Love One Another

The ONE ANOTHER Series   •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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INTRODUCTION
Good morning! It’s a joy to be worshipping together as a church family. I’d like to add my welcome to anyone visiting MBC for the first time, I trust you’ve been warmly greeted this morning, and I excited about what God is going to do in and through us this morning.
We have come together to worship God – to make much about His saving work in Jesus – may our affections for Him be stirred anew as we come to worship Him and have Him speak to us through His word.
We are just over 3 months into our pastoral transition – pastoral transitions are challenging and painful – thanks so much for your love and encouragement of Dana and I each step of the way. We continue to run to God for His grace, guidance, and goodness to be poured out on us as hearts continue to heal and we strive to focus in on fulfilling our mission of developing dedicated followers of Jesus Christ who worship, grow, love, and share all for the glory of God. I hope you’ve received the flyer that highlights all of our summer studies, activities, and ministry opportunities. Don’t leave without getting one of those and make it a priority to get connected to a study and be a part of the fun family gatherings.
Today we begin a new summer sermon series. We just finished an eight week journey through the book of Titus and today we begin “The ONE ANOTHER Series.” One of our ongoing needs as a church family is to deepen our relationships with one another. I want you to not only “attend” this church but more importantly to “belong” to this church—we are a family—and we need to have strong and healthy relationships in our family. I think it’s vital for us to know how God calls us to relate and respond to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore this summer we’re going to consider the various “ONE ANOTHER” passages in the New Testament. We begin that journey today. Let’s pray!
Image
Do you have a favorite “love song?” Anyone daring enough to go public with your favorite love song? Perhaps you have a love song as a couple? - “That’s our song!” (Share) There are countless songs about love – most of them celebrate romantic love that’s gone well or gone wrong! Perhaps you’ll recognize some of these songs about love
· List
We could continue to list song and after song written about the need for love and the expression of love. If we learn anything from a simple song list, we understand that love is very important aspect of our human existence. Love seems to be one of the most popular things in this world. Songs and stories revolve around love—romantic love, the love of a family, the love of friend, or even the long of a pet.
Need
The fact that people never get tired from writing songs and stories about love reveals an important truth about the human condition – to love and be loved is one of the deepest longings of our soul – as humans we have a hunger to love and be loved beyond the romantic realm. We need to love and be loved by another human being. And deep down our soul craves to experience the eternal, transcendent love of our Creator.
Sadly, there are far too many loveless families, loveless, marriages, loveless friendships, and loveless churches. Many people struggle to love others because they don’t know how to love, they have never experienced being loved by a mom or dad, a friend, or other family member. Many people have never heard their parents say ‘I love you” so they spend their lives trying to earn “love” by being an excellent student, a star athlete, or a successful businessman just to get their attention and approval when all they want is their love. Perhaps that’s your story.
In a broken world filled with people longing to love and be loved, we can open God’s word which reveals His love for us, and His call for us to love others. One of the places we should be able to experience and express love is in the Church! Sadly, churches can suffer from the lack of love as well. Christians can be known for their failure to love – we struggle to love people who are far from God (sinners or heathens) – and we also struggle to love one another as fellow believers. The band Switchfoot rightly addresses our desperate need to learn how to love in their song “Amateur Lovers” – Listen in and see if you relate.
· Amateur Lovers Lyrics
Preview
We’re mere amateurs when it comes to love. We need God’s help. Today we begin “The ONE ANOTHER Series” by discovering God’s call to “Love One Another” because we desperately need it. Our ONE ANOTHER series is intentionally inward in focus. God has reconciled us to Himself and to ONE ANOTHER. Each week we’re going to open God’s word and discover how He wants us to respond to ONE ANOTHER as fellow believers (God’s family). I trust the Lord is going to use this series to do a good work in and through us – making us more like Jesus – as we consider God’s call to “Love One Another.” Take your Bible and turn to John. . .

I) THE CONFUSION ABOUT LOVE

Before we dig into I want us to consider “The Confusion about Love” that exists in our world. There is vast confusion about “what” love is or how to define it. What is love? Everyone has their opinion and ideas. (Share) Love has been watered down so much that in some forms it’s practically meaningless. The definition of love is captured by a cute cliché or overly simplistic saying and most of them aren’t accurate (true). The meaning of love is all too often distorted and misunderstood because we live in a broken, fallen world.
“Love is blind.” Certainly love can “blind” us to seeing others’ faults but it’s more accurate to think that love truly sees someone for who they are (warts, failures, and sin) but chooses to care and be committed to them.
“Love is never having to say you’re sorry.” – Really?! I suspect it’s quite the opposite. Love moves us to the place of vulnerable and courageous apologies.
Love is equated with sex (“make love”) – love and sex are designed to complement one another but they are not synonymous. There is great love to enjoy without sex.
Defining love is far from simple. Dictionary.com lists 14 different definitions of love when used as a noun and 6 more when used as a verb. “Love” is a “profound, warm, and deep affection” for someone or something. God’s Word reveals first and foremost that “God is love” (1 John). God embodies in His character “affection” and “appreciation” for His creation. We find four main Greek words for love in the NT—agape, phileo, storge, and eros—and each one has a specific nuance.

· Agape (Unconditional) refers to “selfless, unmerited, self-giving, kindness or affection; an affection based upon deep appreciation or high regard.” Agape seems to focus on affection that is based on upon one’s deep appreciation & high regard for the person instead of the relationship you have with them.

· Phileo (Brotherly – fellow humanity) refers intimate affection between friends (“brotherly love”). Phileo seems to focus on affection that is based upon one’s interpersonal/relational association with someone.

· Storge (Familial) refers to the affection one has for their family members or distant relatives

· Eros (Sexual) refers to physical or sexual love & intimacy. Erotic love is designed by God – it’s a gift from Him to be enjoyed in the context of a covenant relationship (marriage) – for our protection, joy, and good! Interestingly, one of the Hebrew words for “lovemaking” (dod) has been described by author Paul House as “two souls mingling together.” We see that erotic love from God’s perspective is deeper than a physical act. Sadly, erotic love has been distorted by sin, perverted by the enemy, and cheapened by pornography.

Now that we have a deeper understanding of the multi-faceted nature of love let’s turn our focus to “The Exhortation to Love One Another” in . Read

II) THE EXHORTATION TO LOVE

In we find Jesus’ “Exhortation to Love One Another.” I want to make three observations as we consider this “Exhortation to Love” from the lips of Jesus.

A) The “Context” of Jesus’ exhortation

First, please note “The Context” of Jesus’ Exhortation. Jesus’ instruction to the disciples comes in the context of Hs imminent departure. In fact, the entire focus of is about Jesus preparing His disciples for HIs death, burial, resurrection, and ascension back to the Father. Jesus’ arrival on earth was the “appearing” of God’s glory and the declaration of God being glorified in Him as the “Son of Man” speaks of His future glory after His resurrection. Jesus spent a good deal of time teaching the men closest to Him what to expect and how to live when He’s gone. In Jesus’ command for the disciples to “love one another” is set in the context of His imminent departure. Jesus is preparing them for His departure—“My children (an expression of deep affection) I will only be with you a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going you cannot come”—and we see this isn’t the first time He had spoken of His departure.
· 1st Time () – In the way of many people putting their faith in Him as the promised Messiah the chief priests and Pharisees sent officials to arrest Him. In the moment He proclaim a day was coming where He would return to the One who sent Him. The statement puzzled the religious leaders, many of them thought this meant He was leaving to go teach the Jews and Greeks outside of Palestine.
· 2nd Time () – Jesus spoke of returning to His Father and their need to believe in Him as Messiah but the Jews thought He was revealing His plan to take HIs own life (commit suicide).
· 3rd Time () – Jesus addressed HIs closest disciples who have spent the last three years of their lives following Him. Peter questioned Jesus (“Why can’t we go?”) and expressed his willingness to lay down his life for Jesus but Jesus declared that it won’t be long before Peter denied him three times. The prediction of His departure certainly left them “troubled” in light of Jesus’ encouragement in .
These men had abandoned all that they knew and held dear (family, vocation, future) in order to follow Jesus. All their hopes for deliverance were in Him and now He’s leaving? What’s going on? I imagine that in this moment disappointment, discouragement, and disillusionment flooded the hearts of the disciples. Jesus informed them that they would not go with Him at this time – what should they do? How should they live?

B) The Call to Love One Another (13:34)

The “Context” that reveals Jesus’ imminent departure is followed by a “Command” that revealed what they should do and how they should live after He leaves. The command is sandwiched between Jesus’ prediction of Judas’ betrayal () and Peter’s denial (13:36-38). Judas will betray Him and Peter will deny Him but you and yet this is how they must live. In light of His imminent return to the Father, Jesus said “A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
How is this a “new” command for the disciples? God’s Law instructed the people of Israel to “love the Lord their God” () and to “love their neighbors as themselves” (). In Jesus proclaimed that “loving God” and “loving others” are the most important Laws given from God. When we read or hear the word “new” it can be thought of as “original” or having never existed before (think of the first ever Iphone) but this call for the disciples to “love” was not original, it had existed before and revealed in the ancient Law. The word “new” is the Greek word “kainos” which denotes something that is “qualitatively new, superior to what has existed before, so this command to “love” is better than the call to love revealed in the Law. (Think original Iphone versus the newest model of Iphone – new flip phone as original vs new smart phone that is far superior). Jesus came to fulfill the OT Law of love and introduced a “superior” (new) command about love. Jesus was ushering in a “new” era of covenantal love (Messianic era)—every mention of “love” here speaks of “agape”—this isn’t a call for mere “brotherly” (phileo) love but rather an “unconditional affection and deep appreciation for one another that is that is selfless and self-giving.” Jesus was calling them to this “new” (superior) life of love. So what’s “new” (superior) about Jesus’ exhortation to love?
1) The object of love was new (superior) - Jesus’ command wasn’t a call for them to love their enemies as the Law demanded (), He said “love one another,” this was a call for them to have mutual affection for one another as a new covenant community that He will inaugurate through His death and resurrection. Jesus’s exhortation was aimed at encouraging them to love each other as fellow disciples.
2) The nature of the love was new (superior) - Jesus said “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Jesus called His disciples to love one another the same way or in comparison to the way He loved them—it’s a new command to love each other sacrificially! Jesus’ sacrificial love for them was demonstrated by taking the role of a servant and washing their feet (Read ). Jesus’ sacrificial love would soon be demonstrated by laying His life down on the cross to give them life. Jesus was calling His followers to possess and express the same kind of sacrificial love for their fellow disciples (believers). Jesus called His disciples to love sacrificially—love that demonstrated by action—they must be willing to serve and give up their own lives for the sake of the other.

C) The “Consequence” of Loving One Another

Third, we see “The Consequence” of Loving One Another. Jesus revealed what would happen if the disciples obeyed this command—“by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The disciples’ sacrificial love for one another would be a witness to the world! The disciples love for one another would sustain them after Jesus’ departure! The disciples love for one another would enable them to survive in a hostile world that would hate them for their faith in Jesus. Jesus reminds us that our love for one another as fellow believers (disciples) is one of the distinguishing marks (tatoo) of discipleship (, , , ) and the Christian community. Our sacrificial love for one another will cause others to know that we are truly followers of Jesus. Our love for one another is undeniable evidence of the gospel’s (God’s saving) transforming work in our lives. Our sacrificial love for one another sets us apart in this world!
APPLICATION
Jesus’ command compels us to “love one another” sacrificially. I hope we feel the weight of this text as a church family, this is much more than a mere suggestion or good idea, the call to sacrificially love one another is a divine imperative (not an option). Our sacrificial love for one another will not only impact the life of this church family but it has an impact on the unbelieving world. The call to sacrificially love one another has implications for our lives.
First, this call to sacrificially love one another brings us to our knees in confession and repentance. All of us have failed to obey this command. If we’re honest it’s hard to sacrificially love one another. Quite frankly, some people are harder to love than others. We all have reasons why we struggle to love someone sacrificially.
· Conflicting personalities
· Differences of opinion – you can’t seem to agree on anything (think each other is crazy)
· Lack of desire or motivation
· Lack the capacity to love – you haven’t been loved so you find it hard to love.
· Hurt by them – withhold loving them sacrificially. Remember Jesus washed Judas’ feet too! (upside down Kingdom living)
· Apathetic – checked out of the Christian life; care less – going through the motions.
· Unresolved conflict
· Defiant – refuse to love
May the Holy Spirit get a hold of our stubborn and hard hearts this morning. Let’s take a few moments for us to seek the face of God, laying all these justifications before Him, and confessing our sinful rebellion. Lord have mercy on us!
Secondly, we come to this command and celebrate the hope of the gospel. In reality we can’t live out the call to sacrificially love one another. And yet, in we discover that “God has poured out HIs love into our hearts.” We have the capacity to love one another sacrificially because of His love poured out in our lives. We have the ability to love one another sacrificially because of the power of the Holy Spirit that indwells us. We can’t love one another sacrificially in our strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Take a moment to think of the a fellow believer you’re struggling to love sacrificially – ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to love them out of the depths of God’s love that has been poured out on you! We don’t have to manufacture sacrificial love – it’s been poured out to us – and God’s love poured out to us can be poured out to others by the power of the Holy Spirit.

III) THE EXPRESSION OF OUR LOVE

Now can we get really practical? Let’s consider the “Expression” of our sacrificial love for one another. The early church had “love feasts” for a reason—they gathered to celebrate God’s love and salvation in Jesus (communion)—and to express their love as fellow believers. Sacrificial love is costly—it’s about putting others ahead of your self—and we must love one another despite our differences, when we hurt and disappoint each other, and even those who are hard to love. How can we “express” sacrificial love for one another when in some cases we haven’t even met (last wee), don’t know each other well, and it’s easy to stay in our comfy circles of connection. Typically sacrificial love is most often expressed in “smaller” group bible studies – gatherings where you can get to know one another better and feel safe – which beckons you to get connected to a group if you haven’t where you can grow in the Word and in your love for others. And yet we can apply this in our small group settings as well as our large group gatherings as a church family. We don’t ignore the call to sacrificially love one another just because we’re a big family or you might not know everyone in the room. Let’s talk about our “Expression” of sacrificial love for one another in “Word” and in “Deed.” Obviously we want these expressions of “sacrificial” love to be genuine (don’t fake it)—the bond of Christian love is a real thing!

A) The Expression of Love - In Word (Verbally)

Many people have a difficult time expressing their love for others in words. Let’s consider a few ways we can express our sacrificial love for one another in word (verbally).

1) “I love you”

this is the most obvious and yet overlooked verbal expression of sacrificial love for one another. Some of you have a hard time saying “I love you” to the people you care about the most. Perhaps some of you have never heard those words from a parent, sibling, or close friend. I hope God’s love will flood your heart in such a way that you’ll be free to tell the people close to you that you love them. don’t know how comfortable you feel about telling one of your fellow believers in this room that you love them? Is that weird? Is that crazy?
· Pat & Suzi
The bond of Christian fellowship is strong and it’s good and right to to express that verbally to a fellow believer. I trust there is someone in this room that needs to hear those words from you? Don’t force it or fake it. Be genuine. Be vulnerable. Be led by the Spirit. God can use your verbal expression of love to minister deeply to someone in this room. I know that there are many people in this room that need to know that God truly loves them and that they are truly loved by others. Someone needs to hear those words “I love you” before they leave today – may the Holy Spirit stir in hearts this morning so this verbal expression of love is spoken today.

2) “I forgive you.”

The words “I forgive you” are an expression of sacrificial love. Forgiveness is born out of sacrificial love – our deep affection and appreciation for someone compels us to make things right and pursue reconciliation – perhaps there is someone in your life you need to say these words to this week. Forgiveness is sacrificial love in action – a selfless act of putting aside your desire to hold something against someone – and releasing your right to hold that offense against them. I’m not going to dwell on this expression of love this morning because it’s part of our series. Next week Pastor Jake will be preaching on the call for us to “Forgive one another.”

3) Speak the truth

We find this verbal expression of sacrificial love in . Our unity and maturity as a church requires that we “speak the truth” in love. Truth and love are a good marriage. Typically we practice one without the other. Sometimes we care more about speaking truth than loving others—it’s truth served up cold without any love—“Billy, you’re a sorry excuse for a Christian and I don’t see any fruit in your life. God’s word says you must “be quick to listen, and slow to speak” and I want you to know you talk to much. You need to obey God and shut your mouth.” Sometimes wall we care about is loving one another we never speak truth—it’s love served up warm without any truth—“Paul, I love you man. I understand why you lied to your boss about the hours you worked. You deserve a break – you work too hard as it is – they don’t respect you so it’s okay to take off a little early. No one will know, and God wants you to be happy. We can’t separate “truth” and “love.” We must “speak the truth in love.”
· Personal encouragement – We appreciate it when someone speaks the truth in love in the form of personal encouragement. It’s uplifting when we received affirmation and are built up by others. How great it is to receive a “card” or “letter” that has words of personal encouragement—it’s a verbal expression of sacrificial love!
· Personal correction – Sometimes our verbal expression of love comes in the form of personal confrontation. One of the greatest expressions of our love for someone is in the form of correction—pointing out something that’s wrong in our lives—for says “Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” We correct our kids because we love them, the same should be true for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Do we really love one another if we won’t help them in this way? (Food in your teeth!) I know this scary. I know it takes courage. I know it will be beneficial for the entire family. We must ensure that the personal correction is done in love.
Let’s be a church family that expresses our sacrificial love for one another in word (verbally). In order to do this we must take the time to meet one another, spend time getting to know one another so that our “affection and appreciation” for one another grows deeper and deeper every day. Look around for a moment – who do you need to express your love for verbally this morning?

B) The Expression of Love - In Deed (Tangibly)

Secondly, we must express our sacrificial love for one another “In Deed” (Tangibly). We must consider the “tangible” expressions of sacrificial love—what can be felt—material expressions of sacrificial love that can be touched and experienced in very specific ways. We’ve already talked about the tangible expression of love through “hugs” and “high fives.” We know those can freak out people as we invade their personal space (we need to be patient and sensitive) to others instead of mugging them with holy hugs! Today I want us to consider two other tangible expressions of sacrificial love highlighted in God’s word.

1) Humble Acts of Service ()

First we can express our sacrificial love for one another through “Humble Acts of Service.” Jesus modeled this when He washed the disciples feet—“He loved His own in the world and He loved them to the end.” We can do the same for one another! Now before you start taking your shoes and socks off, washing someone’s feet was a common act of service in the first century culture, but the washing of each other’s feet isn’t the typical/acceptable way we serve one another in our culture. We must express our love for one another through any humble acts of service. We must live out . Let’s look out for the interests of others first by serving them.
· Sitting in the front row when it’s crowded
· Serve in the nursery
· Change someone’s oil
· Babysit for free
· Meals for sick/loss of loved one
· Other
Let’s be a church that expresses our sacrificial love for one another through “Humble Acts of Service.”

2) Meeting a Material Need ()

Secondly, you can tangibly express your sacrificial love for one another by “Meeting a Material Need.” “Meeting a Material Need.” Take your Bible and turn to (Read ) John’s letter reminds us that we’re called to love our brother—in fact our love for one another as fellow believers is proof that we’ve been saved by God’s love and possess the promise of eternal life—and our love for one another is demonstrated and expressed by meeting material needs in the family. Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for us is a model for us, we must lay down our own lives for one another, and we express our love for one another through sacrificial what we have to care for others. If we possess adequate resources and see a fellow brother lacking the basic needs of life—food, clothing, & shelter but close our hearts and refuse to help—it calls into question the presence of God’s love in our hearts as well as the reality of our love for our fellow Christians. We can’t just say “I love you” verbally, we must express it tangibly, by meeting the material needs of our fellow believers through sacrificial generosity. We have to put our money where mouth is. You don’t truly love your fellow Christian, if you won’t help them in their time of need.
· Crisis/Job Loss – housing or meal
· Clothes passed on, diapers
· Other?
We must express our love for one another by Meeting a Material Need.” We must be like Jesus, who saw us in desperate need and sacrificed His own life so that we could live, and we must do the same for one another as an expression of our love for them.
CONCLUSION
Refresh
Countless songs have been written about “Love” – I trust you have your favorite! We all long to love and be loved by someone. We celebrate God’s amazing love for us – He loves us so much He saved us through Jesus’ finished work on the Cross – reconciling us to Himself and to ONE ANOTHER. God has poured out His love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit so that we might “Love One Another.”
· Let’s begin to Love ONE ANOTHER
· Let’s continue to Love ONE ANOTHER
May our lives be lived “Loving One Another” – in Word and in Deed – this expression of love will not only satisfy the deep longing of our souls, it will also declare to the world that we are followers of Jesus!
Pray
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