1 John 4:7-11
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Every thought, response and act of goodwill must first be pressed through the fine filter of God’s love, or it means nothing.
Love Is the Signature of the Christian Faith: John 13:34-35
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
1. Love motivates obedience . 1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
2. Love encourages ministry . Philemon 1:1-5
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
Love Is at the Heart of All Church Ministry: 1 John 3:11
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
1. They loved the Lord . Acts 2:41-42
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42They devoted themselves to the apostlesÕ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
2. They loved the family . Acts 2:43-46
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
3. They loved the lost . Acts 2:47
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Love Is the Reflection of Heart Holiness: 1 Peter 1:15-16
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.
1. Real love is genuine . John 13:34-35
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
2. Real love is active . 1 John 3:10
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
