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All About Love
Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” - Mark 12:28
By the numbers:
The Pharisees in Jesus’ day identified
• 613 commands in the Bible, each divided into subcommands
• Just one of the commands had 39 subcommands
• Within those 39 were 1,500 more rules
• And this is just for one of the 613 commands!
• This added up to thousands of extra rules
Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31
“All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:40
Jesus is quoting two of his favorite verses: Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.
Everything changes when love for God is my…
- Core
“…with all your heart…”
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders. Deuteronomy 33:12
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children
of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a
The most important thing you can know is that
The most important thing you can do is
- Core
“…with all your soul…”
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water… because your love is better than life. Psalm 63:1,3
- Core
“…with all your mind…”
I pray… that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted
and grounded in love, will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend
the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to experience
this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of
God. Ephesians 3:17-19
- Core
“…with all your strength…”
Love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10
This week, throughout each day, pray this simple prayer:
“
QUESTIONS
For personal reflection or group discussion
Read Mark 12:29-34. What does Jesus say are the two most important commands
in the Bible?The teacher of the law says to love God and others is more important
than what? Today we don’t do burnt offerings and sacrifices anymore, so fill
in the blank for our times: Loving God and others is more important than:Read 1 John 4:19 and Deuteronomy 33:12. Do you think most people struggle with really believing God loves them? Why? What could change if you truly believed and could say, without reservation, “I am the beloved of God”?
- What can distract you from loving God? How could you stay better focused on loving God? What do you need to change so you can better focus on loving God?
THIS WEEKEND: ADVENTURES IN PARENTING
Sunday 3/2 11am Parents, join us for a time of connection and equipping with practical encouragement and biblical wisdom. Next weekend we’re tackling adolescence and spiritual formation! More info at tlc.org/parentadventure
NEXT WEEKEND: THE WORD BIBLE CONFERENCE
Saturday 3/8 9am-3:30pm: Seminars and Q&A
Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, Oxford and Aberdeen Universities
“Why Trust the Bible?”
Dr. Mike Licona, Professor, Houston Christian University
“Why Are There Differences in the Gospels?” “What Does it Mean That the Bible is Inspired?”
Dr. Dominick Hernandez, Talbot Seminary
“Making Sense of the Old Testament Prophetic Books”
Dr. Carol Kaminski, Gordon-Conwell Seminary
“The Bible: One Story That Leads to Jesus”
Dr. Gerry Breshears, Western Seminary
“What Does it Mean to Believe the Bible is Wholly True?”
Register at tlc.org/theword
IN TWO WEEKS: MEMBERSHIP CLASS
If you’re considering making TLC your home, this fun class is for you! Join us Sunday 3/16, 12:15-1:45pm. Sign up at tlc.org/membership
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