Love Does--What's Next in Our Spiritual Journey?

What does it mean to love? -- We often don't know how to love well...but Jesus tells us it's the most important thing to do.

Two Life-Changing Truths

Immanuel = God With Us (Matthew 1:23)The Spirit = is sealed in us (Ephesians 1:13) -- the first downpayment of what is still to come.

Love from the center of who you are -- Romans 12:9

We can only love because we are loved.

While It Was Still Dark

John 20:1-18

Darkness is confusing for us

learned that it is badyet can't live without itmany stories in scripture include darkness

Jesus teaches us about darkness

in that place of greatest darkness -- life and lightin that place of greatest darkness -- God with us

Jesus teaches us

to waitthat life comes from deathGod is present in the darkness

Jesus Emmanuel = God with us

God Has a Plan for Your Life

Jeremiah 29:11

Invitation to a Transforming Journey

How has our understanding of our spiritual journey changed?

What will I choose to let God change in me?

We are being conformed to the image of Jesus as we learn to surrender.

Invitation to a Transforming Journey

{slides available]

For the Sake of Others

The Good Samaritan -- Luke 10:25-37

Living for the sake of others ...

starts in our everyday, ordinary lifeis usually unexpectedinvolves learning and choosing to receiveis about life in community

Why? -- We are made in the image of God--we need to see it in each other.

Invitation to a Transforming Journey

[slides available]

Surrender

Often has a negative connotationWhat does it mean to surrender? -- Luke 15:11-32 (The Prodigal Son)

The Prodigal Son --

hungerhumilitygive up what he though would make him happygive up independence and autonomywelcomed and accepted just as he was surrender = learning he was loved just as he is

The Older Brother

self-righteous, judgmentalsurrender = we don't know the end of the story -- did he surrender his bitterness?invited to the party -- but we don't know if he surrendered

The Father

surrender = gave up his desire to control his childrensurrenders control of his heart and lovesurrenders control of his money and his time

Perhaps the story is more about the father than the sons --

the father surrenders for the sake of loveboth sons missed the generosity and love of their father -- it was available to both of them

Being conformed = not missing the generosity and love of the father

Philippians 2:5-8 -- Jesus surrendered all he was entitled toBeing conformed to the image of Jesus means we receive the love and generosity of the Father

Invitation to a Transforming Journey

[sermon slides available]

Spiritual Journey = a process of being transformed and conformed into the likeness of Jesus for the sake of othersSuccess = loving God and loving others wellChange = what I can do by my will or powerTransform = a change in keeping with an inner realityConform = what I allow God to do

Conform and Transform

Being conformed is what we choose to allow God to do.

Jesus said the most important thing is to love -- what if loving well is more about who we are than what we do?

How do we become more loving?

Being conformed = to love, to surrender

God's plan and desire has always been love.

Love is only love if it is freely given and freely received.

Being conformed invites us to humility and surrender.