The Church at Mesquite John

The Church at Mesquite Previous Considerations… If you are a Christian, Love has everything to do with it: You can love without being a Christian, but you can not be a Christian without loving. Love is the foundation of everything we do. We serve GOD because we Love HIM. We serve our brethren because we Love them. We serve our fellowman because we Love them.

The Church at Mesquite As we consider our individual Christianity and our congregation of Christians we do well to make sure that the effort we are giving in GOD’s name are sustained by Love.

The Church at Mesquite Love is: The foundation of every ministry we promote. The idea behind every dollar that we give. The spirit behind every song that we sing. The power behind every prayer that we pray. The essence of every meditation we experience. The gift of every Scripture we contemplate.

The Church at Mesquite Thus we have no choice but to conclude that as it relates to our Christianity: LOVE HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

The Church at Mesquite Considerations regarding John’s theology:  How he viewed GOD  How he viewed GOD’s relationship with man  How he viewed man’s necessary response to GOD

The Church at Mesquite John

The Church at Mesquite John Literary context

The Church at Mesquite John Literary context Longest discourse of JESUS’ last time with HIS disciples in the Gospels (13-17)

The Church at Mesquite John Literary context Longest discourse of JESUS’ last time with HIS disciples in the Gospels (13-17) Agape (noun version of Unconditional Love) and agapao (verb version of Unconditional Love) used 31 times in the discourse versus only 8 times in chapters 1-12

The Church at Mesquite John Vs. 1

The Church at Mesquite John Vs. 1 Full extent of HIS Love

The Church at Mesquite John Vs. 1 Full extent of HIS Love (from the Last Supper to Calvary)

The Church at Mesquite John Vs. 2-5

The Church at Mesquite John Vs. 2-5 JESUS washed HIS disciples feet

The Church at Mesquite John Vs. 2-5 JESUS washed HIS disciples feet Significant because washing feet was something a servant would do, disciples would do many things for their master or lord, but feet washing was specifically reserved for servants

The Church at Mesquite John Vs. 2-5 JESUS washed HIS disciples feet Consider John ; 29-34

The Church at Mesquite John Vs. 6-9

The Church at Mesquite John Vs. 6-9 Conversation between JESUS and Peter

The Church at Mesquite John Vs. 6-9 Conversation between JESUS and Peter Peter initially refuses to allow JESUS to wash his feet, yet understanding JESUS was teaching him necessary humility he submitted to JESUS washing his feet

The Church at Mesquite John Vs

The Church at Mesquite John Vs JESUS comments on the necessity of having one’s feet washed when the rest of them are clean and notes that their was an “unclean” elements among HIS disciples

The Church at Mesquite John Vs

The Church at Mesquite John Vs JESUS comments on the necessity of washing one another’s feet, which epitomizes HIS example

The Church at Mesquite Considerations regarding John’s theology:  How he viewed GOD  How he viewed GOD’s relationship with man  How he viewed man’s necessary response to GOD

The Church at Mesquite Considerations regarding John’s theology: How he viewed GOD? GOD is Love, and HIS Love causes HIM to be what HIS children need HIM to be.

The Church at Mesquite Considerations regarding John’s theology: How he viewed GOD’s relationship with man? GOD is so concerned about our human condition that he was willing to send a part of HIMself (HIS SON, who was GOD), to demonstrate how we are to serve one another.

The Church at Mesquite Considerations regarding John’s theology: How he viewed man’s necessary response to GOD? If GOD’s Love causes HIM to serve us then how much more should we be willing to serve one another?

The Church at Mesquite Reasons why we fail to serve:

The Church at Mesquite Reasons why we fail to serve: Ignorance

The Church at Mesquite Reasons why we fail to serve: Ignorance Pride

The Church at Mesquite Reasons why we fail to serve: Ignorance Pride Lack of Love

The Church at Mesquite Reasons why we fail to serve: Ignorance Pride Lack of Love Poor relationship with GOD

The Church at Mesquite The Fact of the Matter:

The Church at Mesquite The Fact of the Matter: Ignorance (JESUS)

The Church at Mesquite The Fact of the Matter: Ignorance (JESUS) Pride (JESUS)

The Church at Mesquite The Fact of the Matter: Ignorance (JESUS) Pride (JESUS) Lack of Love (JESUS)

The Church at Mesquite The Fact of the Matter: Ignorance (JESUS) Pride (JESUS) Lack of Love (JESUS) Poor relationship with GOD (JESUS)

The Church at Mesquite Our necessary response to GOD’s Love:

The Church at Mesquite Our necessary response to GOD’s Love: If we plan to be what GOD called us to be, and if we plan to Love like GOD Loves us, we must make sure that we are willing to serve one another like JESUS was willing to serve us.

The Church at Mesquite Our necessary response to GOD’s Love: When we begin to Love people in this manner, serving one another, GOD will be able to make a difference in our lives as HE works through our service.

The Church at Mesquite Our necessary response to GOD’s Love: Such service will also spill into our commitment to make a difference in the lives of those that do not know CHRIST yet.

The Church at Mesquite Our necessary response to GOD’s Love: When the church begins to do this, then we will be able to have the impact on society that JESUS called for us to have (cf. Matt ).

The Church at Mesquite Our necessary response to GOD’s Love: We are: Kingdom Builders Disciples of CHRIST Christians Believers People of “The Way” People of Faith Lovers of men

The Church at Mesquite Our necessary response to GOD’s Love: We are NOT: People who look to be served as if we are any better than them…

The Church at Mesquite