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ONE ANOTHER: Christians
LOVE One Another Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN Main Theme: Christians are different. Not just because we worship Jesus Christ (that’s the easy part) – but because of the way we are to treat one another (not so easy). We are to love (agape) one another. But what does that mean? And why is it so hard to do? Perhaps it’s because we forget what AGAPE love really means according to the scriptures. Today, in part two of our sermon on AGAPE love, we will review last week’s message, and then discover that Agape is unconditional, and asks nothing in return. It also does not come naturally but must be exercised. Above all, Agape love brings glory to God! But be warned, Agape requires sacrifice and suffering. It is the way of God! It takes courage to be vulnerable and risk love to broken people, and the only source for that courage is Christ! Only the Lord can help your love grow until it overflows into the lives of one another!
1) LOVE ONE ANOTHER! Last week, in part one of our call to “love one another”, we discovered that to do so, even in the church family, can be a challenge! Why? Because we’re broken people living in a broken world, and many of God’s children can be “different” and even “difficult.” And yet we read the words of Jesus that tell us (John 13:34-35) "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Jesus recognized that love was in short supply back then and today, and so He took His disciples back to the basics! He knew that as the church, if we do not love one another, we can forget trying to share Christ’s love with the lost in this community. Why? Because He knew that JESUS’ PEOPLE ARE IDENTIFIED BY JESUS’ LOVE! And if the gospel is to be spread, and healthy churches are to develop and grow), it is imperative that we Christians love one other like Jesus has loved us!
2) AGAPE LOVE! Unfortunately, we also discovered that our sinful nature is more interested in loving ourselves, serving ourselves, and thinking of ourselves, than we are in anything else. Jesus however wants to help us to overcome the sinful nature! Why? He wants our love for each other to stand out so much that unbelievers will take notice. Then, as the familiar hymn suggests - People will know we are Christians by our love! What kind of love? AGAPE love! A love that differs from the worldly sexual, family, and friendship love – primarily in that these other three loves are filled with deep emotions and feelings! Agape love begins in the mind, and utilizes the reason and will of a person. This type of love is primarily a product of choice – not feeling and emotions. Agape love is a step above the other forms of love because it wants to help, chooses to care – no strings attached, because it is the way of God! It’s caring for people even when those emotions and feelings are not there! Agape love is respecting, encouraging, building up, serving, and pouring yourself out for people when no warm fuzzies exist.
3) JESUS! The reason Jesus can command us to love, is because Agape love is an action, a choice, not a feeling! It is selfless sacrifice and a conscious decision to care for undeserving, frustrating, smelly, weird, hurtful, self-centered people… because that is the way of God! God often tests congregations because He will not allow other forms of worldly love to dominate His church – we are to love one another with AGAPE love! …as Jesus loved us! Remember, Jesus doesn’t love you because you’re so lovable. Jesus loves you because He is love. He doesn’t focus on your faults. He’s not turned off by your sinful tendencies. And He doesn’t wait for you to do something that would make Him love you. Jesus just loves you. Even though you never asked Him to! It is just the way of God! And we are called to love one another the same way!
4) UNCONDITIONAL! Today, I want to
further explore Agape love by focusing on the fact that it is
an
unconditional
love. Now most relationships in the world are “conditional”. Your
boss promises to pay you, IF you work hard for the
company. Despite what many wedding vows claim, most married
people will love their spouse IF they don’t catch them
having an affair with another lover! There are
conditions set down – either by contract, or by an unspoken
law that says “I will love you as long as you do this or don’t do
that”. Most of the time what we’re really saying is that “I will love
you, as long as I am getting love in return!” But Agape love says,
“I will love you - period! I will love you regardless of
whether I get anything in return. There are no conditions.” This
kind of thinking reflects a divine nature that places others
ahead of ourselves. That’s why we read in 1 CORINTHIANS
(10:24) these words, “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good
of others.” We’re told we should always be acting
unconditionally on the
behalf of others.
6) CONSUMED! Last week I showed you a candle, and we discussed that it can only bring light to those around them when it allows itself to be consumed for the sake of others. We aren’t called to be like the world that only loves those who love us back. Luke tells us (6:32-35) "And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men." The people JESUS commands us to love are those who are unlovely, stingy, nasty, dull, selfish, or downright mean. Sometimes they are the people in our families, our workplaces, yes, even in our churches! People that we have a hard time liking and getting along with! Why do we even desire to love in this way? Why would we volunteer to be consumed for the sake of others? Because it is the way of God!
7) ASK THE LORD! As recipients of this amazing and unconditional love, and because Christ lives in our hearts, we ask the Lord to help us love others - expecting nothing in return! Don’t try to create this kind of love on your own! 1 THESSALONIANS (3:12-13) tells us about growing our love and the importance of doing so. “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.” See, only the Lord can grow this kind of love within us! If you are struggling to love others without receiving anything in return – time spent in prayer, seeking the source of this unconditional love, is time well spent! Asking the Lord to transform your heart in ways that you cannot, will change your life!
8) EXERCISE/GROW THE LOVE! One other thing: Agape Love is not like mildew; it will not grow if left unused. The more we use it - the stronger it grows. We exercise those “agape love muscles” when you make someone a homemade card for no particular reason, expressing how much you value them. Obviously watching television all night does not develop a stronger love, but calling someone on the phone and telling them the only reason you called is to let them know how important they are to you – that tones the heart in Christ-like ways! Writing a letter or email to someone who visited the church and telling them how glad you are that we worshipped together – it reflects unconditional love. You may not feel like you would want to do these things, but I assure you that if you do, the love in your heart will start to grow instantly. Especially with those of you who never understood the need to tell others how you feel about them. You may never have that love returned – but it doesn’t matter! You aren’t doing it to get warm fuzzies, or earthly recognition or rewards – you do it because it is the way of God! And because God lives within you, you choose to exercise that love! The more it is used, the stronger it becomes!
9) HOW TO HUG! A man was walking down the street and passed a book store. A book in the window caught his eye; it was entitled “How to Hug”. Being somewhat of a romantic, he bought it and took it home – only to discover it was not a book about how to hug at all! It was just one of a set of encyclopedias whose topics ranged from the word ‘how’ in the first page, to the word ‘hug’ in the last page. I can understand why he felt cheated because he thought the book would tell him how to hug.
10) GOD’S BELOVED CHILDREN! Friends, this is a perfect example of how many people experience the church. They know that church is a place where love is supposed to abound, and they come looking for Godly love, Agape Love, from God’s beloved children! But often they leave disappointed when all they find is an encyclopedia full of theology. People don’t want to hear others “talk the talk”, they want to experience what it means when people “walk the walk”! 1 JOHN 3:18 tells us, ‘Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.’ Christ’s love isn’t taught, it’s caught! When you see a new face in church, it is not only nice, it is your Godly responsibility to welcome them with a loving smile and friendly handshake. I don’t care if their hair is spiked or blue, it doesn’t matter if they smell, act strange, dress weird, or talk with an accent – they are God’s beloved children. And while we know that not everyone who visits us will come back to make this their church home, but we must make sure that every person that sits in a pew besides us sees, hears, and feels the love of God, manifested through us before they leave. Don’t do it to get something back in return – love God’s beloved children because… it is the way of God!
11) GLORY TO GOD! Friends, disciples are called to “love one another”, despite our differences, and despite our faults, because that’s how Jesus loves us! People who are watching the church, exploring Christianity, observing those claiming the title - will NOT be impressed if we shun, ignore, or fight with one another – they are looking for that special ingredient that someone suggested “makes us different” and “better” than the world: Agape love! Whether we understand or have deep emotions or feelings for each other is irrelevant! If we choose to love one another anyway, it brings glory to God! Your entire life was given you with the sole purpose of glorifying God! It means swallowing your pride, placing others ahead of yourself, and sacrificing while asking for nothing in return. Why? Because everything you have ever needed - Jesus has supplied! And making Him happy is more important than holding grudges, or bickering in the halls, or criticizing the leadership, or gossiping about others. None of that brings glory to God! But choosing to love one another, and acting upon that desire, - that’s Agape love – that’s what brings glory to God!
12) SACRIFICE AND SUFFERING! Here’s something about Agape love that is hard for many of us to swallow: it often requires us to sacrifice and suffer! Quite often, I run into new Christians who are struggling in their new faith walk because they were under the illusion that finding God would make all their problems and struggles go away. What they discover is that choosing to love as Jesus loves quite often hurts! Agape love puts us at odds with a broken world! Think about it, Jesus was rejected, scorned, mocked, insulted, abandoned by his friends when he needed them most, and ultimately killed because He loved us so much. And not only that, He knew it was coming, and did it anyway! He didn’t just stumble into it by mistake, He walked into it on purpose. Because He knew the only way to love us was to embrace sacrifice and suffering for us.
13) WORLDLY VS AGAPE! You have heard me say this several times from the pulpit: 25% of all the Lutheran churches in the Northwest and Southwest Washington Synods are in jeopardy of closing their doors in the next 10 years if something drastic doesn’t happen. Why? They are struggling between the desire to maintain comfortable traditions that meet the existing church’s own needs, and the Great Commission that St. Paul tells us calls us to be all things to all people to save some. To understand the changing needs of next generation and then bring them the grace and life-giving word of God, often requires internal change and sacrifice and discomfort. Worldly love asks “What’s in it for me?” Agape love puts the needs of others ahead of our own. It’s found in statements like, “Well, I may not personally need a contemporary worship service, or Power Point visuals during the sermons, but if it helps my kids or grandkids come to know Jesus – I’ll sacrifice to make it happen!” Worldly love is self-centered and unwilling to explore new ways to reach out to a changing neighborhood. Agape love says, “Well, we’re going into the unknown, willing to experiment and struggle to find ways to reach out to people different than ourselves. It’ll cost us time, talent, and treasures, but if it helps others experience Christ’s love – then we’ll bear that cross!” Let us not be naïve – loving others as Christ loves us requires sacrifice and suffering – but if you look at the cross you will see Agape is the way of God!
14) COURAGE TO CARE! Friends, it takes courage to care! In his book, "The Yoke of Christ," Elton Trueblood quotes a letter from a schoolgirl who writes, "I’ve been thinking much this year about the importance of caring. I’ve often realized that it takes courage to care. Caring is dangerous. It leaves you open to hurt and to looking like a fool. And perhaps it’s because they have been hurt so often that people are afraid to care. …I have found many places in my own life where I keep a secret store of indifference as a sort of self-protection." This insightful young lady is right on in explaining why we stiff-arm others as a self-defense mechanism. Keeping others at a distance prevents us from being hurt or taken advantage of. But God forbid that should become a description of Christ’s church! If Christ is truly living in our hearts and directing our steps, if agape love is our goal, then we should never be afraid of entering into any relationship that God leads us to! If we need courage – there is only one source that provides it! Jesus knows it takes courage to care – and He will provide it!
15) VULNERABLE OR PERFECTLY SAFE? C. S.
Lewis said: "to love at all is to be
vulnerable. Love anything,
and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want
to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one. Wrap
it around carefully with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all
entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket of your selfishness. But in
that casket -- safe, dark, motionless, airless -- it will change. It will
not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable ....
The only place outside heaven where you can be
perfectly safe from
all the dangers of love is .... Hell."
17) ONLY CHRIST! Remember, only Christ can help your love grow until it overflows into the lives of one another! Only Christ can teach you how to exercise your love muscles so that others will be able to see that you are truly Jesus’ people, marked by Jesus’ love. Only Christ can provide you with the courage to care for one another, be vulnerable to one another, and bless one another with Agape Love. Let us not forget that what Jesus longs for us to do, He now empowers us to fulfill. Only Christ could have called you to a life of Agape love - (John 13:34-35) "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Praise God! AMEN
Sermon/Confessional Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we confess that it is hard for us to love without expecting something in return. We haven’t always loved everyone, especially those different from ourselves or those difficult to love. We admit that respecting, encouraging, building up, serving, and pouring yourself out for one another has not been our highest priority. Forgive us, and change our hearts. Help us to put others ahead of ourselves!
Lord, as much as we treasure your unconditional love, we have fallen short in loving one another in the same way. We have not always seen one another as your beloved children, nor have we always been willing to sacrifice or suffer as you did for us! Forgive us Lord, and give us the courage to love and care for one another in ways that bring glory to you.
And now Lord, although you know us better than we know ourselves, listen as we share in a moment of silence, those other parts of our lives that need to be forgiven, washed clean, healed, and recommitted to you! (made anew.)
(Silence) Lord, just as your disciples had to learn to grow into Agape Love, so too we need your help, your Spirit living more and more within us to become the people you want us to be! Come live within us and empower us love one another as you have loved us! And may those who come into contact with us, see your love, grace, and power in the way we care for one another! In Jesus Name We Pray. AMEN
Assurance of Forgiveness: Friends, listen to the good news: The Lord, who empowers us to love one another, …that Lord has mercifully heard your confession and eagerly forgives you all your sins. Go now, and remember: it takes courage to care! But you have been the recipients of unconditional love, and now you are being called to be the dispensers of Christ’s love. And with God’s help, the world around us will see that love, be attracted to that love, and come to know the divine source of that AGAPE love themselves! Praise God! AMEN
Opening prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we stand before you this morning the recipients of your unconditional love – a love we do not deserve but cherish above all else. It is that love that brings inner peace, purpose and power into our lives. We stand before you seeking forgiveness that only divine love could give! We come with wounded spirits, hearts, and bodies that only a loving God could heal. We come seeking wisdom and guidance that your Agape love is so eager to dispense. As you embrace us this hour, draw us closer to you, and fill our hearts with your divine spirit, so that everything we say and do may reflect your amazing love and grace. And teach us to love one another as you have loved us, that others may see that love and be attracted to it, embraced by it, and claim it for their own. In Jesus Name we pray! AMEN!
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