God Wants me to Love THEM?
Notes
Transcript
Opening & Intro
Opening & Intro
What is the meaning of life?
This is a question we, as Christians have the answer to.
It is stated very clearly near the beginning of the Bible.
Check this out
Genesis 2:18
And Genesis 1:27 & 31
IF we take these two accounts and look at them together we know that the only thing in all of creation that wasn’t good was for the man to be alone.
Also everything was called good by God until he made Male AND Female.
We are designed to be in relationship with God and each other.
Does this mean EVERYONE?
No. But we have to remember that Every life has value and it should be our goal to be in relationship when possible.
We are made in God’s image.
God created families, marriage, sex and commitment. All things we will be looking at over the next 3 or 4 weeks.
This week is focus on relationships in general. Why we have them and why we need them.
Main Point
Main Point
We are designed to be in relationships.
Why Does It Matter?
Why Does It Matter?
If we aren’t in relationships then we are not living to our fullest potential.
This is especially true if we called ourselves Christ followers or Christians.
Scripture
Scripture
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
8 - Get rid of unhealthy habbits and reactions
9 - Don't tell lies you are better than that now!
10 - You are made new by God Himself
11 - We are all human nothing more nothing less
12 - If you are going to call yourselves God's people, you need to act like it.
When we accept the truth of our relationship with Jesus we are supposed to be changed.
It doesn’t always happen over night but we should have a desire to grow.
That desire SHOULD change our behaviours and habbits.
Especially if I am going to call myself a Christian. As stated in verse 12.
13 - We are family. Deal with problems and forgive like God has forgiven us. All the flack God takes is because of us.
The Lord’s prayer literally says forgive us our Debts as we forgive our debtors...
14 - Love is what holds EVERYTHING together
Hippy time - we should see everything through a lens of God’s love.
15 - Let Christ rule your life because that is what we are called to do
16 - Learn and grow together. No one is perfect except the one who makes us perfect. We need to help each other.
17 - Everything we do needs to be in Jesus' name!
Forgivness
What is it
Who is it for
Should we ALWAYS forgive?
What’s too much (Luke 23:32-34)
The New International Version Chapter 23
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Jesus was dying...
We are told in Epesians 5:1 and 2
The New International Version Chapter 5
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God
Why?
Because all humans are image bearers and worthy of grace.
Application
Application
So what do we do with this?
sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry
These hateful things have no place in our lives.
Because the only create pain and shame and God wants us to live free from that.
Next steps
Pray for wisdom in how to move forward and to identify any issues we need to deal with.
Closing
Closing
Then we need to allow Jesus to be lord of our lives and live lives of love the way he has commanded.