
Sunday, January 21, 2024
DESTINATION 2024: Love One Another
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” —John 13:34-35
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” —Matthew 22:37-40
If we are going to be successful in loving the family of God we must …
CONSIDER BEING A
OF THE FAMILY OF GOD!
–To me it just makes sense if you are going to Love the Family of God why wouldn’t you want to be a part of The Family of God.
–Many of you attending our church on a regular basis perhaps are a member of a church in a different part of the country or different city or perhaps you have never joined a local New Testament Church.
–What good is your membership going to do you off somewhere? You most likely cannot attend services and you cannot support the ministries.
–If you are not a member of this local New Testament church, then I hope you understand I or our church can provide no Spiritual Protection for you and your family.
17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. —Hebrews 13:17 (TLT)
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. —Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)
–There are three ways you can become a member of this local assembly:
—-First, if you have been scripturally baptized in another Baptist church, you simply can transfer your membership from that church to ours and that brings you under the authority of this Church.
—-Secondly, if you have made a profession of faith but have never been scripturally baptized, then presenting yourself as a candidate for baptism and submitting to baptism allow you to become a member of our church.
—-Finally, if you have been baptized in a Baptist Church and that church is no longer in existence or if they do not keep records, we take you by statement – that is you state you have been baptized by the authority of a Baptist Church.
If we are going to be successful in loving the family of God, we must …
OUR PERSPECTIVE
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” —John 13:34-35
1.
OUR PURSUITS
–It is important we take our eyes off ourselves and put them on others.
–We need to come to the conclusion our purpose in this life is not primarily about acquiring personal possessions, attaining status, achieving success or even experiencing happiness.
2. CONSIDER OUR LIFE’S
–What should our lives be about?
–The Bible tells us God is love.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. —I John 4:8
–And God wants you to become more like Him.
34c As I have loved you, so you must love one another. —John 13:34c
–Jesus indicated life is about love and developing relationships—with God and others.
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” —Matthew 22:37-40
3. THE
PROBLEM
–Here is the problem: God-like Love (Agape) is unnatural for us.
–We often do what is in our own best interest, often without any regard for how it affects others.
–Self-centeredness is the root of practically every problem—both personally and globally.
4. WHAT IS
LOVE?
–Real “Godly” (Agape’) love is placing the needs of others before your own.
–It means to love sacrificially and unconditionally.
–Although love can create intense feelings (Eros), Agape’ love is not a feeling. It is a choice! (We will examine this more intently next week.)
–Real God-like Agape’ love focuses on how I can serve you, not how you can serve me.
–We must retrain ourselves to think and act in loving ways.
5.
LINE
34c As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
—John 13:34c
–Jesus asks us to love others the way He loves us.
–You say that is impossible! Then why did He ask us to do it?
–It is possible. Not saying it is difficult.
–So how can you love others as He loved us?
—-Be willing to forgive their faults.
—-Speak kind words to them.
—-Encourage them when they need encouraging.
—-Season your conversation with love.
—-Be willing to go out of your way for others.
–These are just a few ways we can express our love for others.
–Allow God to direct you to expressing your love for the Family of God this week.
LIVE IT OUT
–Are you a part of this Local New Testament Body of Christ?
–If not, what do you need to do to become a member of Cameron?
–How can you concretely demonstrate your love for others of the Family of God?