W/ ASSURANCE

THE EVIDENCE of CHRIST’S WORK in US—OUGHT to BRING ASSURANCE!

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**GETTING ORDER RIGHT**

NOT SAVED BY GOOD WORKS

NOT SAVED BY LOVE

NOT SAVED BY FRUIT

=> PRESENCE of THESE THINGS TESTIFY WE’VE BEEN MADE NEW.

Example: FRUIT of the SPIRIT:

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, GOODNESS, KINDNESS, GENTLENESS, FAITHFULNESS, SELF-CONTROL.

=> CAN’T BE SELF-CONTROLLED ENOUGH to EARN FAVOR W/ GOD

=> CAN’T LOVE ENOUGH to BE SAVED.

THESE THINGS = EVIDENCE of HOLY SPIRIT in YOU....

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(V15) CONTRASTING THIS: HATRED = MURDEROUS

REGARDLESS of FAITH PROFESSION—WHAT DOES OUR LIFE PROFESS???

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Background: CHRIST’S TEACHING📜

Matthew 5:21–22 (ESV)

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’

22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

JESUS CONSISTENTLY RAISED the BAR

NOT JUST OUTWARD OBEDIENCE—BUT HEART TRANSFORMATION!

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV)

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV)

33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

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UNDER NEW COVENANT—GOD DOES a WORK on the HEART...

LOVE for BROTHER—BEGINS INTERNALLY—MANIFESTED EXTERNALLY...

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Transition: JESUS DIDN’T JUST TEACH THIS...

BUT HE LIVED IT!

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 16....

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❤️ 3. Knowing Love & Living it Out (vv. 16–18)

1 John 3:16 (ESV)

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

🤔SUPPOSED to LOVE—WHAT’S THAT LOOK LIKE??

LOVE LOOKS LIKE JESUS.

SACRIFICE

PUTTING OTHERS FIRST

LIVING SELFLESSLY

**Contrast** CAIN TOOK LIFE— JESUS GAVE HIS OWN. 💡

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Gospel Invitation: By This We Know Love...

NO GREATER LOVE THAN THIS!

WE HAVE COME to KNOW LOVE—HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE for US...

GOD SO LOVED the WORLD...

CHRIST SO LOVED ME...

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved ME and gave himself for ME.

NOT JUST the WHOLE—BUT the INDIVIDUAL

JESUS PAID OUR PENALTY—SO WE COULD GO FREE…

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HE OFFERS to US RECONCILIATION W/ GOD

FREEDOM from SIN & DEATH

ENTRANCE into LIFE ETERNAL...

IF WE ONLY RESPOND in FAITH—PUTTING OUR TRUST in HIM...👣

Romans 10:9–10 (ESV)

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Invitation: IF YOU’RE HERE,, WITHOUT ASSURANCE— WITHOUT CHRIST— HE LOVES YOU—HE DIED for YOU—YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY...

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**to the CHRISTIAN** — ONUS is ON US,, to LOVE as CHRIST DID!

JESUS DOESN’T EXPECT THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED HIM to LOVE as HE DID—THEY HAVEN’T RECEIVED HIS LOVE.

💥CHRISTIAN—LOVES as HE FIRST LOVED US!

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Transition: And John is going to show us that JUST as JESUS’ LOVE was PROVEN by ACTION...

SO OURS OUGHT to BE...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 17-18...

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Sub Point: Loving through Action (v17-18)

17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

LOVE = PROVEN THROUGH ACTION.

HOW CAN YOU CLAIM to LOVE GOD—IF YOU DON’T SHOW LOVE for FELLOW BELIEVERS…??

&& BAR YOUR HEART from THEM...

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Negative Story:

1. AMANDA (COUDERSPORT) NEEDED $1,500.... CHURCH PRAYING for FINANCIAL PROVISION--- DID ANYONE GIVE??

GOD RARELY RAINS MONEY from HEAVEN—BUT HE DOES SEND OTHER BELIEVERS...💡

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Positive Stories:

2. LUKE WATSON & SAM’S HOUSE PLUMBING

3. G.C. MEMBERS HELPING AGGIE W/ CAR.

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🤔DOES THIS MEAN EVERY PERSON NEEDING HELP WE HELP??

OBVIOUSLY WE’D BE BROKE.

BUT CAN WE NOT HELP SOME PEOPLE—SOMETIMES??

WE’RE NOT SOCIALISTS.

😬BUT AT SOME POINT WE MIGHT HAVE to PART W/ IDOL of MONEY to PROVE LOVE for OTHERS...😬

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✨JOHN USES SAME GK WORD from PRIOR CHAPTER...✨

“DON’T LOVE the WORLD (2:15)

DESIRES of FLESH

DESIRES of EYES

PRIDE of LIFE (V16)

ARROGANCE of MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

THAT PRIDE & LUST for STUFF—KEEPS US from HELPING OTHERS...😬

Hindrance/Problem: IF I GIVE…THEN I CAN’T USE THAT MONEY for ME.

LOVE for WORLD/POSSESSIONS—BARS HEART to GENEROSITY...

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LOVE ISN’T JUST a KIND DISPOSITION.

LOVE ISN’T JUST a NOUN—IT’S a VERB

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(v18)… “LET US LOVE in DEED & TRUTH!”

Quote, SCHOLAR, “LOVE WITHOUT WORKS is DEAD”

IF CHRIST GAVE/SACRIFICED EVERYTHING...

SURELY I OUGHT to BE ABLE to GIVE SOMETHING??

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Transition: AGAIN—THIS LOVE = SOURCE of ASSURANCE...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 19-20

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🔐 4. Assurance for the Self-Condemned (vv. 19–22)

1 John 3:19–20 (ESV)

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;

20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

KNOW WE’RE of TRUTH/REASSURE HEARTS—BY LOVE for OTHERS...

Question/Problem: HOW MUCH is ENOUGH??🤔

WE ALL COULD DO MORE— IN ANY AREA.

PERFECTIONIST WILL NEVER BE “GOOD ENOUGH” to HAVE NO DOUBTS...

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Helpful Passage

IF YOU HAVE TRUSTED in JESUS—SAVED/ RIGHT BELIEF

& IT’S GOT EVIDENCE to BACK IT UP...

=> YOU CAN BELIEVE YOU’RE RIGHT W/ GOD—

EVEN IF YOU DON’T GET IT RIGHT 100% <=

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HOW MANY HAVE EXPERIENCE:

—HAD OPPORTUNITY & MISSED IT— LATER, PAINS of CONSCIENCE

“I SHOULD’VE...”

IF OUR HEARTS CONDEMN US—LET US REMEMBER GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING...

=> NO CONDEMNATION for THOSE in CHRIST JESUS

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DOESN’T MEAN WE IGNORE CONVICTION.

BUT CONDEMNATION CAN’T EAT US ALIVE

GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING & HAS ACCEPTED US...

FALL SHORT? MISS OPPORTUNITY? CONFESS & FIND FORGIVENESS...

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**SINS of OMISSION MORE THAN COMMISSION**

Big Difference:

SHOULD’VE HELPED SOMEONE & MISSED IT

ROBBING BANK/COMMITTING ADULTERY

=> IF YOU’RE BORN AGAIN—LIVE LIKE IT.

YET, GOD PROVIDES GRACE—NOT JUST @ SALVATION—BUT THROUGHOUT our SANCTIFICATION

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WE COULD ALL DO MORE

ALWAYS WILL BE MORE NEEDY PEOPLE.

DON’T USE THAT as EXCUSE—NOT HELP SOME PEOPLE…SOMETIMES??

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Transition: We’ll see the NATURE of ASSURANCE MORE…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 21-22…

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Sub Point: Confidence Before God(v21-22)

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

✨HEARTS DON’T CONDEMN—WE HAVE CLEAN CONSCIENCE— & CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD

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CONFIDENCE W/ GOD—LEADS to PRAYER & ANSWERED PRAYERS!

🤔?? BLANK CHECK ??🤔

WIN LOTTERY????

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Helpful: PS. 37:4

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

IF YOU TRULY DELIGHT in the LORD—YOUR PRAYERS CHANGE.

REMEMBER: (2:15) “DO NOT LOVE the WORLD” —BECAUSE THEN YOU DON’T LOVE GOD.📜

😬ONE LOVING GOD ISN’T CONSUMED W/ MATERIALISTIC DESIRES.😬

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⭐BUT WE ALSO DON’T WANT to DOWNPLAY PRAYER!

“OH WHAT PEACE WE OFTEN FORFEIT,,

OH WHAT NEEDLESS PAIN WE BEAR—

ALL BECAUSE WE DO NOT CARRY EVERYTHING to GOD in PRAYER”

James 4:2–3 (ESV)📜

2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

PRAYER is ONE MEANS—GOD USES to ACCOMPLISH HIS ENDS!

WE CAN GO INTO KING’S PRESENCE—BEAR OUR HEARTS & REQUESTS...

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Transition: W/ ONE FINAL COMMENT on COMMANDMENTS...

JOHN WILL CLOSE.

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 23-24

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🧭 5. God’s Core Commands: Belief in Christ & Love for Brother (vv. 23–24)

1 John 3:23–24 (ESV)

23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

John summarizes God’s commandments:

Believe in Jesus Christ.

Love one another.

“RIGHT BELIEF”

“RIGHT PRACTICE”

NOT ALWAYS EASY—BUT NOT COMPLICATED!

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THIS PERSON ABIDES in GOD— & HIS SPIRIT INHABITS US—

— GIVING US ASSURANCE & POWER to FULFILL HIS COMMANDS...

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Transition: ALL in ALL...

Passage Idea:

The Christian ought to follow Jesus’ model of life-giving, sacrificial love.

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V.🛠️ Application: Living a Life of Sacrificial Love

LOVE ISN’T JUST a DISPOSITION BUT an ACTION

NOT JUST a NOUN,, BUT a VERB.

LOVE IS MORE THAN BEING KIND—IT’S LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE.

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EASY to SAY—YOU’D “DIE” for PEOPLE YOU REALLY LOVE...

BUT WOULD YOU DIE to YOURSELF TODAY??

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NOT HYPOTHETICAL,, SOMEDAY REALITY...

WILL YOU PUT OTHERS FIRST?

WILL YOU FOLLOW JESUS’ SELF-GIVING EXAMPLE...

SPECIFICALLY—WILL YOU HELP THOSE in NEED?

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Proverbs 3:27–28 (ESV)

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

Quote, EUGENE PETERSON: “Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person.”

SOMETIMES YOU CAN BE the ANSWER to the PRAYER—RATHER THAN PRAYING TOO.

Galatians 6:10 (ESV)

10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

👣 WHAT GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT BE PLACED in YOUR PATH? —

— GIVING of YOUR TIME, MONEY, ENERGY, RESOURCES??👣

IF JESUS LAID HIS HEART BARE—HOW COULD WE BAR OURS?😬

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Closing:

ULTIMATELY… THE SACRIFICIAL GENEROSITY of OUR GOD,,

OUGHT to LEAD US to LOVING through ACTION too…AMEN?

LET’S PRAY.