Experiencing and Expressing Christ's Love in Community

I know Jesus loves me and and the church says you know Jesus loves me and they love me too but why doesn't anyone want me this is an orphan speaking and it's just uh it gripped my heart when I heard that and and when the child said I know Jesus loves me but why doesn't anyone want me. [00:06:32]

By this we know no love that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay our down lay down our lives for the brothers but if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need and yet his heart closes his heart against him how does God's love abide in him little children let us not love in word or talk but indeed and in truth. [00:06:58]

Sacrificial love it's actually rooted in Christ's example in Jesus's example in verse 16 by this we know love that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers see the Greek word that was used here to know means to perceive or to understand through experience so which means the only way you know is when you experience. [00:07:50]

The only way we can love others is if it's hinged on the love of Christ towards us it will be hard for us to express that love if we have not received it or experienced it knowing love is not theoretical but experiential and it is rooted in the cross the second theme that John presents to us is genuine Faith which is shown through actions and not near words. [00:08:30]

If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need yet closes his heart against him how does God's love abide in him and that phrase right there grip me yet closes his heart means to shut off one's inner affections or compassion actually you see when we deliberately refuse to show Mercy or kindness the love of God he says does not abide in us. [00:08:56]

Caring for one another's needs is by the community Verse 18 He says little children and this is a it's a term of endearment that John uses little children not literally as in kids right but my dear children let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth deed and Truth they go together once we understand the truth of God. [00:09:43]

Once we've received the word of God once we've embraced the truth of God through the cross then deeds will follow true love manifests in concrete actions aligned with genuine motives and as I wrap it up let me give you application questions that will help help us it's the questions I'll give you is very Sim similar uh they actually weave onto each other. [00:10:09]

What prevents you and me from showing compassion and generosity how can you overcome these barriers second thing what worldly possessions might be you holding okay might you be holding onto that could be used to bless someone else and that's a good question to say sometimes we do have other things and how many of you know we're blessed. [00:10:41]

There are things that are in our possessions that we don't maybe it's not something that we really need but somebody else might benefit and might be blessed by it what would that be and number three what specific ways can you model Christ's love in your family you know simple ways like telling them that you love them serving your family. [00:11:07]

Sometimes we're so good in serving the church but we forget serving our family serving our workplace or our community this week and I hope this is helpful I pray that the Lord will allow us to think through these questions and to be able to apply them by the grace of God Amen Lord I pray for those who are listening in today. [00:11:27]

I pray in the name of Jesus Lord that the love of God that we've received would be expressed and be demonstrated through us and onto other people in Jesus name we pray. [00:11:54]