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Love. Christians are being accused of being hateful What does it mean to love people? What is Biblical LOVE?. Week 1. God is love. Jesus said “Love God and love people.” We are made in the image of God All have sinned Something deep within us changed, soured, poisoned
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Love • Christians are being accused of being hateful • What does it mean to love people? • What is Biblical LOVE?
Week 1 • God is love. • Jesus said “Love God and love people.” • We are made in the image of God • All have sinned • Something deep within us changed, soured, poisoned • I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do... Romans 7:15 • 1 Cor 3:8 Love is patient and Love is kind
Week 2 The first crime- Cain killed Abel ; Jealous Love is not jealous or envious or boastful or proud
Week 3 • 5 Love is... never haughty or selfish or rude. • Love is not... • Full of yourself • About the spotlight • Acting like a jerk Love is about Seeking the benefit for others Letting others shine Filled with graciousness • Gentlemanly- Respectful and honoring
My way or the highway • Love does not demand it's own way: Living Bible • Greek interlinear • “Love... does not reckon things her(it)self.”
“True love is ever unselfish. Where self is at the center, that is neither the way nor the spirit of love. The greatest souls our world has ever known, or ever can know, have always been those who lived for others. Paul was anxious that in Corinth the fellowship should be real and helpful, that the communion of the members with God through Christ might give to them fullness of life and a foretaste of heaven. Where love is. Heaven is; for where love is. God is! God is love. And that love is revealed supremely in One who loved us and gave himself for us. To all his followers of every age, and in all the churches, he has left an example, that we should follow in His steps.” Interpreters Bible
What does it mean to NOT demand my own way • Live for others • There is real fellowship • Heaven is. God is.
Love lives for others • Love does not live in a cocoon. • Walls create the opposite of love • Walls create a “sense” of safety • Love is not surrounding yourself with others, it is serving others • Love is risky • Where is our sense of risk?
Love causes real fellowship • Real fellowship is a spiritual connection with another member of the body of Christ • Cannot go deeply with 100s of people • Bible study group • Knowledge of scripture • People to share the journey with • Men's group - Odd Men Out • Prayer partners • Who am I really? • Choose someone NOT like you
Where love is; God is. (Heaven is) • The Church, when it is at it's best, is the truest picture we have of heaven • The ministry of “Building Community” • Setting the stage for spiritual connection to happen • Meals • Hoe Downs/ Picnics • “Where is it written?” • “How goes your walk?” • Holy moments; connections involving the Holy
So What? • When you feel unloved ask yourself if you are investing yourself in the lives of others. • When you are with Christians, do you set the stage for real fellowship to come about? Or do you remain aloof? Hidden behind your masks! • What about depth of relationship scares you? • When was the last time you really felt the presence of God? How did you experience love in that moment?