Serving the city with love that works.
28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” – Mark 12:28-31 (from March 5 reading)
Jesus is quoting Father God who has made promises to people and asked them, in turn, to receive this love, to love Him wholeheartedly, and to show this same kind of love to other people.
Agape love – to have a love for someone based on sincere appreciation and high regard, genuine loving concern and respect, love that is faithful, patient, kind, and not selfish.
We see that early Christians took this seriously in many ways.
1 John 4:19
1 John 4:9-12
Romans 13:8
Galatians 5:13-14
Serving the city with love that works.
Serve
Luke 22:20-27 “I am among you as one who serves.”
Serve – to give help by performing certain duties, often of a humble or menial nature
Choosing acts of service that show love and respect.
John 13:14-15
John 12:26
God speaks to His people about their role within a city, where they were suffering, Jeremiah 29:7.
Psalm 107:6-7
Works
Ephesians 2:10
James 2:14-17
Colossians 3:23-24
Serving 5
- Prepare yourself to be available so that you can meet a need when you see it.
- Take action.
- When the need is beyond you team up.
- Give generously toward the efforts of the church.
- Volunteer.
Serving the city with love that works.
We see a church…
- Loving Jesus in a way that people talk about.
- Where people find salvation & healing in Jesus.
- Helping people find careers & peaceful homes.
- Where everyone can find a place that they fit.
- Serving the city with love that works.