Embracing Love: A Challenge for 2025
Summary
As we gather on this final day of 2024, I want to share a challenge for the coming year, inspired by the command to love God and love people. This is rooted in Matthew 22:37-39, where Jesus emphasizes the importance of loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. This year, let's focus on embodying this commandment, understanding that loving others begins with loving ourselves. It's not about pride but recognizing our worthiness of love.
Reading the Bible and spending time with God should reflect in our interactions with others. If we immerse ourselves in scripture but harbor hatred, we must question if we truly embody Jesus' love. The 2025 challenge is to love God and people, acknowledging that we won't always succeed, but striving to improve daily. Love is not about perfection but persistence.
The fruits of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23, are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not separate entities but products of love. When we operate in love, these qualities naturally manifest. Love is the root from which all other virtues grow.
It's love that changes the world, not condemnation. Condemnation may yield short-term results but breeds long-term resentment. Instead, we must choose love, even when it's challenging. Jesus exemplified this on the cross, forgiving those who wronged him. We are called to do the same, recognizing that others' negative behaviors often stem from their own wounds.
To love effectively, we must understand that people's reactions are not our responsibility. We can choose how we respond, and forgiveness is key. Forgive as many times as necessary until your feelings align with that forgiveness. This process is crucial for healing and living in freedom.
As we enter 2025, let's commit to loving deeply, forgiving ourselves and others, and speaking Jesus into our lives. Love is the essence of our existence, and through it, we can transform the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. Love as the Foundation: Love is the root of all virtues, producing joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we operate in love, these qualities naturally manifest in our lives. [01:11:52]
2. The Power of Forgiveness: Forgiveness is a process that requires intentionality. It's not enough to say "I forgive you" while harboring anger. We must work towards genuine forgiveness until our feelings align with our words. [01:22:45]
3. Understanding Others' Wounds: Recognize that negative behaviors often stem from personal wounds. By understanding this, we can respond with compassion rather than taking their actions personally. [01:21:35]
4. Love Over Condemnation: Love changes the world, not condemnation. While condemnation may yield short-term results, it breeds long-term resentment. Choosing love, even when it's difficult, leads to lasting transformation. [01:17:17]
5. Living in Love Daily: Loving God and people is a daily commitment. We won't always succeed, but striving to love better each day is what matters. Love is a choice, and through it, we can transform our lives and the world around us. [01:26:28]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:01:21] - Announcements and Recognitions
[01:03:10] - Honoring Hanukkah
[01:04:53] - Upcoming Events and Vision Sunday
[01:06:38] - Men's Retreat and Sign-Ups
[01:08:10] - The Command to Love
[01:09:33] - Fruits of the Spirit
[01:10:21] - The Essence of Love
[01:11:52] - Love Produces Fruits
[01:12:54] - Practicing Love Daily
[01:13:38] - Challenges in Loving Others
[01:14:39] - The Nature of Love
[01:16:09] - Love's Enduring Power
[01:17:17] - Love vs. Condemnation
[01:19:10] - Choosing Love in Difficult Times
[01:20:24] - God's Love as Our Model
[01:21:35] - Understanding and Forgiving Others
[01:22:45] - The Process of Forgiveness
[01:24:19] - Living Out Love and Kindness
[01:25:19] - Love as a Choice
[01:26:28] - Love Changes the World
[01:27:45] - Commitment to Love in 2025
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 22:37-39
2. Galatians 5:22-23
3. 1 Corinthians 13:1-7
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Matthew 22:37-39, what are the two greatest commandments that Jesus emphasizes? How do these commandments relate to each other?
2. In Galatians 5:22-23, what are the fruits of the Spirit listed, and how are they described as being interconnected with love? [01:11:52]
3. How does 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 describe love, and what are some characteristics of love mentioned in this passage? [01:14:39]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between love and the other fruits of the Spirit? [01:11:52]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might understanding the command to love God and love people as described in Matthew 22:37-39 influence a person's daily interactions and priorities? [01:08:10]
2. The sermon suggests that love is the root from which all other virtues grow. How does this perspective change the way one might approach developing the fruits of the Spirit in their life? [01:11:52]
3. In what ways does the sermon propose that forgiveness is a process, and why is it important to align one's feelings with the act of forgiveness? [01:22:45]
4. How does recognizing that others' negative behaviors often stem from personal wounds help in responding with compassion rather than taking their actions personally? [01:21:35]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent interaction where you struggled to love someone as yourself. What could you have done differently to embody the commandment in Matthew 22:37-39? [01:08:10]
2. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 to focus on this month. What specific action could you take to cultivate it as part of your interactions with your family? [01:11:52]
3. Think of a person who tests your patience. What is a short prayer you can say before the next time you interact with that person to help you respond with love and patience? [01:13:38]
4. Identify a situation where you need to practice forgiveness. What steps can you take to ensure your feelings align with your decision to forgive? [01:22:45]
5. Reflect on a time when you felt condemned rather than loved. How can you ensure that your words and actions towards others are rooted in love rather than condemnation? [01:17:17]
6. Consider a personal wound that affects how you interact with others. What steps can you take towards healing, and how might this change your relationships? [01:21:35]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of speaking Jesus into your daily life to help transform your interactions and relationships with others? [01:27:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Love as the Root of Virtues
Love is the foundation from which all virtues grow. When we operate in love, qualities such as joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control naturally manifest in our lives. This is not a mere coincidence but a divine design. Love is the root that nourishes and sustains these virtues, allowing them to flourish. As we focus on loving God and others, we create an environment where these fruits of the Spirit can thrive. This year, let us strive to cultivate love in our hearts, knowing that it will lead to a life rich in spiritual fruit. [01:11:52]
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Reflection: Think of a virtue you struggle with. How can you focus on love to help this virtue grow in your life today?
Day 2: The Intentional Process of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not a one-time act but a continuous process that requires intentionality and effort. It's easy to say "I forgive you," but true forgiveness involves aligning our feelings with our words. This means actively working through any lingering anger or resentment until genuine forgiveness is achieved. This process is crucial for our own healing and freedom, as it allows us to release the burden of bitterness and embrace peace. As we embark on this journey, let us remember that forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves, as much as it is a gift to others. [01:22:45]
Colossians 3:13 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
Reflection: Identify someone you need to forgive. What steps can you take today to begin aligning your feelings with your decision to forgive?
Day 3: Compassion Through Understanding
Understanding that negative behaviors often stem from personal wounds allows us to respond with compassion rather than taking actions personally. When we recognize that others' hurtful actions may be a reflection of their own pain, we can choose to respond with empathy and grace. This perspective shift helps us to not only protect our own hearts but also to extend love and understanding to those who may need it most. By doing so, we become instruments of healing and reconciliation in a world that desperately needs both. [01:21:35]
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV): "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Reflection: Think of a recent conflict. How might understanding the other person's wounds change your response to them?
Day 4: Choosing Love Over Condemnation
Love has the power to change the world, while condemnation often leads to resentment and division. Although condemnation may produce short-term compliance, it fails to bring about lasting transformation. Love, on the other hand, has the ability to heal, restore, and unite. By choosing love, even in difficult situations, we align ourselves with the example set by Jesus, who forgave those who wronged him. This choice requires courage and persistence, but it is through love that we can truly make a difference in the lives of others and in the world. [01:17:17]
1 Peter 4:8 (ESV): "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
Reflection: Recall a time when you felt condemned. How can you choose to respond with love instead of condemnation in a similar situation today?
Day 5: Daily Commitment to Love
Loving God and people is a daily commitment that requires intentionality and perseverance. We won't always succeed, but what matters is our willingness to strive to love better each day. Love is a choice, and through it, we can transform our lives and the world around us. As we enter this new year, let us commit to loving deeply, forgiving ourselves and others, and speaking Jesus into our lives. By doing so, we embrace the essence of our existence and become agents of change in a world that desperately needs love. [01:26:28]
1 John 4:7 (ESV): "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can commit to loving God and others more deeply today?
Quotes
"And I want to say that reading the Bible is important, right? Spending time in the presence of the Lord is equally important, but time with him and in his word should show interaction toward others, right? We can spend hours in the word, but if we hate people and don't treat them well, do we really have the love of Jesus in us?" [01:11:27] (24 seconds)
"So the 2025 challenge is to love God and love people, which means also loving people doesn't mean we beat ourselves up when we don't love people well, because we're going to not love people well. Every single day of 2025, I promise you there will be days I will not love people well, but every day I'm going to get up and I'm going to try, right? But I'm going to be real." [01:11:51] (22 seconds)
"But the Holy Spirit produces, this kind of fruit in our lives, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There's no law against those things. And lots of us can just rattle those off, right? So let me read the message version because it explains a little more detail. Same passage, but what happens when we live God's way? So what happens when we live God's way?" [01:10:21] (28 seconds)
"And I say that because if we really walked and operated in love, wouldn't that be evident? Since the product of love would be joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Isn't that the product of love? So I would challenge you, there is one fruit of the Spirit, it is love. And the product of that is everything else. They only come from love. That's what love produces." [01:11:52] (30 seconds)
"Love is choosing to practice those things with everyone we come in contact with. Everyone. Our children when they're on our last nerve. We choose to operate in kindness toward them. Kindness doesn't mean not disciplining. But you can discipline kindly. You can. You don't have to discipline condemningly. And let's be honest, it ain't always easy. Who is easiest to love? God. And people that don't get on our nerves. Right?" [01:13:38] (48 seconds)
"Condemnation may get you short-term results. But it gets you long-term resentment. That's just the truth. So if you find that you're condemning people, or your children, or your spouse, or your coworkers, or your neighbors, all you're going to breed is resentment. Or if you're condemning yourself, you'll resent yourself. We can't live like that. We just have to say no." [01:17:17] (32 seconds)
"Forgive, release, bless, and that is love, right? And so those people that have wounded us in the past, I do pray that the Lord blesses them, because I want the best for them that the Lord has for them, right? I never want to see somebody crumble or die or get what they have come into them. I don't want to see that. So recognize people are wounded, know that their behavior is not a reflection on you, and forgive as many times as you need to." [01:24:19] (27 seconds)
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