Loving People
Loving People
Pastor Keith Hassell
Foundation Scripture: Luke 10:25-27
I. Loving God and loving your neighbor
A. “Love the Lord your God . . .”
B. “Love your neighbor as yourself . . .”
II. Seven ways to demonstrate our love to people
A. Serve people
1. Mark 9:35 “If anyone desire to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
2. Look for opportunities to help people.
3. Servant Evangelism: Practical and thoughtful acts of service to people is a great way to open them up to the Gospel.
B. Give to people
1. James 2:15-16 “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?”
2. Generous giving to others breaks down walls and builds relationships.
3. Give good and meaningful gifts rather than garage sale items.
4. Never give with a string attached. Manipulation destroys friendships.
C. Honor people
1. Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
2. Be extravagant, not measured, with praise. Be sincere in your praise so as to avoid flattery.
3. The world love to “cut down” but Christians should love to “build up.”
4. Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
D. Show interest in people
1. Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
2. Steer conversations away from yourself to others. Put the interests of others before your own.
3. Be excited about what others are excited about.
E. Encourage people
1. I Corinthians 13:7 “love believes all things.”
2. Faith is contagious and the world is full of doubt and unbelief.
3. Believe in people. Build them up with your words and actions. Believe in people even when they appear to be failures.
F. Appreciate people
1. Romans 1:8 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”
2. Be thankful to those you are in relationship with.
3. Thankfulness tells people that you have noticed what they have done.
4. The small amount of time it takes to send a note, make a call, or speak a personal comment of thanks will cause that relationship to grow even stronger.
G. Smile at people
1. Proverbs 15:30 “The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.”
2. Sinners are 20% more likely to attend a church or a cell group where people smile at them.
3. The world is full of gloom and doom, but you are a stranger and pilgrim on your way to heaven. Act like it, and look like it!
III. Jesus’ teaching on loving people
A. They need a physician (Luke 5:31)
1. The Pharisees saw Levi as a sinner. Jesus said that it is “they that are sick” who need a physician.
B. They need a shepherd (Luke 15:4-7 Parable of the lost sheep)
1. God’s great love extends to each individual person. We should treat every person as important to God if we are going to reach them.
2. Shepherds are not concerned about numbers, statistics, and average attendance when it comes to the sheep. The shepherd counts every sheep as precious no matter how far they may have drifted.
C. They need a friend (Luke 19:5 Zacchaeus)
1. By becoming a friend to a man who was despised, the Lord broke down barriers and helped him find salvation.
2. Jesus won a friend and won a soul. Ask God to give you friends through serving, giving, honoring, showing interest, encouraging, appreciating, and smiling at people. This will demonstrate God’s love to others and give you favor with all people and the “Lord will add to the church daily such as should be saved.”(Acts 2:47)