Life in Christ,  Likeminded, Living as Children of God, Looking at Jesus, Looking at the fields, Lostness of man, Christ’s love, God’s love,  Grow & mature in love,  Love as God loves,  Focus Love

CHRIST’S LOVE – II Cor 5:14-21

  1. Compelling love- to action
  2. Sacrificial love- giving
  3. Substitutionary love- taking the place- ‘on behalf of’
  4. Selfless love- about others, Christ centered
  5. Spiritual love- inward, perceptions different.
  6. Transforming love- ‘ all new’
  7. Reconciling love- making peace
  8. Pleading/ Imploring love- proclaiming, calling, inviting.

GROW & MATURE IN LOVE:- I John 4:1-21

BE PERFECTED IN LOVE : I John 4:7-12

THE FRUITS OF LOVE:

  1. Regeneration vs 7
  2. Spiritual knowledge vs 7,8
  3. God’s gift received vs 9
  4. Propitiation/ peace made vs 10
  5. Brotherly love/ exchange vs 11
  6. Divine presence vs 12
  7. Divine perfection vs 12
  8. Witness of the Holy Spirit vs 13
  1. Continue in love by obeying Jn 15:9,10 Heb 13:1
  2. Increase : I Thess 3:12
  3. Abound : I Thess 4:10
  4. Walk : Eph 5:2
  5. Be fervent : I Pe 1:22, 4:8 (deeply)
  6. Be Unfeigned : II Cor 6:6, Ro 12:9 (sincere)
  7. Be perfected : I Jn 4:18

The test of:-

  1. True discipleship : Jn 13:35
  2. Genuine service : Jn 21:16
  3. Speech : I Cor 13:1
  4. New life : I Jn 3:14
  5. Love to God : I Jn 4:20

LOVE AS GOD LOVES :- I Jn 3:10-24 (Key vs 16)

        Human Love 

  1. Unholy- vs 10-children of men-

       Gen 6

  1.  Evil/ wicked –vs 12-Cain –

Gen 4:8

  1. Dead/ lifeless-vs 14-death-

I Sam 20:27

  1. Kills- vs 15- hatred- II Sam 11:13
  2. Selfish- vs 17-inactive-Ma 25:41
  3. False- vs 18- liplove Ez 33:31

  God’s standard –Jesus (vs 16)

1.      Sacrificial-vs 16-Jn 15:14

2.      Need meeting-vs 17-Jn 11:5

3.      Active- vs 18-Jn 10:11,15

4.      Heartful-vs 19,20-Jn 13,Col3:23

5.      Obedient- vs 22-Phil 2:8

6.      Faithful-vs 23- Heb 3:2

7.      Spirit filled-vs 24-Ro 5:5

·        God’s love transforms the human love to become the standard & perfect love.

LIFE IN CHRIST : (A Series)

  1. Alive in Christ (Regenerated):- Relationship established- Eph 2:1,5,6
  2. Abide in Christ :_ Fellowship maintained- Jn 15:4,7
  3. Available for Christ :- Surrendered for service – Mt 4:19
  4. Accountable to Christ :- Stewardship entrusted – II Cor 5:10
  5. Afflicted for Christ:- Suffering endured – Mt 5:11-12; I Pe 4:14,16
  6. Awaiting Christ’s return :- Encouraging hope – Jn 14:3; II Pe 3:12-13

FOCUS LOVE (IN SONG OF SOLOMON)

  1. The temptation – a test of love
  2. The triumph of love
  3. The steadfastness of love rewarded.

LOOKING AT JESUS :- Heb 12:1-3

Look :- ( Heb 12:2)                                                         Vision :- (Prov 29:18)

  1. Looking backward- arrests progress         -  eg Lot’s life             – Gen 19:26

Looking Christward- adds patience           - eg Runners              – Heb 12:1-2; Jn 3:14

  1. Looking at ourselves- brings fear              -  eg Spies                   - Nu 21:9; Nu 13: 28-33.

      Looking at God’s promises- builds faith   - eg Caleb , Joshua     - Nu 14:8

3.   Looking at difficulties – depresses            - eg Peter                    - Mt 14:29-30

      Looking at Heavenwards – glorifies          - eg Stephen               -  Ac 7:55

4.   Looking on the world – tempting              - eg Satan/Eve            -  I Jn 2:15-17

      Looking on the fields – motivation           - eg Disciples/ Jesus   - Jn 4:35

FOUR FACTORS AFFECTING OUR RACE- CHRIST THE INSPIRING EXAMPLE

LOOKING AT JESUS – HEB 12:1-3          (hindrances –to overcome)

1. Discipline :- Self denial, detachment,- lay aside (hindrances)

2. Direction- (set before us-keep to the vision)- definite goal, divinely directed

3. Determination –(let us run with patience)- to run, to finish, to achieve-eg Paul (Ac 20:24)

4. Dedication- (with patience) –to endure, to suffer

·        Motivation- “Looking unto Jesus”;”Himself”

·        Inspiration- “Consider Him”

  1. His salvation (faith) .
  2. His endurance of shame & suffering.
  3. His joy
  4. His exaltation
  5. His rejection
  6. His glorification 

LOOKING AT THE FIELDS :- Mat 9:35-38.

  1. Pray for the labourers :-Lk 10:2
  2. Provide for the labourers :- Lk 10:4
  3. Participate in the labour :- Lk 10:3

GOD’S LOVE:- Jn 3:16

God loves us for what we can become or what He can make us –rather than just because  we’re sinners. Because of His eternal plan before the world began. Eph 1:4- He has chosen us & therefore loves us to draw us to Himself, died for them.

LIVING AS CHILDREN OF GOD :- Eph 5:1-21

  1. In love (selfless altitude) :- God is love
  2. In holiness (purity) :- God is holy
  3. In the light (clear,clean) :- God is light
  4. In the wisdom (stewardship of time, resources):- God is wise
  5. Under Spirit’s control (fullness, joyful, thankful, submissive) :- God is spirit.

THE LOSTNESS OF MAN- (GOSPEL MESSAGE)- LK 19:10

Man’s cndition in ref to law & sin:-

  1. Transgression – stepped , crossed God’s standard law
  2. Separation – from God
  3. Domination- dominated by sin
  4. Condemnation- under God’s wrath.

BE LIKE MINDED

Rom 12:16; 15:5-6;

I Cor 1:10

II Cor 13:11

Phil 2:20

Phil 3:15-16

Phil 4:2

Col 3:12,13

I Pe 3:8-9

One Accord – Acts 1:14, 2:1; 2:46; 5:12