Note: This message came from a series of messages by Doug Small
Title: Building a Bridge to the Community - True Love
Theme: True love, action
Text: Luke 7:36 - 47
Introduction
Luke 7:36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him (Religious leaders) to eat with him (Jesus). And He (Jesus) went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat (he reclined, as shown in the picture). 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, (how did she know Jesus was in the house?) brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil (if you lived in the ancient middle east you would have lived with the door way facing the street, because of the no air you would have kept the door open, you would be the talk of the town, people would gather at your door, this is what this woman did, she comes into a house that she would not normally been welcome in, most of the time she would pass by to the other side but on this day as she was walking something was drawing her in, something or someone named Jesus, the presence of Jesus in the house, overcomes her fear of intimidation and rejection of Simeon, she comes into the house and no one notices that she is there, she begins to press her way in to get to Jesus, she takes risks here, people move around until she gets to Jesus, she is standing behind him), 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash (wet) (kneeling) His feet (nasty, dung stained feet, it would have been a necessity for a person to wash their feet, first Simeon could have done it or at least provide a servant, to the minimum provide water and a basin, he does none of those things he will not wash the feet of Jesus, he exposes Jesus and places him in a tough situation, forces Jesus to the table with dirty feet, it bothers this woman) with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head (she let down her hair, this changes the scene, she wipes the feet of Jesus); and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil (she is worshiping him, the room is filled with the fragrance of perfume). 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him (falling all over him), , for she is a sinner." 40 And Jesus answered (Simeon doesn’t say a thing out loud but Jesus reads his thoughts) and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it." 41 "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred silver pieces, and the other fifty. 42 "And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged." 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? (Simeon’s charge) I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 "You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 "You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." 48 Then He said to her,
God’s focus on Love
Matthew 22:36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, " ’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." 16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
4 Kinds of Love
Agape – to be committed to, to suffer long, to continually give an extension of love, kind, not puffed up, vaunth not itself, seeks not its own. 1 Corinthians 13
The Golden Rule. Luke 10:27, says “Love your neighbor as yourself” and "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." -Matthew 7:12 .
Other religions of the world say, "Don’t do to others what you would not have them to do to you." Notice that here we don’t have to take the initiative. Yet Jesus wanted us to take the initiative to do something for others.
Matthew 7:12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12 MSG "Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.
Philo – to share with, friendship
Philia is pertaining to what we might call a brotherly love. Not brotherly in the sense of family, but in the sense of kinsmen ship. This is the type of love that makes us want to help the little old lady cross the street safely and watch out for our fellow man. It is a good type of love and helps us to see others as needing our love but, sadly, it can often also be a selfish love. Many people only show love to others if they can get something out of it. Thankfully, most people love out of pure motives.
Emotional term for love. Warm, reciprocal, I love you and you love me, it is mutual push and pull, if you do it the way I like it then I will like you but if you don’t do it the way I like it I won’t like you. Not self sustainable.
Eros – to derive pleasure from, pleasure bond
Eros is the first type of love we are all familiar with. Our English word Erotica is derived from the word Eros. Sadly, some people never get passed this type of love and base their relationships purely on sexual attraction.
Sensual term for love. Not a giving kind of love. Agape gives unconditionally, Phileo give mutually,
Eros gives when it is sure it is going to get. It is looking for gratification. Eros will scheme, manipulate to get what it wants.
Erotic – focus is on pleasure.
Eros is a lifestyle. Places self right in the middle and draws others to them. Makes people replaceable.
Storge – to care for, parental love
Storge is what we find in families between the different members. It is the love of mother, father, brothers and sisters. This is a much stronger type of love and involves commitment.
Parental love. Love nurturing. Stronger to the weaker. You to me and sometimes it is you loving me. Back and forth.
Love giving because I care. Helping one down to get up.
Voices of Church attendance
Voices: I love this church, my friends go to this church. If my friends go then I go. I am here for the friendship.
Voices: The pastor has been visiting me. He visited my family. I am here because of his care and wonderful attitude.
Voices: I love the power of the church. I love the move of the church. I love the emotion of the church.
Putting it all together
In Marriage you need all four
Agape – to be committed to “I am committed to you”, “I came in this thing to stay”
Through sickness and in health, till death do us part
Philo – to share with, friendship “I need to be talking to my wife”, listening to my wife
Eros – to derive pleasure from, pleasure bond, every marriage should have pleasure, don’t stop dating one another.
Storge – to care for, parental love , do things that show we value our spouse
A Church Needs All Kinds of love
Agape – to be committed to – I am committed to God, I am committed to this fellowship, this is where he put me. I hear people too much talk about how God changes His mind. One minute they tell God told them to leave.
Is this where the church typically is.
All these are good. We need to have a church
Philo – to share with, friendship, warm love and fellowship “I need to be talking to my wife”, listening to my wife
Eros – to derive pleasure from, sizzle pleasure bond, every marriage should have pleasure, don’t stop dating one another.
Storge – to care for, parental love , do things that show we value our spouse
Conclusion
God’s Love for us,it conquers us. Because of His love it drives us to do what it is right.
1st based on the fact that God loved us.
It is the celebration of the this love of God that draws people into His house.
CS Lewis “Keep first things first and second things second.”
We can’t put loving God before His loving us.
My pursuit of Him pales in comparison to His pursuit of me.
Don’t get into the trap of trying to be spiritual.
God loves me unconditionally therefore he forgive me of my sin.
