Family Love in Action
Copyright: South Bay Community Church
Sermon Reflections: Family Love in Action
Date: 25 June 2023
Speaker: Lead Pastor Tammy Long
Sermon Reflections: Family Love in Action
Date: 25 June 2023
Speaker: Lead Pastor Tammy Long
Sermon Preamble
Let’s examine a letter using language from First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. The language in this letter brings poetic imagery so that we can embrace the beauty of this message in Romans 12. Written in the language of an indigenous Native American brother in Christ, this translation helps both Native Americans and other Christians read scripture again in a fresh way. This translation calls God the Great Spirit and Creator. The Lord is called the Honored Chief. The family of God is translated as the Sacred Family. The translation calls Jesus the Honored Chief Creator Sets Free. The author, Paul the Apostle, is called a Small Man. Following is the letter:
Dear South Bay Family, The Great Spirit has called me to be a message bearer, one who has been set apart to tell his good story. (Romans 1:1b). Because Creator, in his great kindness has made me a message bearer, I give this message to each of you. (Romans 12:3a). Love with a true heart. Hate what is evil and hold on tight to what is good (v9). Love like family and honor others by putting them first (v10).
Be a good fire keeper, and never let your spiritual fire go out as you serve our Honored Chief. (v11). Let hope make your heart glad. Keep sending your voice to the Great Spirit, even when the road gets hard to walk (v12). Give what you can to help the sacred family members who are in need. Open your homes and hearts to others (v13).
Bless the ones who seek to harm you. Bless and do not curse (v14). Dance with the ones who dance for joy and shed tears with the ones whose hearts have fallen to the ground (v15). Seek to live in harmony with all. Do not think you are better than others. Walk the road of life with the humble of heart, and do not be wise in your own eyes (v16).
No one should pay back evil with evil. Do what you know to be honorable in the eyes of another (v17). If it is within your power, walk the road of peace with everyone (v18). May the great kindness of our Honored Chief Creator Sets Free (Jesus) rest on you all (Romans 16:24).
In his love, Small Man.
Except for the “Dear South Bay” opening and the “in his love” closing, everything in this letter is from the Bible. This indigenous translation can give you fresh ears and insight into an appreciation of the beauty of God’s Word in the indigenous language and the beauty of what God is inviting us into as God’s Kingdom family. That invitation is a portrait of how we are to engage in all of our relationships. Those relationships include our Kingdom family, biological family, friends, coworkers, strangers, and even our enemies.
The beautiful life God envisions for us as sons and daughters in God’s Kingdom family is unique
The family of God is uniquely special because we share one vision together. We understand that God is asking us to have unity as a family. We share the same values and the same Heavenly Father. We share the same intention and motivation. We are in this world together and truly share the power of the Holy Spirit to make these things a reality.
Unbelievers do not bring the power of the Holy Spirit to the table. However, it does not mean that we are to treat them any less or as second class. For God’s vision extends to the entire world and every relationship we touch.
God’s vision can be stated in the word love
Love is the oil that makes it a reality. Love is the glue that holds all relationships together.
“God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them” (1 John 4:16).When we hear the word love, our minds automatically may go to the love songs we hear on the radio or the romance movies we see on television. We love everything from pizza to puppies. The word love has become hijacked in our world.
God’s love that the Apostle Paul is talking about is different, deeper, and more encompassing. God’s love is much more than situational emotions and warm feelings. God’s love is also more beautiful than anything the world calls love because it is a love that is unsurpassed. It is God’s love we are all craving even when we are not aware that is what we’re hungering for. It is in our DNA. We were made to love God, to love others, and to experience and receive that love.
“Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second commandment is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself ” (Matthew 22:36-39).
Love in action is not just words
Let us notice in Romans 12:9-18 the actions that the Apostle Paul is exhorting us to live out.
“(9) Do not just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. (10) Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. (11) You never be lazy but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. (12) Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying. (13) When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. (14) Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. (15) Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. (16) Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! (17) Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. (18) Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
Paul is painting a picture of what true Christian community looks like as the family of God. This is how we are to live in the world as God’s children. Paul moves from point to point rapid fire, not really stopping to explain in detail, but the picture is clear.
We are to be a family with genuine love that shows itself in action to our brothers and sisters in the faith. We also have love in action for those who are unbelievers. God’s love extends to everyone. Love in action extends to our biological family, spouses, close friends, coworkers, neighbors, acquaintances, strangers, and those who get on our last nerves. Love in action even extends to our enemies and those who have wronged us.
As God’s children, we are to be love agents as we dispense love in this world.
Family love in action – be genuine
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection” (v. 9-10a). Our love is to be authentic and sincere, not fake. This means genuinely caring, not just going through the motions or a to-do list. Have you ever felt like someone was doing something for you just to get it done? We can tell the difference. We can tell when we are a bother to someone. Paul is talking about real care that starts in the heart in being devoted to one another. Being genuine is seeing others through God’s eyes and remembering they are as loved by God as we are.
Family love in action – delight in honoring one another
“You take delight in honoring each other” (v. 10b). Honoring one another speaks to respecting and being a champion for others. Love in action is rooting for them, encouraging them, seeing and affirming the best in them. This does not mean that we don’t see their flaws and cracks. We see them just as much as we see our own flaws. Taking delight in honoring them means that we love and respect them anyway even with their flaws and all cracks. Often, love in action is placing their needs above our own or taking a step back so that they can shine. Love in action in honoring one another says that I value you, I cherish you, and you are special to me.
Family love in action - help those in need, especially God’s family, and practice hospitality
“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality” (v. 13). This means being willing to have open hearts, open homes, open bank accounts, open calendars, and open time slots. Family love in action is serving the needs of others by meeting those needs in practical ways, in listening ways. Sometimes just being present is the need.
Practicing hospitality is creating a welcoming environment for others. The Greek word translated practice in “practice” hospitality is better translated “pursue” hospitality. Pursue suggests being intentional and pro-active to create welcoming and safe spaces for others.
Hospitality is different than entertaining. Entertaining is focused on the host. Does the house look good? Is the food good? However, hospitality is about creating a warm and inviting space for others to be cared for. Hospitality focused on caring for others applies even if only a can of soup is served for dinner.
Family love in action – bless/pray for those who are against you; love your enemies
“Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them” (v. 14). This is a tough one because we have been wounded. This does not mean that we never set relationship boundaries. We use wisdom to protect and care for our mental, physical, and emotional health. This does mean not harboring evil thoughts towards them and wishing them harm. As the Holy Spirit enables us to heal from the hurt, we get to the place where we can honestly say that we wish them well. Love in action means we are not secretly mad with those who have hurt us as they succeed or prosper.
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do well to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you” (Luke 6:27-28). Paul is quoting Jesus who said, “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). We can leave vengeance and justice to the Lord. Who knows what God may do? Martin Luther King said, “Love is the only thing that can turn an enemy into a friend.” Love in action prays for those who may harm or hurt us.
Family love in action – rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep
“Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep” (v. 15). Love in action means offering a listening ear, a compassionate heart, and a safe place to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep with empathy. Since we are sharing life together, we have empathy and compassion. We are celebrating joys, offering support, sharing resources, and being there for one another united in love. This means we have to be attuned to what is happening to others from their emotions and their experiences. This requires us being open to listen and then to share. Love in action means taking the risk to share in trusting one another, as well as taking the risk to come alongside and hold that trust. That trust in one another is the only way we can weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. We were never meant to go through life and all of life’s experiences alone.
Family love in action – live in peace and harmony with one another
“Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone” (v. 16-18). The Apostle Paul states, whenever possible, as much as we are able, we seek to show love by living in harmony with everyone seeking reconciliation and living in peace. This means that we seek to diffuse, not fan dissention and conflict. We look for peaceful resolutions and extend forgiveness.
Paul says to do all that we can, even when we will hit a wall that cannot be reconciled. Sometimes, the best we can do is to agree to disagree, but we can still agree to disagree in love. As we respect the fact that we see things differently, we let things go without demonizing the other in the heart, mind, or in communications to others. Love in action seeks peace and harmony.
The struggle to live actions of love
Many of us try to live into actions of love as we recite: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7). Can you imagine if we all consistently lived these actions of love what a wonderful world it would be? How vibrant our churches would be? How healthy our families would be? How impactful our witness to the world would be?
As we hear these words, we know how far we are from living them. We are reminded of the argument we had yesterday. We are reminded of the evil thoughts that crossed our minds about someone. We are reminded of the person we pretended we did not see because we did not want to be bothered.
The truth is we cannot love like Paul is advocating in our own power and strength. It is a struggle between our new lives in Christ and the old nature that battles within us. We mess up in our biological families, and we also mess up in our church family. We are not as loving and forgiving toward others as we ought to be.
The struggle can be hardest with those closest to us
We can take our biological and spiritual family for granted. We can place unrealistic expectations on those around us. We can harbor anger and bitterness because of hurt. In our humanity, love in action can be derailed. We derail love in action as we default to: That is not fair! Who is taking care of me? What about my own needs? To these questions, Jesus answers, “I’ve got you. Let My love flow through you. My love can cover it all.” For believers, the love of Jesus is our example and our source of love. God’s love for us in Christ is a never-failing wellspring of love that wells up inside of us and flows out to others. We need to keep our focus on Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to love as Jesus loves.
The popular song, “What the world needs now is love” is true today
We are hungering for love in action. Our world is hungering for love in action. This love is genuine and authentic love. This love is personal and tangible. This love is countercultural; the love we see every day is the opposite of countercultural love. The family of God is uniquely positioned to extend and demonstrate God’s love as a witness to the world. We can witness God’s love in our homes, in our churches, in our workplaces, and in our communities. God’s invitation is that we choose to love.
As people of God, we are commanded to love because of the love Jesus has given to us
“We love because He (Jesus) first loved us. 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. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must love their brother and sister” (1 John 4:19-21).
Application for activation
What will we do? James exhorts us to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. We reflect on the love that God has for us, God’s faithfulness to us each day, and the sacrifice and unconditional love towards us knowing the good, the bad, and the ugly that we all exhibit. How can we say anything other than yes? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, help me to put love into action.
If you are saying yes to put love into action, you are invited to do a triple play of putting love into action this week. The first play is to put love into action for a biological family member that you don’t get along with. The second play is to put love into action for a brother or sister in Christ. The third play is to put love into action with a stranger or even an enemy. Reread Romans 12:9-18 for ideas.
As an alternative for application, get some ideas at the website titled “87 ways to be kind and loving.” The website is https://www.6seconds.org/2022/06/27/kindness-and-loving-75-ways.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FOR USE IN FAMILY GROUP
Sermon Preamble
-The English words used in the First Nations Version: An indigenous Translation of the New Testament uses concepts familiar to Native Americans and potentially helpful to other Christians. God is translated as the Great Spirit and Creator. The Lord is translated as the Honored Chief. The Family of God is translated as the Sacred Family. Jesus is translated as the Honored Chief Creator Sets Free. Paul the Apostle is translated as the Small Man. Which of these translations do you find helpful in embracing the beauty of the biblical passage? Why?
The beautiful life God envisions for us as sons and daughters in God’s Kingdom family is unique
-Early in Church History, it became necessary to establish the essentials of the Christian Church. The first four Ecumenical Councils from 325 AD to 451 AD reached agreement on essentials that now have widespread agreement in the Church among Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant denominations. These topics focused on the essentials related to the beautiful life God envisions for us. Its greatest minds were from Africa and the Middle East. These four councils established the essentials that (1) Jesus is deity, (2) The Holy Spirit is personal and part of the trinity of the Godhead, (3) Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Word of God, and (4) Jesus Christ is both human and divine. For other items of disagreement that are not these essentials, can we maintain our unity as the Church and ultimately agree to disagree in love? The Evangelical Covenant Church Denomination that South Bay Community Church is part of declares that there should be unity on essentials, and charity/love on the nonessentials. Why is this important?
God’s vision can be stated in the word love
-What are the differences between God’s love and love that is promoted by our culture?
-What does the primary first commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength mean to you? In what ways do you love God from your whole person, including your every faculty and capacity?
Love in action is not just words
-God invites us to be love agents dispensing love in this world. Why does love in action extend to others who get on our nerves, unbelievers, and even extend to those who have harmed us?
Family love in action – be genuine
-When have you ever felt that someone was doing something for you just to get it done, but you felt that it was not from genuinely caring for you?
Family love in action – delight in honoring one another
-Why does God’s love in action mean loving and respecting them even with their flaws and cracks? Do we receive love from God despite our flaws?
Family love in action - help those in need, especially God’s family, and practice hospitality
-What are the differences between hospitality as family love in action and entertaining?
Family love in action – bless/pray for those who are against you; love your enemies
-Why should our loving actions extend to those who may have or might in the future harm or hurt us?
-What are your thoughts on the statement by Martin Luther King who said, “Love is the only thing that can turn an enemy into a friend?”
Family love in action – rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep
-In what ways can we mutually trust each other with empathy to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep?
Family love in action – live in peace and harmony with one another
-What is the family love action when we cannot reconcile differences?
The struggle to live actions of love
-In what circumstances have you been able to live actions of love as described in the famous scripture of 1st Corinthians 13? When have you struggled to live those actions of love?
The struggle can be hardest with those closest to us
-In what ways is the love of Jesus both our example of love in action and our source for love in action?
The popular song, “What the world needs now is love” is true today
-What evidence do you see of the truth that the world now needs love? Why is the Church as the family of God uniquely positioned to extend and demonstrate God’s love as a witness to the world?
As people of God, we are commanded to love because of the love Jesus has given to us
-Why is the first commandment to love God with all your being intrinsically impossible without the second commandment to love neighbors?
Application for activation
-What will you do to put love in action this week to a family member you don’t get along with, to a brother or sister in Christ or to a stranger or even a person part of a group that you would consider an enemy?
Let’s examine a letter using language from First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. The language in this letter brings poetic imagery so that we can embrace the beauty of this message in Romans 12. Written in the language of an indigenous Native American brother in Christ, this translation helps both Native Americans and other Christians read scripture again in a fresh way. This translation calls God the Great Spirit and Creator. The Lord is called the Honored Chief. The family of God is translated as the Sacred Family. The translation calls Jesus the Honored Chief Creator Sets Free. The author, Paul the Apostle, is called a Small Man. Following is the letter:
Dear South Bay Family, The Great Spirit has called me to be a message bearer, one who has been set apart to tell his good story. (Romans 1:1b). Because Creator, in his great kindness has made me a message bearer, I give this message to each of you. (Romans 12:3a). Love with a true heart. Hate what is evil and hold on tight to what is good (v9). Love like family and honor others by putting them first (v10).
Be a good fire keeper, and never let your spiritual fire go out as you serve our Honored Chief. (v11). Let hope make your heart glad. Keep sending your voice to the Great Spirit, even when the road gets hard to walk (v12). Give what you can to help the sacred family members who are in need. Open your homes and hearts to others (v13).
Bless the ones who seek to harm you. Bless and do not curse (v14). Dance with the ones who dance for joy and shed tears with the ones whose hearts have fallen to the ground (v15). Seek to live in harmony with all. Do not think you are better than others. Walk the road of life with the humble of heart, and do not be wise in your own eyes (v16).
No one should pay back evil with evil. Do what you know to be honorable in the eyes of another (v17). If it is within your power, walk the road of peace with everyone (v18). May the great kindness of our Honored Chief Creator Sets Free (Jesus) rest on you all (Romans 16:24).
In his love, Small Man.
Except for the “Dear South Bay” opening and the “in his love” closing, everything in this letter is from the Bible. This indigenous translation can give you fresh ears and insight into an appreciation of the beauty of God’s Word in the indigenous language and the beauty of what God is inviting us into as God’s Kingdom family. That invitation is a portrait of how we are to engage in all of our relationships. Those relationships include our Kingdom family, biological family, friends, coworkers, strangers, and even our enemies.
The beautiful life God envisions for us as sons and daughters in God’s Kingdom family is unique
The family of God is uniquely special because we share one vision together. We understand that God is asking us to have unity as a family. We share the same values and the same Heavenly Father. We share the same intention and motivation. We are in this world together and truly share the power of the Holy Spirit to make these things a reality.
Unbelievers do not bring the power of the Holy Spirit to the table. However, it does not mean that we are to treat them any less or as second class. For God’s vision extends to the entire world and every relationship we touch.
God’s vision can be stated in the word love
Love is the oil that makes it a reality. Love is the glue that holds all relationships together.
“God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them” (1 John 4:16).When we hear the word love, our minds automatically may go to the love songs we hear on the radio or the romance movies we see on television. We love everything from pizza to puppies. The word love has become hijacked in our world.
God’s love that the Apostle Paul is talking about is different, deeper, and more encompassing. God’s love is much more than situational emotions and warm feelings. God’s love is also more beautiful than anything the world calls love because it is a love that is unsurpassed. It is God’s love we are all craving even when we are not aware that is what we’re hungering for. It is in our DNA. We were made to love God, to love others, and to experience and receive that love.
“Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second commandment is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself ” (Matthew 22:36-39).
Love in action is not just words
Let us notice in Romans 12:9-18 the actions that the Apostle Paul is exhorting us to live out.
“(9) Do not just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. (10) Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. (11) You never be lazy but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. (12) Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying. (13) When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. (14) Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. (15) Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. (16) Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! (17) Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. (18) Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
Paul is painting a picture of what true Christian community looks like as the family of God. This is how we are to live in the world as God’s children. Paul moves from point to point rapid fire, not really stopping to explain in detail, but the picture is clear.
We are to be a family with genuine love that shows itself in action to our brothers and sisters in the faith. We also have love in action for those who are unbelievers. God’s love extends to everyone. Love in action extends to our biological family, spouses, close friends, coworkers, neighbors, acquaintances, strangers, and those who get on our last nerves. Love in action even extends to our enemies and those who have wronged us.
As God’s children, we are to be love agents as we dispense love in this world.
Family love in action – be genuine
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection” (v. 9-10a). Our love is to be authentic and sincere, not fake. This means genuinely caring, not just going through the motions or a to-do list. Have you ever felt like someone was doing something for you just to get it done? We can tell the difference. We can tell when we are a bother to someone. Paul is talking about real care that starts in the heart in being devoted to one another. Being genuine is seeing others through God’s eyes and remembering they are as loved by God as we are.
Family love in action – delight in honoring one another
“You take delight in honoring each other” (v. 10b). Honoring one another speaks to respecting and being a champion for others. Love in action is rooting for them, encouraging them, seeing and affirming the best in them. This does not mean that we don’t see their flaws and cracks. We see them just as much as we see our own flaws. Taking delight in honoring them means that we love and respect them anyway even with their flaws and all cracks. Often, love in action is placing their needs above our own or taking a step back so that they can shine. Love in action in honoring one another says that I value you, I cherish you, and you are special to me.
Family love in action - help those in need, especially God’s family, and practice hospitality
“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality” (v. 13). This means being willing to have open hearts, open homes, open bank accounts, open calendars, and open time slots. Family love in action is serving the needs of others by meeting those needs in practical ways, in listening ways. Sometimes just being present is the need.
Practicing hospitality is creating a welcoming environment for others. The Greek word translated practice in “practice” hospitality is better translated “pursue” hospitality. Pursue suggests being intentional and pro-active to create welcoming and safe spaces for others.
Hospitality is different than entertaining. Entertaining is focused on the host. Does the house look good? Is the food good? However, hospitality is about creating a warm and inviting space for others to be cared for. Hospitality focused on caring for others applies even if only a can of soup is served for dinner.
Family love in action – bless/pray for those who are against you; love your enemies
“Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them” (v. 14). This is a tough one because we have been wounded. This does not mean that we never set relationship boundaries. We use wisdom to protect and care for our mental, physical, and emotional health. This does mean not harboring evil thoughts towards them and wishing them harm. As the Holy Spirit enables us to heal from the hurt, we get to the place where we can honestly say that we wish them well. Love in action means we are not secretly mad with those who have hurt us as they succeed or prosper.
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do well to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you” (Luke 6:27-28). Paul is quoting Jesus who said, “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). We can leave vengeance and justice to the Lord. Who knows what God may do? Martin Luther King said, “Love is the only thing that can turn an enemy into a friend.” Love in action prays for those who may harm or hurt us.
Family love in action – rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep
“Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep” (v. 15). Love in action means offering a listening ear, a compassionate heart, and a safe place to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep with empathy. Since we are sharing life together, we have empathy and compassion. We are celebrating joys, offering support, sharing resources, and being there for one another united in love. This means we have to be attuned to what is happening to others from their emotions and their experiences. This requires us being open to listen and then to share. Love in action means taking the risk to share in trusting one another, as well as taking the risk to come alongside and hold that trust. That trust in one another is the only way we can weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. We were never meant to go through life and all of life’s experiences alone.
Family love in action – live in peace and harmony with one another
“Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone” (v. 16-18). The Apostle Paul states, whenever possible, as much as we are able, we seek to show love by living in harmony with everyone seeking reconciliation and living in peace. This means that we seek to diffuse, not fan dissention and conflict. We look for peaceful resolutions and extend forgiveness.
Paul says to do all that we can, even when we will hit a wall that cannot be reconciled. Sometimes, the best we can do is to agree to disagree, but we can still agree to disagree in love. As we respect the fact that we see things differently, we let things go without demonizing the other in the heart, mind, or in communications to others. Love in action seeks peace and harmony.
The struggle to live actions of love
Many of us try to live into actions of love as we recite: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7). Can you imagine if we all consistently lived these actions of love what a wonderful world it would be? How vibrant our churches would be? How healthy our families would be? How impactful our witness to the world would be?
As we hear these words, we know how far we are from living them. We are reminded of the argument we had yesterday. We are reminded of the evil thoughts that crossed our minds about someone. We are reminded of the person we pretended we did not see because we did not want to be bothered.
The truth is we cannot love like Paul is advocating in our own power and strength. It is a struggle between our new lives in Christ and the old nature that battles within us. We mess up in our biological families, and we also mess up in our church family. We are not as loving and forgiving toward others as we ought to be.
The struggle can be hardest with those closest to us
We can take our biological and spiritual family for granted. We can place unrealistic expectations on those around us. We can harbor anger and bitterness because of hurt. In our humanity, love in action can be derailed. We derail love in action as we default to: That is not fair! Who is taking care of me? What about my own needs? To these questions, Jesus answers, “I’ve got you. Let My love flow through you. My love can cover it all.” For believers, the love of Jesus is our example and our source of love. God’s love for us in Christ is a never-failing wellspring of love that wells up inside of us and flows out to others. We need to keep our focus on Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to love as Jesus loves.
The popular song, “What the world needs now is love” is true today
We are hungering for love in action. Our world is hungering for love in action. This love is genuine and authentic love. This love is personal and tangible. This love is countercultural; the love we see every day is the opposite of countercultural love. The family of God is uniquely positioned to extend and demonstrate God’s love as a witness to the world. We can witness God’s love in our homes, in our churches, in our workplaces, and in our communities. God’s invitation is that we choose to love.
As people of God, we are commanded to love because of the love Jesus has given to us
“We love because He (Jesus) first loved us. 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. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must love their brother and sister” (1 John 4:19-21).
Application for activation
What will we do? James exhorts us to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. We reflect on the love that God has for us, God’s faithfulness to us each day, and the sacrifice and unconditional love towards us knowing the good, the bad, and the ugly that we all exhibit. How can we say anything other than yes? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, help me to put love into action.
If you are saying yes to put love into action, you are invited to do a triple play of putting love into action this week. The first play is to put love into action for a biological family member that you don’t get along with. The second play is to put love into action for a brother or sister in Christ. The third play is to put love into action with a stranger or even an enemy. Reread Romans 12:9-18 for ideas.
As an alternative for application, get some ideas at the website titled “87 ways to be kind and loving.” The website is https://www.6seconds.org/2022/06/27/kindness-and-loving-75-ways.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FOR USE IN FAMILY GROUP
Sermon Preamble
-The English words used in the First Nations Version: An indigenous Translation of the New Testament uses concepts familiar to Native Americans and potentially helpful to other Christians. God is translated as the Great Spirit and Creator. The Lord is translated as the Honored Chief. The Family of God is translated as the Sacred Family. Jesus is translated as the Honored Chief Creator Sets Free. Paul the Apostle is translated as the Small Man. Which of these translations do you find helpful in embracing the beauty of the biblical passage? Why?
The beautiful life God envisions for us as sons and daughters in God’s Kingdom family is unique
-Early in Church History, it became necessary to establish the essentials of the Christian Church. The first four Ecumenical Councils from 325 AD to 451 AD reached agreement on essentials that now have widespread agreement in the Church among Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant denominations. These topics focused on the essentials related to the beautiful life God envisions for us. Its greatest minds were from Africa and the Middle East. These four councils established the essentials that (1) Jesus is deity, (2) The Holy Spirit is personal and part of the trinity of the Godhead, (3) Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Word of God, and (4) Jesus Christ is both human and divine. For other items of disagreement that are not these essentials, can we maintain our unity as the Church and ultimately agree to disagree in love? The Evangelical Covenant Church Denomination that South Bay Community Church is part of declares that there should be unity on essentials, and charity/love on the nonessentials. Why is this important?
God’s vision can be stated in the word love
-What are the differences between God’s love and love that is promoted by our culture?
-What does the primary first commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength mean to you? In what ways do you love God from your whole person, including your every faculty and capacity?
Love in action is not just words
-God invites us to be love agents dispensing love in this world. Why does love in action extend to others who get on our nerves, unbelievers, and even extend to those who have harmed us?
Family love in action – be genuine
-When have you ever felt that someone was doing something for you just to get it done, but you felt that it was not from genuinely caring for you?
Family love in action – delight in honoring one another
-Why does God’s love in action mean loving and respecting them even with their flaws and cracks? Do we receive love from God despite our flaws?
Family love in action - help those in need, especially God’s family, and practice hospitality
-What are the differences between hospitality as family love in action and entertaining?
Family love in action – bless/pray for those who are against you; love your enemies
-Why should our loving actions extend to those who may have or might in the future harm or hurt us?
-What are your thoughts on the statement by Martin Luther King who said, “Love is the only thing that can turn an enemy into a friend?”
Family love in action – rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep
-In what ways can we mutually trust each other with empathy to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep?
Family love in action – live in peace and harmony with one another
-What is the family love action when we cannot reconcile differences?
The struggle to live actions of love
-In what circumstances have you been able to live actions of love as described in the famous scripture of 1st Corinthians 13? When have you struggled to live those actions of love?
The struggle can be hardest with those closest to us
-In what ways is the love of Jesus both our example of love in action and our source for love in action?
The popular song, “What the world needs now is love” is true today
-What evidence do you see of the truth that the world now needs love? Why is the Church as the family of God uniquely positioned to extend and demonstrate God’s love as a witness to the world?
As people of God, we are commanded to love because of the love Jesus has given to us
-Why is the first commandment to love God with all your being intrinsically impossible without the second commandment to love neighbors?
Application for activation
-What will you do to put love in action this week to a family member you don’t get along with, to a brother or sister in Christ or to a stranger or even a person part of a group that you would consider an enemy?
Posted in Stand Alone Sermon
Posted in First Nations Version, Romans 12, love, Unity, Holy Spirit, 1 John 4:16, Matthew 22: 36-39, Love in action, genuine, honor one another, hospitality, love enemies, rejoice, weep, peace, harmony, reconcile, 1 Corinthians 13, struggle, witness love to world, 1 John 4:19-21, essentials, nonessentials
Posted in First Nations Version, Romans 12, love, Unity, Holy Spirit, 1 John 4:16, Matthew 22: 36-39, Love in action, genuine, honor one another, hospitality, love enemies, rejoice, weep, peace, harmony, reconcile, 1 Corinthians 13, struggle, witness love to world, 1 John 4:19-21, essentials, nonessentials
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