Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.
Our Vision: To Love , Love , Serve .
What’s the Greatest Commandment according to Jesus? with all your heart…and Love your neighbor as yourself.
Dt. 6:1-5 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
The New Testament was written in Greek, which has four words for love:
— Assumed among family members
— Dedicated friendship
— Sexual attraction lover love
— God(ly) love; includes self-sacrifice for others who aren’t even friends or family
or “Heart” = Your WILL PLUS YOUR FEELINGS.
We are the of Christ! So Christ loves us, cherishes us, sacrifices for us…just as we are called to do in return to God.
Gary Smalley said, “Love is a . Not always an easy one.”
SO: Here are some obstacles to this command, and some solutions:
- including
- Confess, turn, repent, and obey
- Worship!
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- Thank God continually!
- Journal blessings, and thank God directly and to others
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- Contemplate your own death.
- Commit to church and worship (submission, community); Worship!
- Complexities of the Bible
- Get some help! A group, a study Bible, commentaries, online studies
- Bible study with mentor(s)
- Other “Christians” hurt us.
- Look at the heroes of the New Testament: It happened to THEM!
- Confess, turn, forgive, and try again…wisely…
- Unsatisfying prayer experiences and other frustration with God
- Worship in Community
- Contemplate the complexities of the world – all the possibilities of what God is doing, what the ancient Christians have written about
- Pray in the Spirit, in tongues, etc.
“LOVE the lord (boss / master) with all your heart…!”
Discussion Questions:
- What do you really, really, REALLY love?
- How can you tell?
- Who / what really loves you? And how can you tell?
READ: Matthew 22:36-40; and Dt. 6:1-5
- How did Jesus’ disciples (eventually?) show Jesus that they loved Him?
- How is God calling you to respond to Him these days?
- How might you serve and sacrifice for God this week?
PRAYER: “God, help us to understand you and your love as best we can this week, and help me to think of you and express my love to you better this week than I did this past week. I love you Lord.”