1. PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
WELCOME TO THE
JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST

2. Romans 12:14-21 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse
Romans 12:14-21  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20  Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

3. LOVE TOWARD ALL

4. LOVE TOWARD ALL
Last week we spoke of "Love of the Brethren"... (Rom. 12:9-13).
Before we can ever cultivate a love for others, we must first cultivate a love for our brethren. - 1 John 4: If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
In verses 14-21, Paul shows the dedicated Christian's view toward the people of the world. (Those of unlike faith, love, thoughts, priorities, cares, etc.).
This is an area of life that also has to be worked into our lives.
Let's see how Paul instructed the Roman Church to love "ALL MEN".

5. LOVE BLESSES ITS PERSECUTORS - v. 14
LOVE BLESSES ITS PERSECUTORS - v "BLESS THOSE THAT PERSECUTE YOU; BLESS AND DO NOT CURSE."

6. LOVE BLESSES ITS PERSECUTERS - v. 14
This is a principle throughout the Bible. - Matthew 5:10-11 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Love rather than retaliate. - Matthew 5:38-42  "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39  But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42  Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

7. LOVE BLESSES ITS PERSECUTERS - v. 14
We will suffer persecution. - II Tim. 3:12 - "Yea, and all that would live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
Why should we love them?
Because they are lost in sin - bound for HELL.
Because they are of the same value in God's eyes that we are. (created in the image of God).
Because the world will never see our love if we don't.
Because it is commanded of God.
Because there may be a lot of talent useful to God's kingdom in these people.

8. II. LOVE IS INTERESTED IN OTHERS - v. 15
II. LOVE IS INTERESTED IN OTHERS - v "REJOICE WITH THEM THAT REJOICE; WEEP WITH THEM THAT WEEP."

9. II. LOVE IS INTERESTED IN OTHERS - v. 15
Rejoice with them.
Genuine happiness for the success of others, even when you are not doing good yourself.
Pride destroys our ability to LOVE. It wants us to try and destroy others to keep ourselves looking good.
Weep with them. Love shows it's interest in others by sharing in their grief.
Do good to all. - Galatians 6:10  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

10. III. LOVE SEEKS POINTS OF AGREEMENT - v. 16a
III. LOVE SEEKS POINTS OF AGREEMENT - v. 16a... "BE OF THE SAME MIND TOWARD ONE ANOTHER."

11. III. LOVE SEEKS POINTS OF AGREEMENT - v. 16a
Our background wants us to seek differences.
This usually brings about an argument.
The best way to study with another person about something you differ on, is to start with something you agree on.
Paul in Athens - Acts 17:22-23  Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23  for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:

12. III. LOVE SEEKS POINTS OF AGREEMENT - v. 16a
Paul to Philemon - Philemon 1:4-7  I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5  hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6  that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7  For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
Christians of all people must be able to get along with all men.

13. IV. LOVE REJECTS EFFORTS AT SUPERIORITY - v. 16b
IV. LOVE REJECTS EFFORTS AT SUPERIORITY - v. 16b... "DO NOT SET YOUR MIND ON HIGH THINGS, BUT ASSOCIATE WITH THE HUMBLE, DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN OPINION."

14. IV. LOVE REJECTS EFFORTS AT SUPERIORITY - v. 16b
Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Luke 22:24-26  Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25  And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' 26  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
Philippians 2:3-4  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

15. V. LOVE REFUSES REVENGE – v. 17-19… “REPAY NO ONE EVIL FOR EVIL
V. LOVE REFUSES REVENGE – v … “REPAY NO ONE EVIL FOR EVIL. HAVE REGARD FOR GOOD THINGS IN THE SIGHT OF ALL MEN. 18  IF IT IS POSSIBLE, AS MUCH AS DEPENDS ON YOU, LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN. 19  BELOVED, DO NOT AVENGE YOURSELVES, BUT RATHER GIVE PLACE TO WRATH; FOR IT IS WRITTEN, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," SAYS THE LORD.”

16. V. LOVE REFUSES REVENGE – v. 17-19
Repay no one evil for evil - 1 Thessalonians 5:15  See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
Jesus our example - 1 Peter 2:19-23  For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22  "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 23  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

17. V. LOVE REFUSES REVENGE – v. 17-19
Live Peaceably with all men - Hebrews 12:14-15  Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Vengeance belongs to God not us - Hebrews 10:30  For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." 

18. VI. LOVE RETURNS GOOD FOR EVIL - v. 20-21
VI. LOVE RETURNS GOOD FOR EVIL - v "THEREFORE "IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD." 21  DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD."

19. VI. LOVE RETURNS GOOD FOR EVIL - v. 20-21
Matthew 5:43-45  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Proverbs 25:21-22  If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22  For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And

20. VI. LOVE RETURNS GOOD FOR EVIL - v. 20-21
1 Peter 3:9  not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Overcome evil with good - We are to win them to Christ by doing good rather than evil.

21. YOUR LOVE TOWARD ALL MEN?
Has your life been filled with the proper love for all men?
The Christian's love is as important as any other area of salvation.
Matthew 22:36-40  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37  Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38  This is the first and great commandment. 39  And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

22. YOUR LOVE TOWARD ALL MEN?
Romans 13:8-10  Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9  For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10  Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

24. HAVE A LOVING WEEK