Love Abounds

Matthew 19: 22-30--"The one who lives for the next life gets this one in the deal- the one who lives for this life only, loses them both (CS Lewis)"d like.

Matthew 19:16-22-- "Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler" - He has religion, youth, wealth, and position. Why does he sense that there is still something missing? . . ."The moralist will be unsuccessful in trying to displace his love of the world by reviewing the ills of the world. Misplaced affections need to be replaced by the far greater power of the affection of the Gospel." (Thomas Chalmers)

Matthew 19:13-15- "Jesus Loves the Children"

Matthew 19:1-12 - the third and final message from this text on marriage"Hard hearts may make divorce necessary to avoid greater harm, and hence make it permissible. But kingdom hearts are not hard, and they can find ways to bear with each other, to speak truth in love, to change - and often through times of great pain and distress - until the tender intimacy of mutual, covenant framed love finds a way for the two lives to remain one, beautifully and increasingly." (Dallas Willard)

Matthew series continues in 19:1-12 (Marriage part B)Simply put: do for your spouse what God in Christ has first done for you and everything else will take care of itself. You will discover that this is impossible apart from the work of the Spirit in you . . . it is a daily creation . . . and it is humbling and encouraging as you attempt this to gradually discover a bit of what Jesus did for you. We love because He loved us first, and He loves us with an everlasting self-giving and forgiving love."Marriage is the refining process God will use to enable you to become the man or woman He has designed you to be." (Norman Wright)

Matthew 19:1-12 / Today, we will consider the text of the first wedding (Genesis 2) as foundational to understanding what Jesus teaches concerning marriage in Matt. 19. “Have you not read, that from the beginning . . ."“When God designed the original marriage, He already had Christ and the church in mind. (Knight)“The reason that marriage is so painful and yet so wonderful is because it is a reflection of the gospel, which is painful and wonderful at once. The gospel is this: we are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. This is the only kind of relationship that will really transform us.” (Keller)

Grateful to be back in Matthew's Gospel, starting up in 19:1-2. "The Turn Toward Jerusalem" -- where God is moving, His deep love and care for people, and the power to accomplish His passion.--this evening, community groups at 6:00 pm - inbox me if interested, we probably have a group in your area

Luke 2:21-40: "Temple Offerings"-- this story of Simeon and Anna reveals offerings of 1. Purification 2. Praise 3. Prophecy 4. Perfection

1 John 1:1-10 - "the Advent of Joy"--- v. 4 "these things we write so that our joy may be made complete "