1jo04-21

5 January 2008

“LOVE”

1 John 4:7-21

I dread these 1st sermons of the year. Pressure.

I want to make you want to come back

Not anything you have not heard in some way before

I am afraid today I will not say anything new

This is a theme for the life of my preaching

Distorted views of love

I just love that dress

Or Love ice cream

Matthew 6.5

Profoundly simple

Love God

As a response to God’s love of us

Our love is always in response to God

God is love

Worship is a response. Come to Worship

Self

Love you Bad images and models for loving me making me act in unloving ways toward everything else

Take care of you

Watch out for you

Pray for you

Spoil yourself

The other

One of the things God has laid on my heart this year is that I want to deal with family. Reclaim our families spiritually. Begin with love

In this context, the family is not quite you and it is not quite the other.

Titus 2.4

Ephesians 5.33

You may not like her but you got to love her

Deal with hate: We hate what we do not know or understand

Love others

Jesus says this is the evidence that we are indeed his disciples John 13:34

Love is taught –Let it continue Hebrews 13.1 End of the Commandment 1 Timothy 1.5

Prayer for the church Philippians 1.9

Clothes of the church Colossians 3.14

Outdo each other in honor Romans 12.10

Is perfect for imperfect people 1 Peter 4.8