Sermon March 10, 2019 – PastorBryon

An Armenian nurse had been held captive along with her brother by the Turks. Her brother was slain by a Turkish soldier before her eyes. Somehow she escaped and later became a nurse in a military hospital. One day she was stunned to find that the same man who had killed her brother had been captured and brought wounded to the hospital where she worked. Something within her cried out “Vengeance.” But a stronger voice called for her to love. She nursed the man back to health. Finally, the recuperating soldier asked her, “Why didn’t you let me die?” Her answer was, “I am a follower of Him who said, ‘Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you’ ” (Luke 6:27). Impressed with her answer, the young soldier replied, “I never heard such words before. Tell me more. I want this kind of religion.”

1 Corinthians 13:7 says that Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

As we finish up our 40 days of love I hope we all have a better understanding of what it means to love like Jesus loves. As a new Church it’s so important to build a strong foundation and that foundation has to be one of love. We have to understand what our purpose is for ourselves, for those in this church and in our community. For the last five weeks we have focused on what it looks like to love like Jesus but also what it doesn’t look like. We discussed things that we need to remove from our lives like pride, selfishness, hypocrisy and criticism. Today’s sermon title is Love in Action and we’ll examine what it looks like live, work and minister in Christ’s love. To be the Church Christ intends us to be.

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36. Therefore be merciful just as your father also is merciful.

Just like the other three Gospels this book is derived from the author’s name. According to tradition Luke was a gentile. He is in fact the only gentile to write any books of scripture. Along with the Boo