DAY 8 — LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS.Jealousy can quietly turn love into competition. Instead of rejoicing when someone else is blessed, jealousy begins comparing, competing, and asking, "Why them and not me?" The Bible warns that jealousy can become a destructive fire in the heart, damaging relationships and robbing us of contentment.Biblical love chooses a different way. Love celebrates instead of competes. Romans 12:15 teaches us to rejoice with those who rejoice. Genuine love does not have to be first, receive all the attention, or possess what somebody else has in order to be happy.Throughout Scripture, jealousy brought terrible consequences. Cain's jealousy toward Abel ended in murder. Joseph's brothers allowed jealousy to turn into hatred. Even the religious leaders who delivered Jesus to Pilate were motivated by envy. Jealousy never strengthens love; it slowly poisons it.Day 8 of The Love Dare challenges us to examine our hearts. Instead of comparing ourselves with others, we can thank God for what He has given us and genuinely celebrate the blessings He gives to those around us.Stop comparing. Stop competing. Start celebrating.Because real love can look at somebody else's blessing and sincerely say,"I'm thankful God blessed you."

The sermon emphasizes the biblical necessity of adhering strictly to Scripture regarding the two church ordinances, baptism and the Lord's Supper. It establishes that communion is exclusively for redeemed believers and functions as a corporate ordinance for the local church rather than an individual ritual. The preacher argues against modern consumerist or legalistic distortions by highlighting the context of 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul corrects divisions and selfishness within the gathering. Central to the message is the call to view the Lord's Supper as a solemn memorial of Christ's finished work on the cross, requiring deep reflection on His sacrifice rather than superficial participation. The ultimate intent is to direct believers' focus away from self and toward Jesus Christ, urging them to partake in a manner that honors His death until He returns.

Ecclesiastes 4 takes an honest look at life in a fallen world. Solomon considers oppression, envy, loneliness, selfish ambition, companionship, and the temporary nature of human success. In this episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, Dave Jenkins explains why ambition driven by comparison cannot satisfy, why isolation leads to misery, and why God designed people for relationships and community. Ecclesiastes 4:9 declares, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil." Life under the sun can feel lonely, unjust, and heavy, but Christians are not meant to walk alone. Through Christ, believers are reconciled to God and brought into fellowship with His people. God gives His people the local church so they can walk together, bear one another's burdens, and encourage one another in a broken world. For more from Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/reading-the-bible-daily-with-dave/

1. The Symbolic Act 2. The Example Set 3. The Lord's Commandment This sermon explores the theological significance of Jesus washing the disciples' feet in John 13, presenting it as both a symbol of spiritual cleansing and an example for believers. The preacher emphasizes that true greatness is defined not by status or ambition, but by humble, sacrificial, and enduring love that mirrors Christ's own self-emptying service. By examining the context of the disciples' selfishness and Jesus' voluntary humiliation, the message highlights how this act points to the ultimate sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. The text challenges listeners to move beyond mere knowledge of the gospel to active participation in serving others, particularly through menial and unglamorous tasks. Ultimately, the sermon calls the congregation to reflect Christ's love in their daily lives as a response to grace, finding true joy and happiness in obedient servanthood.

The sermon examines Matthew 9:35-38 to reveal that God sovereignly prepares both the harvest of believers and the laborers who will gather them. By analyzing Jesus' ministry of healing and teaching, the text highlights a remnant of people whose hearts are broken and ready for redemption. The preacher argues that evangelism is not dependent on human intellect but on divine initiative, as God moves with compassion to draw souls to Himself. Believers are called to be laborers who disciple others and live lives that point to Jesus, relying entirely on earnest prayer to fulfill this mission. Ultimately, the message urges listeners to abandon comfort and selfishness to actively participate in God's global work of salvation.

The sermon contrasts earthly wisdom, characterized by selfish ambition and disorder, with the pure and peaceable wisdom from above. It emphasizes that true biblical wisdom is demonstrated not through intellectual achievement but through humble conduct and gentleness. The preacher illustrates how jealousy leads to destructive behavior while godly wisdom fosters mercy, sincerity, and peacemaking. Using agricultural imagery, the message explains that individuals reap the consequences of what they sow in their daily interactions and decisions. Ultimately, the text directs believers to look to Christ as the source of true wisdom and strength to live out these virtues.

If you have God's Word… turn with me to Genesis 2. And this morning… I wanna talk about this subject: "What a Marriage Is Supposed to Be." Folks… we live in a world… that has all kinds of opinions about marriage. • Hollywood has an opinion about marriage. • The government has an opinion about marriage. • Your friends have opinions about marriage. • Your parents may have opinions about marriage. • And you certainly have an opinion about marriage. But there is one question… that towers above all the others: What does God say about marriage? Because I wanna tell you something… marriage wasn't man's idea. Marriage was God's idea.

The scripture in these passages is the story of Cain and Abel. Cain was the first murderer of the world in this text. The question asked of many is why wasn't Cain's sacrifice pleasing to God. Reference is given in Hebrews 11 by the words "by faith". Without faith it is impossible to please God. God gives Cain a warning of if he continues on the path of sin, it will dominate his life moving forward. God gave Cain the opportunity to repent of his sin. Cain instead puts the blame on God, for we often are selfish and try to justify our actions. Scripture tells us, "The wages of sin is death." Moving forward in the scripture, Eve gives birth to Seth. God always restores what has been taken away. Illustrates God gives hope to a fallen world.

The sermon explores the true nature of Christian freedom as defined by the Apostle Paul in Galatians, contrasting it with cultural misconceptions. It identifies two primary threats to this liberty: legalism, which seeks to earn righteousness through works, and license, which indulges selfish desires. The preacher argues that genuine freedom is not the absence of restraint but the capacity to live according to God's design and to serve others in love. By relying on faith rather than self-effort or self-indulgence, believers are liberated from guilt and sin. Ultimately, the cross stands as the definitive symbol of this freedom, inviting followers to stand firm in grace and express their liberty through loving service.