"I will run... for you have…" - Psalm 119:32 (NIV)

"I will run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free" - Psalm 119:32 (NIV)

Mark 1: A Disciple loves God passionately Mark 2: A Disciple loves the Word of God

Mark 3: A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life Mark 4: A Disciple gives up in order to gain

Mark 5: A Disciple loves like God…

Mark 5: A Disciple loves like God… Love your enemies…

"I hate really don't like…"

Pretends to be your friend Starts the rumor that keeps you from being promoted

Bullies your son or daughter Till they try to end it

Hits a woman

Hits a woman Terrorizes the kids

In-Law who constantly makes you feel like garbage

"Love your enemies…"?

Mark 5: A Disciple loves like God… Why does it matter? Reflecting God glorifies God

Church is the body of Christ The visible representation Of Christ upon the earth

Church is the body of Christ The visible representation Of Christ upon the earth What people see in us Is what they know of Jesus

How we treat one another

How we treat one another How we treat those outside the Family

How we treat one another How we treat those outside the Family How we treat our enemies

Jesus tell his church…

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” - John 13:34-35 (LGLP) Context: Dirty Feet!

Mark 5: A Disciple loves Like God It empowers our Purpose and Mission

"I'm trying to love her…"

"I'm trying to love her…" "I just don't love you anymore…"

"I'm trying to love her…" "I just don't love you anymore…" "I just love you SO MUCH right now"

God's Love is not Emotion-based

God's Love= Agape: Selfless vs. "What's in it for me?" Unconditional vs. "Don't screw up" Sacrificing vs. "Not if it costs me" God's Love= Agape: Selfless vs. "What's in it for me?" Unconditional vs. "Don't screw up" Sacrificing vs. "Not if it costs me"

God's Love comes from Who he is And is proved by What he has committed to

God's Love comes from Who he is And is proved by What he has committed to For God so loved the world…

Our Love for People Comes from God Our Love for People Comes from God We love because he first loved us

I can only love people as God intended If I love God as Christ provided I can only love people as God intended If I love God as Christ provided We love because he first loved us

Only if I know God Can I love others like God Implications for all relationships Selfless, Unconditional, Sacrificial

I only love God If I love people I only love God If I love people If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen - 1 John 4:19-20

God wants more for you Than you want for you Love beyond your capabilities

A Zealot and a Tax Collector Walk into a Bar

A Zealot and a Tax Collector Walk into a Bar What changed? Emotions and Convictions?

A Zealot and a Tax Collector Walk into a Bar What changed? Emotions and Convictions? Love beyond their capabilities

God wants more through you For your world Than you can possibly conceive His love working through you

Why does it matter if I love like God loves? Because God wants to do more In this Valley Than is currently being done

Mark 5: A Disciple loves Like God

How Does God Love? Working Definition:

Love is not an emotion But a decision of the will

Love is not an emotion But a decision of the will To serve people According to their needs

Love is not an emotion But a decision of the will To serve people According to their needs Whether they deserve it or not Even if it means sacrifice

Jesus is God's Love In Action

I can act without loving I cannot love without acting

“If you love me, you will obey what I command…Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me… He who does not love me will not obey my teaching - Jesus, John 14:15, 21, 24

Love for God Is not words or even emotions But action

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome - I John 5:3

Love means action Obeying God by Faith

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went.

And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you" - Matthew 21:28-21

Talking the talk is American Walking the walk is Christian

Jesus constantly exposes The hypocrisy of people Who claim to have received God's love Yet refuse to show love To people made in his image

A Jew and a Samaritan Never walk into the same bar…

Half-breeds (Jew and Babylonian) Not allowed to worship in synagogues Prayers asking God To not grant forgiveness

A lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Just like us…

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead…

Now by chance a priest was going down that road,

Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side…

So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him,

So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Reasons are never excuses

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was,

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Out of God's blessings To a man who hates him

Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” Proved to be a neighbor = showed love

He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise” - Luke 10:25-37

In Christ My love must lead to action AND… I give up the right To decide who I will love

Who do I hate? Do I have that right?

Does that mean I have the emotion of love Towards them?

Mark 5: A Disciple loves Like God

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray (action) for those who persecute you… How do you love? Pray for…

…so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise (action) on the evil and on the good, and sends rain (action) on the just and on the unjust. How does God love? Blesses.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet (action) only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect - Jesus, Matthew 5:43-48 I glorify God by giving up the right To choose who I will love And instead, serve

But I don't love him I don't love her I'm angry and feel no love whatsoever

You aren't responsible to program your emotions You ARE responsible to: Forgive Weed out bitterness Serve according to needs

Mark 5: A Disciple loves Like God

How? Start with knowing God

How? - Serve fellow believers- no excuses - Serve family- even when you don't feel like it - Treat unbelievers well - Seek the best for everyone

How would this kind of love change your world?

How would this kind of love change their perception of Christ and his Church?

How does this kind of love empower our Purpose (glorify God) and Mission (make disciples)?

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect - Jesus, Matthew 5:43-48

"I will run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free" - Psalm 119:32 (NIV)