Love Unlimited

Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a Word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

Church Unity

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Church, Unity

A visitor to a mental hospital was astonished to note that there were only three guards watching over a hundred dangerous inmates. He asked his guide, “Don’t you fear that these people will overpower the guards and escape?”

“No,” was the reply. “Lunatics never unite.”

This Passage is NOT about the World

Romans 14:1–4 ESV

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Christian Cyclopedia Adiaphora

Adiaphora (“middle matters”; from Gk. for “indifferent things”; Ger. Mitteldinge). FC Ep X 1 speaks of adiaphora as “ceremonies or church usages which are neither commanded nor forbidden in the Word of God but have been introduced into the church in the interest of good order and the general welfare.”

Romans 14:5–9 ESV

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

The Book of Concord Article X: Concerning Ecclesiastical Practices

[3] 1. To settle this dispute, we unanimously believe, teach, and confess that ceremonies or ecclesiastical practices that are neither commanded nor forbidden in God’s Word, but have been established only for good order and decorum, are in and of themselves neither worship ordained by God nor a part of such worship. “In vain do they worship me” with human precepts (Matt. 15[:9*]).

[4] 2. We believe, teach, and confess that the community of God in every place and at every time has the authority to alter such ceremonies according to its own situation, as may be most useful and edifying for the community of God.

[5] 3. Of course, all frivolity and offense must be avoided, and special consideration must be given particularly to those who are weak in faith.

The Book of Concord Article X: Concerning Ecclesiastical Practices

[5] 3. Of course, all frivolity and offense must be avoided, and special consideration must be given particularly to those who are weak in faith.

Love Does No Harm

English Standard Version Chapter 14

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother?

It’s a Thin Line Between Love and Hate

Most Church splits are personal, not theological. In a Christian Post article, author Thom S. Rainer stated, first of all, that “a church that has split is likely to die” Next, that “the majority of church splits focus on the pastor,” and third, “church splits typically originate from power groups within the church.” http://www.christianpost.com/news/9-thoughts-on-church-splits-135514/

God is in Charge, and I’m not Him

Romans 14:10–12 ESV

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

When we make a big deal over small things...

The Gospel is hindered

The Church is hindered

The Spirit is grieved

When we lose focus, we miss the point

Matthew 18:21–22 ESV

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Love doesn’t seek limits, it seeks an object

Matthew 18:23 ESV

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

Matthew 18:26–27 ESV

So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

Matthew 18:30 ESV

He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

Matthew 18:32–35 ESV

Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Limits are Excuses - Goals are Fuel

Goals are Fuel

Paul had a GOAL

Philippians 3:10–14 ESV

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church -

Show me what you’re working with

Lutheran Community of Northwest Indiana -

Show me what you’re working with

Church of Jesus Christ in Northwest Indiana -

Show me what you’re working with

People of God, wherever you are -

Show me what you’re working with

If you’re working with the Mission of God, Jesus is the Author and Finisher of your faith.

If you’re working with the traditions of men, you will come short of the glory of God.

If Jesus is the center of your joy,

“He who raised Christ from the dead will make alive your mortal bodies through His Spirit.

If you love the praises of men more than the presence of God,

you will come short of the glory of God.

If Justification is the pillar upon which your church stands or falls,

you will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make you stand.

The Love of Jesus brought Him from the throne of glory

The Love of Jesus brought Him into a virgin’s womb

The Love of Jesus put Him on the Cross Good Friday

The Love of Jesus put Him in a borrowed tomb

The Love of Jesus made Him taste death for you and me

The Love of Jesus raised Him up on Sunday

The Love of Jesus is what we proclaim.

The Love of Jesus, not fortune or fame.

So may the love of God

2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

and

Let the peace of God, that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

Related Media

Related Sermons