What's Love Got to do With It?

We all have a story - Slide 2

Some of my story is on the slide.

Nations, familes and individuals have a story.

Israel had a story - Slide 3

God chose Israel through Abraham and they were the only nation to be in covenant with the one true God - Yahweh

Yahweh’s was totally loyal to the covenant, to the point that he was prepared to send them into exile.

To be away from the land was to be seperated from Yahweh.

Israel understood God’s love - Slide 4

What did they mean by love?

Checed - Strength, steadfstness & love

Israels entire story was based around the unmerited love of God

They did not earn their position

Abandoned, but not forgotten - Slide 5

Tragically Israel is driven into exile, but God has not given up.

Ezekiel 43:4-5 promises that the glory of God will return to the temple.

When he did return, he was rejected, but God was going to fulfill his promise to Abraham that all the nations would be blessed.

However, some did ask questions - Nicodemus (John 3:16)

How do you explain this story? - Slide 6

In his Gospel, John wants us to see Jesus as the continuation of the Israel story, but how do you explain it to a jew, let alone the gentiles.

The apostles hijacked a word, that they used over and over -

John 3:16 NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

That’s what love has to do with it - Slide 7

To explain God’s coveneant love (Chesed), that previosuly was exclusively Israel’s, they used Agape.

Not lust, nor selfish - love of a parent, love for someone who can give nothing to you

Lust is the opposite - my benefit at someone elses expense

Crazy talk in 1st century Greco-Roman culture - tears of another...

God’s attitude towards Jesus and you - Slide 8

John 17:26 NLT

I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Romans 5:8 NLT

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Trust in his love - Slide 9

This is the foundation - we start with trusting his love

1 John 4:16–19 NLT

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.

Love is the test of success - Slide 10

Love is the litmus test of salvation - not religious service, but love for God and others

1 John 4:20–21 NLT

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.

Your Mission - Slide 11

Own the story - live the story - remember

Romans 2:4 NLT

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The challenge for every church - Slide 12

Revelation 2:4–5 NLT

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

Love is the fuel for a healthy church - Slide 13

If I don’t love you, the, God...

All this starts with knowing we are loved and wanting to reflect it

Let’s make love our story - Slide 14