Christ: The Way of love
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Way of Love
The Way of Love
Love, everyone wants it, everyone loves it, and the way of Christ is love and that is what we are looking at this morning.
(Insert - Love makes the world go round)
You know the song, and yes it is love, for love created the world, love holds the world in His hands, love was poured out and became flesh and dwelt among us, love was demonstrated on the cross. So the way of Christ is the way of love
So the way of loves starts with:
That God is love (1Jn4:8)
8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
The love of God; sending His Son (Jn3:16)
16 “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.
The love of Jesus; living and dying for our sins (Jn15:13)
13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
(insert love defined picture here)
In the bible you only find, Eros, Philia and Agape. and the list on the screen has those and all other that were used by the Greeks at the time, there is belief that the word Storge is included in scripture but that is a debatable issue to be saved for another day.
Love simple definitions for today:
Phileo: Affectionate love
Agape: Selfless love
(Transition) So this morning we are look at Christ the way to love and how I would like us to do it is looking at the way it is taught through the scripture and then also look at some of the biblical teachers about love. And, yes, of course a conclusion with application.
Way of love taught
Way of love taught
Scripture can teach us and does teach us the way of love (agape, phileo). We cannot apply without being taught what it is and what we are to do with it.
God’s word teaches us:
To love God and to love Jesus
Love God (agape) with all we are (Mk12:30)
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
(expand)
Love Jesus (phileo) more than family (Mt10:37; 1Cor16:22)
37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
(expand) nothing before the Lord
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha.
(expand) accursed, Maranatha (come Lord)
Some food for thought here in looking at to love God and Jesus we have the the greatest command under the Law that is reinforced in the gospel
To love our our brethren
We are to love (agape) one another as Christ loved us. (Jn13:34-35)
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Question: Ask yourself why are we to love one another here, how are we to love one another and what is the result of loving on another here. Contemplate this on your own. For the scripture answers those questions.
Love (phileo) with brotherly affection for one another (Rom12:10-13)
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
But now, that would not right to stop there. I need to give the rest of the passage which gives the how.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Question: Consider these verses what is the application that we are clearly given?
With brotherly love that is self-less and demonstrative when it comes to others, in these verses the brethren (believers) but does this not apply to all?
To love our families
Husbands are to love (agape) their wives (Eph5:25-30)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body.
Questions to consider on your own: What is the example given in these verses? How is it to be done? Why is it to be done.
Wives are to love (agape) their husbands and love (phileo) their children (Tit2:3-5)
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Question: instructions are given first in this passage, what are they? What is the reason given on why? (yes, contemplate on your own)
(transition) it is because of heart felt, selfless love that our brother affection within the family is demonstrated and developed for self and then taught to others by example.
To love our neighbors and our enemies
We are commanded to love (agape) our neighbor (Mk12:30-31)
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Question: What is the greatest commandment as noted in these verses? How are you to do it?
We are commanded to love (agape) our enemies (Mt5:43-45)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Question: We are not only to love our enemies but to do what for them too? Why are we to do it?
When we (agape) our neighbors and are enemies there is no division line for God’s love is inclusive not exclusive. (expand on this)
(Transition) I think we can all agree that there is lots of room for growth when it comes to love. Lots to learn so now may we turn to some of the teachers on love.
The way of love
The way of love
Some of our best learning comes from teachers and the bible is full of Spirit filled teachers that taught on the way of love for knowledge and for application.
Taught by God
Concerning brotherly love (phileo) to love one another (agape) (1The4:9-10)
9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,
Question: Paul says they have no need for anyone to write to them about brotherly, selfless love, why?
God by example is demonstrated (manifested) in Christ (1Jn4:9-10; Rom5:8)
9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
(expand)
God teaches us by words and by example how to love one another both phileo and agape
Taught by Jesus
Jesus taught by example (agape) (1Jn3:16)
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Question: John gives demonstration and instruction, what is the instruction?
Jesus taught by example (phileo and agape) by how he loves His disciples (Jn11:3, 5); his friends (Jn13:1, 34)
3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
and let me add
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
(Transition) Jesus taught by example and by word with simple instructions (application) now we will move onto another of the biblical teachers
Taught by Paul
By expounding on description of love (1Cor13:4-8)
I thought about making this a three point sermon but then the teaching gives application by the teachers at the same time so I think you can grab application as we go.
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
Question look at 1Cor13:4-8 and glean the application (the things to do) and the promise that is found in (v.8).
Who taught Christians how to walk in love (Eph5:1-2)
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Question: How are you to walk in love when looking at this passage? Why are we to do it (hint, look at the last part of the verse)?
Who gave directions for loving, husbands and wives (Eph5:25-33)
Now this is too long of a section to put up, but I suggest reading it all, but let me give a little bit from them.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
Husbands love (agape) your wives as Christ loved you. Follow Christs example (v.25)
33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
Each individual is to love his own wive as himself, and each wive is to respect her husband. (Eph5:33)
And who demonstrated brotherly love (Php4:1)
1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
Paul calls for the beloved brethren to stand firm in the Lord (Php4:1)
In word, by example Paul displays both brotherly and selfless love.
Taught by Peter
Who taught to love fervently (1Pt1:22, 4:8)
22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
Love one another from a pure heart and soul.
8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Love fervently because love covers a multitude of sins.
Who taught to love the brotherhood as brethren (1Pt2:17)
17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
In looking at 1Pt1:22, 4:8 and 2:17) you can summarize it like this: Love with a pure heart and soul, love fervently, loving the brethren.
Like Paul he taught in word and deed.
Taught by other Christians in scripture
Older women to set an example to younger women (Tit2:3-4)
3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children,
Even young Christians can set example setters (1Tim4:12; 2The1:3)
12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
(expand) speech, conduct, love, faith purity! Be an example regardless of age
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
Love that is practiced is love that grows and love that is shown and it just grows even greater.
(Insert Jesus is love picture here)
(Conclusion) So Christ the way of love is selfless, affectionate active and good willed towards others as exampled by Christ, Paul, Peter and others.
The way of love can be grown on and developed first by information (God’s word) then by application (put love to work)
God demonstrated his love for us
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Invitation slide - Jesus Gods love gift)
The gift of love is available to all (expand)
(song) (Prayer)