08.02.2020 - The Greatest Commandment(s)

Summary

Following Jesus means Loving God and Loving Others

Introduction

It's easier to control people being on an island.

Natural barriers surrounding it.

Often easier to enforce travel

It doesn't mean you have a strong leader enforcing his or her will on everyone.

You may just be voting people off the island democratically, the way they did in the Survivor television series.

We are not meant to live like islands though.

It isn't meant to be easy.

Life with Jesus is meant to be challenging as we grow more connected with God and one another.

Knowing

Luke 10:25–29 NLT

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Love is a verb

Agape

Spoken as one law

One love

God

With all your heart, soul, strength, and mind

Neighbor

In the same way you treat yourself

The Lawyer knows it

He answers his own question

Does he know enough?

The sufficiency of grace that goes before

God finds us, we don't have to find Him

Light enough for the next step

Are we willing to put what we now into action?

I don't like that step. Give me another step.

Jonah again

Moses got over his speaking problem

Leading by Example

Doing

Parable of the Good Samaritan

Luke 10:30–37 NLT

Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Love is a verb and neighbor is too

Changing perspectives

Hit and run

Who would stop for you?

Remember the kind of love we are asked to give God and others is not encouragement or friendship, it is not romantic love. It is self-sacrificing love. Agape love.

John 13:34 NLT

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

So when Jesus tells his disciples in John 13:34, "a new command I give to you... love one another as I have loved you." It's not really a new command.

It is the same command Moses gave the Israelites

The same command this Pharisee lawyer learned as a child

The same command Jesus told him to go and do and he would live.

Jesus just explained that Agape means God's self-giving love and that that is what we are asked to do.

CTA

Love like Jesus and you will live like Jesus.

Who loves you like Jesus?

Who do you love like Jesus?

Who in your life needs the love of Jesus?

Will you take it to them?