Church of The Open Door

Expanding Your Circle of Love

“The Struggle to Love Well”

Luke 6:27-36

 

 

Jesus’ commands to love

Love the Lord Your God

Love your neighbor

Love your enemies

Love one another

Jesus’ challenge to love

Jesus is expanding our circle of love.

Everyone has someone they struggle to love.

Question: “What does it look like to love this person well?”

Jesus’ examples of love:

“Welcoming” sinners

Full of grace and truth

Jesus’ commands focus on love not truth

Finding the balance

Question: “Am I loving like Jesus?”

Jesus’ risk of love

Being misunderstood

Being rejected

Being crucified

Title: Choosing Jesus’ Kind of Love

Series: Expanding Your Circle of Love

Text: Luke 6:31-34

Date: 1/21/24

What kind of love identifies us with Jesus?

This love is summarized in the Golden Rule. Jesus’ kind of love is…

Unconditional. Don’t base your love on their response or their reception.

Others-centered. Don’t restrict your love to the lovable.

Proactive. Don’t wait for the right opportunity; make it your lifestyle.

Reflective. Ask yourself… “What would it look like to love this person well?”

This love is for all people, including “those who love you.”

Loving those who love you isn’t extra credit, it’s an expectation.

Our love is seen most clearly in how we respond when it becomes costly.

This love is not about safe investments, it’s about freely giving.

Take Home Truth: We choose to sacrificially love one another because Jesus did it first.

LifeGroup Questions:

What is one thing that stuck out to you from the sermon?

How do people respond when they find out you’re a Christian? Why do you think they respond that way?

Agree or Disagree: The problem isn’t whether or not we will understand the Golden Rule, but whether or not we have the courage to live it out.

Which of the four points that unpacks the Golden Rule are you strongest in? Which needs the most work? (unconditional, others-centered, proactive, reflective)

How can you tell when love is a free gift and when it is a manipulative investment? What’s the difference?

How do you respond when those close to you (your spouse, your family, your friends, your church) stop holding up their end of the bargain? How might you respond differently if you were living out the Golden Rule?

Do you think that your life would be very different if people around you followed the Golden Rule? How would things be different? Spend a few minutes writing down your response.

Look back over what you wrote down for the previous question. This is how you have answered Jesus’ prompt, “What do you wish others would do for you?” Is there anything on this list that you can choose to do this week for someone else?

Expanding Your Circle of Love

“Turn the Other Cheek”

Luke 6:29-30

Other-centered love asks the question: “What does it look like to love this person well?”

What does it look like to love:

Someone who insults you?

Surprise them with love by refusing to retaliate.

Someone who is unfair to you?

Surprise them with love by showing kindness.

Someone who is trying to take advantage of you?

Surprise them with love by being generous.

How do we live like this? Trust the way Jesus trusted the kindness, mercy and provision of the Father.

Expanding Your Circle of Love

“Loving Your Enemies”

Luke 6:27-28, 35

Jesus calls us to expand our circle of love. He starts with loving our enemies.

Who are your enemies?

People who are hostile toward you

People who you don’t get along with

People who you may begin to feel hostility toward

People who are close and far (personal to political, past to present)

People Jesus calls and commands you to love

How do you love your enemies?

Do Good to Them

It’s an action not a feeling

It’s an act of the will not emotion

Show kindness to them

Speak respectfully to them

Serve them

Bless Them

Ask God to bless them

Speak blessing over them

Refuse to speak evil of them

Pray for Them

Ask God to help them

Ask God to heal them

Forgive them

Why love your enemy?

We become more like Jesus

We become more like the Father

We tangibilify the love of God

Because God has loved you

The Love that Launched Christmas

“God’s Unconditional Love”

Luke 15:11-22

What can we learn about the son?

He disrespected his father.

He made foolish choices.

He came to his senses.

What can we learn about the father?

He was an example to follow.

He respected his son’s choices.

He waited expectantly.

He was actively looking.

He was genuinely forgiving.

He was unconditionally loving.

Unconditional means: no restrictions, no limitations.

God will always welcome you home when you turn to Him.

“A Christmas Kind of Love”

Luke 2:8-11; 1 John 4:7-10

What is Christmas all about?

‘Christ-mas’ means ‘_________________________ of Christ.’

Christmas is the celebration of the ______________ of Jesus Christ into the world. 1. Christmas is about ________ _______________________________________ _________________________ Jesus.

Jesus is God’s Christmas gift of ______________.

2. Christmas is about ________________ showing His love by _________________ to ____________ for us.

Jesus’ _____________ was meaningless without His ______________ on the

______________.

3. Christmas is about ________ showing God’s love to one another.

Jesus is the ________________ for how we are to _____________.

“Saving Love”

John 3:16-17

The Love that launched Christmas... is God’s ______________ love!

God saves us because He ___________ us. He saved us __________:

●  ___________________: eternal ______________

●  _________________________ and ___________

●  Our __________

●  ______________ and ________________

●  ________________ of sin and _______________

●  _______________He saved us ________:

●  ________________, ____________________ life

●  Do _______________ ______________

●  _____________________

●  Become more like _________________

●  Love _________________

●  Bring _________________ to GodThe only way God could save us was to become ____________________.

God saved us because God loves us by sending Jesus to be God ___________ Us!

“The Invitation of Love”

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Before God’s love becomes _____________________ in our lives, it must first become _________ to our hearts.

Reconciliation reminds us that God’s love is __________________.

● Reconciliation is “the _______________________________ of an interrupted or broken relationship” (BDAG).

We inherit a _______________ relationship with God.

Our __________________: We _________________ dwell with a holy God.

Our ____________________ heart: We _____________ not return to God.In Christ, God ______________________________ every barrier that separates us from God.

God is the _______________ of reconciliation: His love _____________________________.

God is the ______________ of reconciliation: His love pursues us ____________________.

God is the _____________ of reconciliation: His love led to the _________________.

God sends the _____________________ of reconciliation: ______________________! ___________________________________!Take Home Truth: The love that launched Christmas is the same love that can compel us _____________ to God and ________ to others, if only we will ____________________ it.

“Reconciling Love”

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

"Tidings of reconciliation: Unwrapping God’s gift"

2 Corinthians 5:18-21