9/26/2010


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“Love Matters Most” part 2 of a 7 week series


Dr. Scott E. Koenigsaecker
Matthew 22:34-39 ~ September 26, 2010
INTRODUCTION

A. Jesus says to focus your life on two things: Loving God and loving each other.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  The second most important is similar: Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself."
                                      Matthew 22:36-39 (Living Bible)

I.  WE'LL KNOW LOVE IS THE PRIORITY WHEN WE REALIZE IT IS THE BEST USE OF OUR LIFE.

A. Love validates our faith.
·       Love validates our spiritual identity.
 "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."                                                                                I John 4:8
·       Our love teaches us about God's character and nature.
"If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars.  For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen."                         I John 4:20 (TEV)

B. Love integrates our life.
"Love is more important than anything else.  It is what ties everything
completely together."                   Colossians 3:14 (CEV)

"No matter what I say or what I believe or what I do, I'm bankrupt
without love."                                I Corinthians 13:13 (The Message)

C. Love counters our sins.
·       God's love counters our sins.
"God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying…He took
them away and nailed them to the Cross."  
                                   Colossians 2:14 (CEV)
·       Our loving actions counter our sins.
"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for
love covers a multitude of sins."                             I Peter 4:8

D. Love lasts forever.
"Three things will continue forever: faith, hope, and love.  And the greatest
of these is love."                               I Corinthians 13:13 (NCV)

II. WE'LL KNOW LOVE IS THE PRIORITY OF OUR LIFE BY HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME.

A. "We must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words."                                                             I John 3:18 (GW)

B. The essence of our love relationship with another is not what we give, not what
we do, but what we are.  "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."                                                                          Galatians 5:6

C. We should make more time for those we love.
"Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who
loved you and gave Himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins."                                                                                        Ephesians 5:2

III. WE'LL KNOW LOVE IS THE PRIORITY WHEN IT’S AN IMMEDIATE PRIORITY.

A. Don't wait, start today.
 "Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone…"                                                                              Galatians 6:10

B. Who do you need to show love to today?
"Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it…never…wait
until tomorrow if you can help them now."
                                                                      Proverbs 3:27-28

  CONCLUSION

9/19/2010


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“It’s All about Love!” part 1 of a 7 week series

Dr. Scott E. Koenigsaecker
I John 4:7-12 & 16 ~ September 19, 2010

Introduction
A. What is your dominate life principle?

B. What does the Bible say should be our life principle?

• "Let love by your greatest aim."
I Corinthians 14:1
• "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind and all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. There are no commands more important than these."
Mark 12:30-31
• "Everything you do must be done with love."
I Corinthians 16:14

I. FIRST THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE LOVE BECAUSE GOD LOVES US.

A. God is the source of love in our universe and in our lives.
"Love comes from God for God is love." I John 4:7-8
"We love because God first loved us." I John 4:19

B. The realization that God truly loves us is very freeing.

C. People can't share a love they don't have.
• "We know and rely on the love God has for us."
I John 4:16

II. SECONDLY, THE BIBLE STATES THAT LOVE IS A CHOICE.

A. The decision to love is up to us;
• like the choice to love God.
"Choose to love the Lord your God…and commit yourself to Him." Deuteronomy 30:20
B. "How we operate as loving people, and who we love, will make a great difference in the course of our lives."
Psychologist Dr. John Townsend
C. Our choice is a matter of commitment.

III. THIRDLY, LOVE IS AN ACTION, NOT JUST AN EMOTION.

A. Love is more than mere attraction or arousal and more than sentiment.
"Let us love not with words or tongue but with action and in truth." I John 3:18
B. Love is something we do.

IV. LOVE IS ALSO A SKILL THAT WE CAN LEARN.

A. Loving is something we can get good at.
"Dear friends let us practice loving each other…."
I John 4:7
"Practice these things and devote yourself to them in order that your progress man be seen by all."
I Timothy 4:15

• "Loving people are growing people."
Dr. John Townsend

B. Over time love will become our habit.
"Continue to love each other with true Christian love." Hebrews 13:1

CONCLUSION
How are you doing at truly loving those around you?
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35