Let me ask you a question: Would you agree that the word love is an overused word in our language
I love my car, I love my job, I love this song
I love my wife ( I want what’s best for her)
I love pizza (I just want to eat the pizza (IDC what’s best for it)
Each statement says the same thing but each has a different meaning.
When a person tells you that they love you, how do they love you?
Do they want something for you or just something from you?
Love- an intense feeling of deep affection (noun)
Remember I said I love my wife
How does she know that I love her?
I can explain it to her (Burning heart/loins)
I have to show her
It requires me to do more than just explain it
I have to show it through actions
As Christians, love is a verb
Today let’s look at how we’re to love one another
Romans 12:9-13 teaches us how to treat each other
This is specific to Christians
This is how we behave toward one another
When we’re dealing with the world we behave differently
Christ said, Love your neighbor as you love yourself
We apply the Golden Rule to our interactions with the world
Col 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with
grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Hypocrisy points to one who wears a mask
It’s a reference to ancient Greek theater
Actors would wear mask and pretend to be something or someone that they’re not
That’s the purpose of acting AMEN
There’s actors in the church every Sunday
There is no disguise for love
Love is exemplified through action
The way we love one another is how the world knows we belong to the Lord (John 13)
If you wear a cloak or attempt to mask yourself, then you lack sincerity in your heart when it comes to love
Transitional Statement: We’ve been commanded to Examine ourselves 2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
We’re not supposed to pretend to love one another
Genuine Love is described in 1 Cor 13
Abhor that which is evil
Abhor means to be disgusted
We’re called to detest evil
Have no part in it’s plans or it’s process
But sometimes we get entangled with, be it by choice or circumstance
Repentance is key, then move forward
Cling to what is good
`We have to hold onto the good stuff
The word points to glue together or to cement or fasten together
Let the good stick to you and hold on to it
Sometimes we have to remind ourselves of the good to see past the bad
We hold on tight to the good (CLING)
Sticky Faith is created by clinging to the good
Exhort on wins (FCA investments, Football team,giving)
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
Let me say this
Every church needs more of this
This is reciprocal love towards one another
This is love that sees past, the past
This is the greek word for love here philostorgos
It’s a combination of two greek words, philia and storge
Love between good friends
That's brotherly love amongst Christians
There are 4 types of love in the greek language
Storge- Family Love
Eros- Sensusal romantic love
Philia-brotherly love
Agape-Divine love, love that comes from God
Giving preference to one another
When we prefer someone that means we go ahead and show the way
It’s being an example by leading the way forward
It’s that let me serve you mindset
Think Jesus washing the disciples feet
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
Laziness is not a fruit of the spirit
Fervent in Spirit
Passionate, enthusiastic
Slothful people get aggravated by Fervency
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation is an encouragement from Paul
Keep that joyful perspective by placing your hope in Christ
Even when times are tough (My hope is in Christ)
This is where we say the quiet part out loud
Prayer is where we access power
Continue in prayer
When there’s no hope, Keep praying
When He answers in a different way than you wanted, Keep praying
When you feel weak and defeated, Keep praying
Be firmly fixed in your belief in HIM, that's being steadfast in prayer
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
We take care of one another
Hospitality is a gift
Not every person you meet is hospitable
To be given to hospitality means you expect to see someone new
The church is not a country club
It’s a battlefield hospital
The church is not museum
The church is a living community not a static display
The church is not your’s and it’s not mine
The deed to the church was signed with the Blood of Christ
Conclusion: Paul tells us how to behave toward one another in these verses.
These actions are expressions of love we extend to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ
Years ago we called each other brother, sister
I’m gonna get back to that
It’s a reminder of the bond we share in Christ
And if we remind one another enough we’ve got a better shot at fulfilling this scripture.
Challenge: Read over this scripture and ask God to point out an area where you can show someone else in the family God some love.
