What's Love Got To Do With It?
Series: 40 Days of Love
April 5, 2009 (Palm Sunday)
Pastor Bill Bump
Luke 19:41
But as they came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, he began to cry.
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
MISSION STATEMENT: A CHRIST-CENTERED CHURCH
MAKING MORE AND BETTER DISCIPLES
WHAT IS A DISCIPLE? A DISCIPLE IS ONE WHO…
Loves God
Loves others
Loves self
So our ‘40 Days of Love’ campaign is just a starting point.
I. A DISCIPLE IS ONE WHO LOVES GOD
A. WE SEEK TO KNOW GOD INTIMATELY
Deuteronomy 6:4,5
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”
I Chronicles 16:11
Search for the Lord and for his strength, and keep on searching.
This implies motivation, direction and a life-changing transformation that accompanies this intimacy.
B. WE OBEY GOD WHOLEHEARTEDLY
Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.”
John 14:23
Jesus replied, “All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them.”
Joshua 24:14,15
“So honor the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly...But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve...But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
This includes putting down and putting up the things that God asks of us.
II. A DISCIPLE IS ONE WHO LOVES OTHERS
A. WE LOVE EXTRAVAGANTLY
John 13:34,35
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
I Corinthians 16:14
And everything you do must be done with love.
Romans 12:10
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
‘More’ is in our mission; loving extravagantly is one of the keys to fulfilling our mission.
B. WE SERVE SACRIFICIALLY
John 13:4,5
So he (Jesus) got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.
Ephesians 6:7
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Following Jesus is neither easy nor comfortable, but our sacrifice actually frees us to be more of who God made us to be.
III. A DISCIPLE IS ONE WHO LOVES SELF
A. WE MANAGE RESOURCES FAITHFULLY
We will never be in a position to love others fully if our own decisions have enslaved us.
To love ourselves involves managing our money, time, body, mind and relationships in a healthy manner. As we become better stewards, we are better able to love God and others.
Matthew 25:21
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”
B. WE PURSUE WISDOM DILIGENTLY
Psalm 111:10
Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him. Praise his name forever!
Proverb 4:7
“Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get good judgment.”
Wise decisions will affect every aspect of our lives and will enable us to better love God and others.
CONCLUSION:
MISSION STATEMENT: A CHRIST-CENTERED CHURCH
MAKING MORE AND BETTER DISCIPLES
