The Living Body - True Love

Doctoral Work - Start with the end result and work your way back to determine how to get there.

(1 Corinthians 13) is a beautiful passage because Paul brings everything back to the main point.

Love - Nothing matters in the ministry of church if we neglect out love for God and people.

“See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.” (Verse 1)

“11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, 12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.13 Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.” (Verse 11-18)

(1 John 3:1,11-18)

Love is how God established a relationship.

Love is how we grow with God and other people.

Paul wrote of the most excellent way for the church to operate.

READ (1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7)

Loving is willing to suffer as long as it takes.

Love shows mercy.

Love willing to take the back seat.

Love focuses on admiring others more than self.

Love does not have a need to be ahead of other people.

Love doesn’t push people around.

Love puts the needs of others over self.

Love won’t get carried away by the failures of people.

Love sees who we are becoming instead of who we used to be.

Love rejoices in the gospel without compromise.

Love takes on difficult people and their struggles.

Love believes the best is yet to come.

Love expects the best is yet to come.

Love accepts hardships and persecutions.

The way we interact with people says so much about what we need. (How we win, lose, deal with anger, carry shame, playfulness, etc.)

We were created with a desire/need for love.

Ever line written by Paul about love is God’s way of operating. The opposite is the world’s definition of love.

Replace the word “love” with “God”. Now use the word “church”.

What do we all need more than advice? Love.

Is our basis of operation centered on love before we offer anything else?

Shema - Gets name from first Hebrew word in (Deut 6:4-6)

4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.

The English word “listen” comes from the Shema. These verses were apart of scriptures Jewish families prayed every morning and evening. The opening word means “allow these words to sink in, provide understanding, and generate a response.

To the Hebrews, “hearing” and “doing” are the same.

How should they respond? Love God with action. Following the law was never about legalism but love and listening.

God’s love and loyalty are to be in the forefront of our mind.

We are driven to obedience, not out of obligation or duty, but out of love.

Love came when the world wasn’t looking for it.

Do I love God?