The Priority of People
Let’s Talk About It
September 1, 2024
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
You’ll prioritize people when you have the right perspective on yourself
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. —Romans 12:3
1.) YOU ARE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. —Romans 12:4-8
2.) YOU CAN’T FOLLOW JESUS BY YOURSELF
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
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. —Romans 12:9-12
3.) YOU ARE CALLED TO DIE TO YOURSELF
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” —Matthew 16:24-25
“Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth ‘thrown in’: aim at Earth and you will get neither. —C.S. Lewis
13aShare with the Lord’s people who are in need
13bPractice Hospitality
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16a Live in harmony with one another.
16b Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. —Romans 12:13-16