Aspects of Love

POP QUIZ: What are the two greatest commandments? (Matthew 22:37-40) [use as children’s sermon]

- Introduction

o We have talked about how we must depend on God and be better together here at Longbranch

o I hate weddings

o They can be a terrible event

§ They’re too long

§ It takes forever for the pictures to be taken to eat the food

§ There is a lot of talk about love, even though

§ The parents can be ferocious if things don’t go how they envisioned it

§ And there’s a good chance the marriage will end in divorce

o The underlying problem in all of these statements the self-centered version of love the culture so proudly proclaims

o “In [today’s] culture…we are confronted with endless ways to compromise biblical love, so we must be that much more discerning and intentional in loving others” (Jonathan Holmes and Lilly Park, “Speaking the Truth in Love” in Scripture and Counseling, 270).

- 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – Why love is important

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 ESV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

What are the aspects of love?

- Love is Necessary

1 John 4:10–12 ESV

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Galatians 5:13–14 ESV

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

o God is the initiator of our love

o We are not supposed to “pay it back” but “pay it forward” (Chuck Swindoll)

o His love for us gives us the motivation to love others

o “Love does not go around the moral norms of the law, nor does it violate them, but it does transcend them… [B]elievers live out the law of Christ when they give themselves for the good of others” (Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary Series on the New Testament).

- Love is In Community

Colossians 3:12–14 ESV

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV

14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

o “The gospel is not only more clearly perceived and experienced within community; it is the basis for the community” (Paul David Tripp, How People Change, 85).

o Love is what binds all these attributes together that we can bear with one another

o There is also a call for accountability

o “Noutheteō does not mean being judgmental or critical in a superior manner. Rather, it is the caring kind of warning against danger that Paul gave to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:31) and that he sought to bring to the Thessalonians” (J-Mac).

- Love With Humility

Philippians 2:3–8 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

o “[Humility] is an attractive package that includes trust in God’s control, confidence in the Lord’s forgiveness and love, and an openness that comes not from having to be someone but from resting in Jesus” (Ed Welch, Caring for One Another, 13).

o Jesus demonstrated humility by giving all of Himself for the sake of our salvation

§ We should give our time if we have it (Bob and Judy Crane going to see someone in the hospital)

§ We should pray for others

§ We should share the Gospel with people

- Love is Daily

Proverbs 3:3–4 ESV

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

§ As a fan of the Arkansas Razorback, I wear things that show my fandom

· When I put on the hat, is it obvious who I support?

· Is it obvious that I don’t support the LSU Tigers, Texas Longhorns, or Wisconsin Badgers?

§ Our love should show who we associate with

· Do we leave a good impression on people?

· Do we tuck our necklace under our shirt and hide it from people?

· Do we neglect God’s love with our attitudes when

o Our waiter or waitress gets our order wrong

o We do not act as a believer to that one annoying coworker

o We do not share God’s love to our own families

o Our love should reflect God for His glory and the good of others

o How is this even possible?

- Love In Christ

John 15:5–11 ESV

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

o “Our Lord Jesus models for us what it means to be devoted to God. Many times we struggle with being devoted to the wrong things… What will stir our devotion to Christ will be nothing less than looking to Christ, asking him to fill us with himself and his Spirit” (Brian Borgman, Feelings and Faith, 152-53).

o Apart from Christ, we can do nothing

§ Are we abiding, dwelling, living, remaining in Christ?

§ As God the Father loves God the Son, so does God the Son love us

Matthew 22:37–40 ESV

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

§ All of the Bible is set around God’s love

§ When we love God and love other people, we do exactly what He wants us to

- Application – Consider these questions

o Am I acting like God’s love is necessary to me and that I have it?

o Am I loving every person I see at church and in my community?

o Am I concerned with putting others before myself, or am I too self-centered?

o Do I openly show God’s love to every person, or do I hide it?

o Do I struggle with these aspects because I am not abiding in Christ?