Introduction

Good morning, family of God. It is a day of joy, a day of fellowship, a day of renewal. It is a day the Lord has made and we are here to rejoice and be glad in it. We are here to share in the divine grace that God so generously bestows upon us. We are here to share in the love that binds us together as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are here to share in the Word, the living Word that guides us, nourishes us, and sustains us.

Our Scripture reading for today comes from the magnificent book of Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 31-34. It reads: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

This passage is a powerful testament to the enduring love and faithfulness of our God. It speaks of a new covenant, a covenant of the heart, a covenant not written on stone but inscribed on our very souls. It speaks of a relationship with God that is intimate, personal, and transformative. It speaks of a God who forgives, who forgets our sins, who calls us His people and promises to be our God.

Manifesting the Message of the Gospel

The Gospel is not merely a message we hear; it's a message we live. It's a message that transforms us from the inside out, changing our hearts, our minds, our attitudes, our actions. It's a message that calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Living the Gospel means living a life of love. Love is the essence of the Gospel, the heart of God's message to us. God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This love is not a feeling or an emotion, but a choice, a commitment, a way of life. It's a love that is patient and kind, not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It's a love that does not insist on its own way, is not irritable or resentful, does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It's a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Living the Gospel also means living a life of faith. Faith is not just believing in God, but believing God, taking Him at His word, trusting in His promises, relying on His power. It's a faith that moves mountains, that overcomes the world, that pleases God. It's a faith that is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Living the Gospel further means living a life of hope. Hope is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It's a hope that purifies us, that motivates us, that sustains us. It's a hope that does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Finally, living the Gospel means living a life of obedience. Obedience is not a burden or a chore, but a joy and a privilege. It's an obedience that comes from the heart, that is motivated by love, that is empowered by the Spirit. It's an obedience that is better than sacrifice, that is the evidence of our love for God, that is the proof of our faith in Christ. It's an obedience that leads to blessing, that results in fruitfulness, that glorifies God.

Motivated by Love in Ministry

As we continue to reflect on the words of Jeremiah, we find ourselves drawn to the idea of being motivated by love in our ministry ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO