WeAreIBC

Love Your Neighbor

Matthew 22:34-40

Love begins with God.

1 John 4 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Love those outside your circle.

1 John 4:20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

Treat others as you would want to be treated.

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Galatians 5:14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

“Who is This?”

Matthew 21:1-11

Jesus is the eternal King.

Jesus is the return of the Glory of God.

Genesis 49:9-11 You are a lion’s cub, Judah;  you return from the prey, my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,  like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,  nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[a]
until he to whom it belongs[b] shall come  and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
11 He will tether his donkey to a vine,  his colt to the choicest branch;
he will wash his garments in wine,  his robes in the blood of grapes.

God loves to employ people in the work of the kingdom.

Don’t miss the coming of God to you. 

Rev 7:9-10 9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

1) We need to see what Jesus saw.

2) We need to feel as Jesus felt.

3) We need to do as Jesus did.

If Jesus is the LORD of the harvest, what do we have to lose?

Where is God sending you?              .

What Dream Team do you need to join?              .

1. Jesus qualifies the called. 

2. Use what you have. 

“It’s not how many titles you have, but how many toilets you clean.”

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

3. Do something.

Matthew 5:11-16; 7:21-29

1. The Father rewards His faithful followers.

Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

John Stott, “Jesus is not talking about a feeling. What God thinks of you and what on that account they are, blessed.”

2. Start with me, and end with Jesus.

Dallas Willard, “The main thing God gets out of your life is who you become, not your achievement.”

3. Holiness is progress not perfection.

4. It is the application of our faith that brings power.

Free in Christ

Matthew 6:12-13

To sin is human, to forgive is divine.

Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. 

5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

5:31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[a] 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

David Tripp says, “And so, you'll never solve this problem by behavioral reformation because I could attempt to change some of my behavior, but I can't change the condition of my heart. So right away, I know that I need rescue, I need a Savior. The thing that I need to be rescued from most in life is me because I'm my greatest problem.”

2. Forgiven people, forgive others

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

3. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Pastor Stephen leads us through a time of prayer using the hexagon method on the Lord's Prayer

Praying for Provision

Matthew 6:9-13

“Our Father has committed to care for us. We aren’t wrestling crumbs out of a reluctant hand but, rather, confessing the bounty of a generous hand. The essence of the prayer is really an affirmation of the Father’s care. Because our provision is His priority.” - Max Lucado

1. Jesus invites us to ask for help.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

2. Whatever you give me is ours, not mine.

3. God is never tired of our request.

Luke 18:7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

4. The prayer is a reminder to live in today, and not distracted about tomorrow.

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

5. It is a reminder to be content.

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Proverbs 30:7 “Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

6. We trust in the provider not in the provision

Matthew 6:31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

In this guided prayer Richmond Campus Pastor Jon Barron leads us through a time of prayer for those who are close to us but far from God.

Our Father

Matthew 6:5-15 (NIV)

1. Our Father adopts us into his forever family.

Ephesians 1:5

2. Our Father disciplines us for our good.

Hebrews 12:7-11

3. Our Father gives good gifts.

Matthew 7:9-11