Love Your Neighbor - SMM (*)

Lead Off Question

Have you ever done something just to receive something from someone?

Illustration

The time I picked the weeds for my Dad.

Transition

Whether you are willing to admit it or not, there have been times in all of our lives where we say, okay God, I’m doing this so that you… and you fill in the blank with your reasoning.

Bottom Line

We know love because of His love for us.

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Bible Verse

Galatians 5:13 NIV

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

* We love by serving.

Breakdown

Paul reminds the church in Galatia, look you have been set free, only do not use that freedom for the wrong matters. But, through love, serve one another. There are a few things about this verse that I want to highlight before we move on.

We were called to freedom. But why are we free? Students in the room, why are we set free? We have been set free because of His love, God’s love, which was displayed to us through the sacrifice of his only son on the cross. Because of that gift, and our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have been set free. In Galatians 5:1 Paul writes, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” We are free, but he wanted to continue, so let’s see what else he had to say about freedom.

Do not use this freedom as a resource to further your own desires. Here let me help break it down further, STOP BEING SELFISH. Stop using this freedom to indulge in sin. This statement is also seen in Philippians 2 where Paul encourages the believer to “consider others desires before oneself.” Stop sleeping in through every food pantry because “someone else will do it”, stop avoiding our children’s hall because “someone else will do it” or “I don’t want to wake up that early”, lastly, stop dodging your calling because “you don’t have time.”

And then to wrap up the verse Paul says, “through love serve one another”. THROUGH LOVE. In other words, not in spite, not begrudgingly, not expectantly, not aggressively, but THROUGH LOVE, serve one another. Bench your attitude, your mission, and your desires, and love by serving.

Bottom Line

We know love because of His love for us.

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Bible Verse

2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

* We love by giving.

Breakdown

Just as we serve in love it is in love that we give. As believers, we seek to view the world as God does. Through the lens of love and with the heart to give. Scripture affirms this in Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” When we see a need what is our first response? “Ah, Pastor Aaron will do it.” or this one “Ah that is the deacon’s job”. NO AS CHRISTIANS WE LOVE. We give a hand to those who need a hand, we give time to those who need time, we lend an ear to those who need an ear, and we do all of those things out of the love in our heart. And Scripture even states, "God loves a cheerful giver." The heart matters to God. He desires that your heart would be fixated on giving in cheerfulness!

Bottom Line

We know love because of His love for us.

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Bible Verse

Romans 5:8 NIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

* We love by sharing Jesus.

Breakdown

We love by sharing Jesus with those around us. You know back in October the evangelist John Wishon made a comment, "who are you stepping over to come to church?" Calvary, who are we walking past every day? Our families? Our neighbors? Our coworkers? Who are you stepping over?

Bottom Line

We know love because of His love for us.