Re:Love
Imagine…
Free! Lighter! Unburdened!
2 Things: Love carries an eraser Love gives up control
To love is to Open yourself up to hurt
To love is to Open yourself up to hurt - People can betray, hurt, stab (at all levels)
Not alone
Betrayed
Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him - Matt. 26:47-49
Denied
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter - Luke 22:60-61
Rejected
…they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
“Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”
Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” - Matt 27: 16-18, 21-22
Less than a week before…
…the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" - Matt. 21:8-10
Knives in the back Betrayal Two-faced hypocrites
"Love keeps no record of wrongs" - 1 Cor. 13
Mental list: - Brought up when we argue
Mental list: - Held against you
Mental list: - Paying the price for what someone else did!
Jesus responds…
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” - Luke 23:34
If anyone had a reason To hold a grudge…
Love carries a big eraser
Eraser= I don't get to play God And hold grudges
The walls I build around myself because of one person Put distance between me and every other person
Love carries a big eraser "Love keeps no record of wrongs" - 1 Cor. 13 Love carries a big eraser "Love keeps no record of wrongs" - 1 Cor. 13
The grace we've received Forms the basis for The grace we give
God made him who had no sin to become sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God - 2 Cor. 5:21
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him - John 3:17
The grace we've received Forms the basis for The grace we give
Love carries a big eraser "Love keeps no record of wrongs" - 1 Cor. 13 Love carries a big eraser "Love keeps no record of wrongs" - 1 Cor. 13
Changes Everything: - Relationships are no longer controlled by the past
Changes Everything: - I relinquish the right To become your Judge (while proclaiming my own Righteousness)
Changes Everything: - I experience forgiveness As I give forgiveness
Changes Everything: - I tear down my walls and open myself up to real love
Free! Lighter! Unburdened!
Does not mean: I turn my back to the knife Over and over again
Love: Carries an eraser Gives up control
Basis of the Faith: - Creation - Fall - Redemption - Restoration
Because of Creation Everyone deserves respect
Because of the Fall None of us gets to Look down on the rest of us
Because of Redemption There's hope for all of us
Because of Redemption There's hope for all of us (Even your Evil-incarnate boss…)
Because of Restoration No one gets to control Someone else
Relationships: - Be like me - Like what I like - Adopt my politics
Marriage: You're the one I fell in love with Now…become what I think you should be!
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear - Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear - Eph. 4:29
…let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - Heb. 10:24-15
Encourage one another daily - Heb. 3:13
"I want to make you What I think you should be" - I'm perfect - I know what you should be - I'm going to be God in your life
"I want to encourage you To become all that God created you to be" - I'm not perfect - I accept you as you are - I'm going to encourage God in your life
Changes Everything: - I'm set free to encourage
Changes Everything: - You're set free to become
Changes Everything: - Our relationship becomes Mutual encouragement rather than Controlling and Manipulative
Changes Everything: - Our differences become a strength rather than a weakness
Love carries an eraser Love gives up control
How?
How? Jesus is life-changing Before he's example-setting
Announcements…
Wed Study, 7 PM
Eat!