An Agenda of Love
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Becoming Love Minded
Becoming Love Minded
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Read and Review Thinking differently about Love.
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Visit: When you are struggling to love others, Visit His Love for You.
7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Gino, BMW (Reputation) The Bible was written to me, not sinners.
Continue: Take off, Put on.
This is not a complete list. Vs 9 Take off, (burn it, send it to goodwill. You don’t wear those cloths anymore. put on. renewed.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Review: I choose each day what I am going to wear (LOVE) If I show up somewhere and everyone else is dressed differently, I don’t change what I am wearing to fit in. (explain)
Side Journey, Review:
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
GOD IS LOVE. As He IS, LOVE, so also are we, (LOVE)in this world.
10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
10 Whoever loves his brother [believer] abides (lives) in the Light, and in It or in him there is no occasion for stumbling or cause for error or sin.
11 But he who hates (detests, despises) his brother [in Christ] is in darkness and walking (living) in the dark; he is straying and does not perceive or know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
4043. περιπατέω pĕripatĕō, per-ee-pat-eh´-o; from 4012 and 3961; to tread all around, i.e. walk at large (espec. as proof of ability); fig. to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary):— go, be occupied with, walk (about).
Strong, J. (1996). The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
We can be occupied with Light, Love, or we can be Occupied with Darkness, Absence of Love.
Explain Hate:
Note: Does not know the way to go.
Read 1:13, the Love Chapter.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Read Love in Action (Michael) and vs 5, It keeps not record of wrongs. How many of us believe that?
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Read and vs. 7
It always trusts. How many of us believe that?
Last time we looked at John the Apostle of Love and how He stacked up against the Love Chapter. 1 Cor 13: Now we look at the author of the Love chapter.
Paul: Saul, a horrible persecutor of the Church, Talking about Stephen.
1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Read and continue. approve: It brought him pleasure.
1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Then He gets born-again and God has a plan for his life. There was a problem.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
Disciple: Follow of Jesus, The Lord, (Jesus)calls to him. YES LORD.
Verse 11 and 12: Look at the details......Nothing missing.
All Ananias has to do is WALK IN THE LIGHT (LOVE) that the Lord has just revealed to him.
Are there options?
All Allen has to do is WALK IN THE LIGHT (LOVE) that the Lord has revealed to him.
Fade in Allen. Fade out Allen. Insert your name. Walking in Love is not hard, is it? Continue:
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.
14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
What is the risk? If he is wrong, He has led his friends, family and church, into danger. No.
Fade in
What is the risk? Not obey the Spirit’s leading to Love. It always trusts. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs.
Fade in.
Does that mean I just trust everyone? No, you trust the leading of Love.
Continue:
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
Vs 26, Who was afraid of him? the disciples. Even God’s people can miss it sometimes in the area of Love. Continue with vs 27
Barnabas steps up. Love always trusts. When we walk in love, Love is directing our path. There is no occasion for stumbling.
1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
Vs 1 Highlight Barnabas, and Saul
Vs 2 Highlight the Holy Spirit said. and Them.
Vs 4 The two of them, sent on their way. BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The next three chapters are filled with multitudes coming to Christ, People being healed, Demons being cast out.
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”
37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
Conflict. Barnabas wants one thing. Paul wants another. Conflict between believers. Does it ever happen?
3 Volunteers:
Paul: Barnabas, it’s time to cut the apron strings. I know he’s your sister’s kid, but remember, We took Mark with us. He quit on us. He left his portion of the work when it got tough. Other’s had to take up the slack. I’m just not doing that to our team again.
Barnabas: Paul, you Bozo, do I need to remind you of the time nobody believed in you? I had to take you under my wing and vouch for you. Remember?
Holy Spirit: Ah, Guys. I know what to do. Sit down and I will tell you what to do.
But the Holy Spirit did not get the opportunity. He was shut out.
Continue
39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
Wait, who put them together? The Holy Spirit, and they separate over a disagreement?
Thousands of people born-again, healed, devils cast out, churches established, and they separate over a disagreement.
Disagreement: Look at the NKJV
39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
Contention: They could not even stay in the same room together. SO THEY PARTED. Sorry Holy Ghost. It was fun. And we are not even told who was right and who was wrong. Were We? Change coats?
Continue:
40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
So Paul was right. Barnabas was wrong. Paul leads the church and we never hear of Barnabas again. Right? It looks like it, but this word commended.
3860. παραδίδωμι paradidōmi, par-ad-id´-o-mee; from 3844 and 1325; to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit:— betray, bring forth, cast, commit, deliver (up), give (over, up), hazard, put in prison, recommenStrong, J. (1996). The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
The church was so hurt and broken. This word commended means they took Paul and lifted him up to the Lord and said, if you can do anything with this mess. Do it.
The fruit of Hate Or less love, doesn’t always show up right away.
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Everything is going fine. And then.
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
Phrygia FRIJ ih uh,
They are STUMBLING AROUND 1,000 miles from where they should be.
Finally the mercy of God prevails.
9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
What would the Holy Spirit have told them if they had listened to Him in the first place? We don’t really know, but years later Paul is prompted to write a little on the subject.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
As far as it depends on you. I’m wearing love even if everyone else does not.
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
The word "consider" is the Greek word katanoeo, a compound of the words kata and noeo. The word kata is a preposition that means down. It describes something that is moving downward and can also describe a dominating force. The second part of the word is the Greek word noeo, from the word nous, which refers to the mind. When these two words are linked together, it means to thoroughly consider something; to think something through from the top to the bottom; to think hard about something; or to deeply ponder a matter.
Rick Renner, Sparkling Gems from the Greek, (Tulsa, OK: Teach All Nations, 2003), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 311.
Study: Kristi
Walking in love takes a determined effort.
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
I am now living not for myself, but for HIM.
14 For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died;
I am not forced to love, but to walk as Jesus did, Love forces me onto a narrow path.
The Holy Ghost Says, So I Do.
Jesus walking out Love.
1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4 Now he had to go through Samaria.
Had to go. If you look at a map of the area, Jesus did not have to go through Samaria. There were other routs available.
So what was Jesus saying?
1163. δεῖ dĕi, die; third pers. sing. act. present of 1210; also δεόν dĕŏn, deh-on´; neut. act. part. of the same; both used impers.; it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding):— behoved, be meet, must (needs), (be) need (-ful), ought, should.
Strong, J. (1996). The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
It was binding: Explain using Matt 18:19
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Heaven was releasing a proclamation:
Jesus made it binding.
Did Heaven Give Jesus an Explanation? No. Jesus bound himself to obedience to delivering the Love Heaven released.
Baseball, Giant Eagle and Ira.
5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
Sychar: SIGH kahr
What does Jesus see? Many people who could use what he was carrying to deliver.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
This is kind of a sarcastic rebuke. JEWS DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH SAMARITANS. Plus, she is a woman at that.
Now shift your focus for a moment. This woman has quite a reputation among her townspeople. We will talk about that in a moment, but for now,
SHE IS A SINNER.
Big time Sinner. Woman with a reputation. Doesn’t Jesus know what He is doing? Yes. He has bound himself to Heaven.
In the church, do we sometimes get the message a little messed up.
Young drunk man. Clothes covered in grease, dirty. My attitude. He did not want money. He wanted help. I gave him the only thing I had. Jesus Christ. I’m not religious. My family has never gone to church, I just felt like something told me to stop here.
Pray for me again. It didn’t take. Why do you say that? (Swearing, I still drink sometimes.)
If they were really born-again, they wouldn’t .......fill in your own blank.
After one week, it was breaking his heart that those words were coming out of his mouth. I assured him his prayer of salvation worked. We prayed, concerning the drinking and swearing. “Can we pray for my dad?” Watching from across the street. Looking for cars to be in the church parking lot. Some folks stated talking about his appearance, smell, etc. Are you sure? Yes, I am sure. Shows up one night cleaned up, hair combed, coming up front when people come up front.
Stops showing up. a week, two weeks, a month, two months go by. Nothing. No way to get a hold of him. Then one day he calls. He had to take a job that stopped his coming to night services. He was calling from the hospital. His girlfriend had just miscarried their baby. He was concerned about what to say to her. I told told him, I would be right over. “No, I just need to know how to pray for her, when she wakes up.”
There were some rough edges, but his life had been changed by Jesus Christ.
BMW: I carry into work something my new harvest field needs everyday. Put on my coat.
Continue:
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
Mission accomplished. Dance Dance Dance, Jump, Jump, Jump. All of Heaven is going wild, And then.
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
Why did He have to go there? She has just seen a glimmer of hope to escape the live she is stuck in. Then it comes crashing down because of her past.
17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.
18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
Questions pop up. What happened to the five? Did they divorce her.?(explain) Can’t even keep a husband. Did they die? Did she kill them? The guy she is living with now? What’s up with that? What is heaven doing through Jesus? RELEASING LOVE.
OSB John 4:19-26
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
OSB John 4:31-38
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.
41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
She is no longer the laughing stock of Sycar. She is no longer the woman who can’t keep a husband. She is no longer the woman living in sin.
Now she is the woman who led the whole town to Jesus.
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Laura and friend Amy. I got mine.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.