LOVE & PEOPLE

Bruce Chant

generation-j

19.October.2001

Intro.

What would happen if I died right in front you, on the spot?

What would happen if a fly just ran out steam and died over there?

Your reactions would be different – why because human life is valued more greatly than animal life, or plant life or bacteria life…

You did not evolve from a germ – you were hand crafted and created uniquely by God. You are valuable because of God, because you carry God’s image stamp it says in
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

So how valuable are people?

1. Luke 19:10
“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.’

That is how valuable.

Why did Jesus come to earth? To seek out and to save lost people from sin and the hopelessness of this life and to save them from eternal death.

People are valued so much Jesus came for them, for you and me.

If your sunglasses are lost – does that mean they are worth less just because they are under your car seat?

The two dollars you lost down the back of the couch – is that worth less because it is lost? No – their value is the same as those who aren’t lost.

Do you see Non-christians as valuable? Do you show them the loveJesus has shown you?

2. The Great Command
Our instruction is clear.

John 13:34 – “love one another as I have loved you… by this all men will know that you are my disciples”.

John 13:1 – “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love. .” – His death on the cross.

Love isn’t all about weak at the knees, warm and fuzzies, roses and chocolates.

Love is active. Love is seen. Love is demonstrated. Love is about showing you want the very best for someone, regardless of what that means, regardless of what it costs and regardless of what that person wants.

Eg if someone is drowning – what do you do? You jump in and pull them out. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to get wet, it doesn’t matter if it’ll make you late, it doesn’t matter if they wanted to “keep swimming”. You do those things because that is what love does.

That is why Jesus said – The reason I came here was to show all the lost people out there – I love them. If you wanted to join my team, follow me, and help me, then you do that too.

3. What is love? 1 Cor 13.

Galatians 5:13… “The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."” – simple. Just do that.

But how? What does it look like to love one another? I don’t get it?

This is what is looks like to love one another.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“⁴Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. ⁶It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.⁸Love never fails”

Patient: Defined – “enduring difficult situation with an even temper”. When you get ripped off or a raw deal – its your chance to show love by being patient. People will notice that more than how “unfair” it was.

Kind: Defined - “considerate, helpful, friendly”. Want to see your friend saved?
Be kind à “kindness leads to repentence” Romans 2:4

Not jealous: it is never greener on the other side. Don’t covet what someone else has going in their life. Be happy for them. I know people who if their friend gets a better job or shoes or something they crack a sad – love says “good on ya! I’m happy for you!

Not Boastful: UDL know it all ad – no one likes these people. They are annoying. If you’re going to boast boast about God.

Not Proud: God gives grace to the humble. Humility is the way to go. Don’t always seek to elevate yourself – try elevating other people.

Not Rude: rudeness either comes from a dirty mind or a proud heart. A proud heart says God stuffed up on you – we know that God values everyone equally. Speaking positively, whatever is of “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things” Phil 4:8

Not self seeking: love isn’t about me, it about others. Love is always outward. 1 John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” Understand this and when we are stable in knowing God’s love – then we can show it to others.

Not easily angered: Easily angered = selfish. Getting angry easily is mainly about you (there is also righteous anger). Someone is deliberately ruining your life. Love lets it slide.

Keeps no record of wrongs: big one! I remember in year 4 so and so did this… Love doesn’t hold grudges. Love forgives. When Jesus forgave on the cross Colossians 2:15 says it “disarmed the powers of satan” forgiveness is love and is powerful.

Doesn’t delight in evil: Love is the opposite to evil. God is love – he does not orchestrate evil eg twin towers.

Rejoices in the Truth: loving people know how to rejoice, party enjoy themselves have a great time – God’s looking for that too. “where your treasure is there your heart will be too”. Your heart will leap to what it loves. If you have a love for the truth then you will get excited by it. Love is being real and honest with people. Truthful – not an undercover agent.

Always Protects: Love wants to protect God’s name. But also protects friends from hurt. You want to protect them so you try and keep them from sleeping around , smoking drugs etc.

Always trusts: love trusts because we know we can trust God. We believe He’ll be there for us. He will “work all thing together for good”.

Always Hopes: Love hopes that things can and will change. The beliefs, thoughts and actions of others – will change, circumstances will change. Keep your hope in God.

Always Perserveres: love perserveres to see the lost people saved. Goes with the first one (patience) – the two book ends.

LOVE NEVER FAILS.

Like a sporting champion who always comes thru Love will never let you down!

Peter Matera, Ian Thorpe, Michael Jordan – Love will not fail you.

Keep applying it and you’ll see lives changed.

Response.

Next week – superhero.

Let’s make it friends night. Bring your friends along. We’re going to make a huge effort to make them welcome. To hang out with them and they can see we’re really quite cool.

Commitment to this – if you do one thing for God for the rest of this year (73 days to go) do something that impacts some lost people. Do this… COMMIT TO BRINGING AT LEAST ONE PERSON HERE NEXT WEEK.

We want a huge atmosphere here next week – plenty of bodies. All sorts of friends.

We build this thing by you guys doing the small things – loving people – and in this week stepping out and bringing them along.

That’s the challenge –who will commit?