December 26, 2021
Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV) – The Great Commandments
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Jesus taught that LOVING GOD and OTHERS should be the primary purpose of our lives.
How to Love God and Others?
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
His Love for Me - We love because he first loved us (vs.19)
My Love for Him - We love God by Keeping His Commands (vs.3)
Our Love Others (vs.21)
In Dr. Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages, we learn that people express love in 5 different ways.
1. Quality Time
With God… Develop a Daily Quiet Time (John 15:4)
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Pray
Read the Bible
Meditate…Memorize…Apply
With Others…Belong to a Church (Hebrews 10:24-25)
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Attend Regularly to Worship
Encourage One Another…Get in a Grow Group
2. Words of Affirmation
Worship God (Psalm 100:4)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Encourage One Another (I Thessalonians 5:11)
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
3. Gifts
Grow in Giving and Generosity (1 Timothy 6:18)
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
4. Acts of Service
Find a Ministry to Serve In (I Corinthians 4:4-6)
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
5. Physical Touch
Showing Kindness for Others with a Meaningful Touch (1 Corinthians 16:20)
20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Greet one another warmly show we love and care for one another
Culturally we do this with a Handshake / Hug / Fist Bump
Conclusion:
Make this your Best Year Ever… Love More!
You can find our sermon-only series and full worship services on our Bear Creek Church Youtube Channel each week. Watch, like, subscribe, and get notifications.