1 Peter 1:22-25Loving Other Christians
700 “Friends”
Something unidentified and insidious is lurking in the shadows like a 'thing in the bushes,' and it has the organization in a death grip.
Kevin Graham Ford and James D. Osterhaus
Sustainable:A method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged
Encourage:To give hope or promise…(This is more than wishing for something that has no foundation.)
BIG
IDEA We are called to genuine sacrificial love for
each other because of God’s life-giving and transformational work in our lives through His Word.
1 Peter 1:22-25
Challenging Command
Encouraging Resource
What’s so challenging about
the Command?
What’s so encouraging about
the Resource?
I Peter 1:22-2522 Now that you have purified yourselves
by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers,
love one another deeply, from the heart.
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of
God.
What’s so challenging about
the Command?
I Peter 1:22-2522 Now that you have purified yourselves
by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers,
love one another deeply, from the heart.
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of
God.
Genuine
Energetic
Sacrificial
Focused
John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Most people really believe that the Christian commandments … are intentionally a little too severe—like putting the clock ahead half an hour to make sure of not being late in the morning.
Soren Kierkegaard1813-1855
What’s so challenging about
the Command?
What’s so encouraging about
the Resource?
I Peter 1:22-2522 Now that you have purified yourselves
by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers,
love one another deeply, from the heart.
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of
God.
I Peter 1:22-2524 For,
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
Isaiah 40:6-8
What’s so challenging about
the Command?
What’s so encouraging about
the Resource?
I Peter 1:22-2522 Now that you have purified yourselves
by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers,
love one another deeply, from the heart.
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of
God.
Process?
Revelation
GenuineSacrificial
Love
Faith/Obedience
New Birth
Transformation
Process?
BIG
IDEA We are called to genuine sacrificial love for
each other because of God’s life-giving and transformational work in our lives through His Word.
1 Peter 1:22-25
Challenging Command
Encouraging Resource
Where did Peter get this big idea?
BIG
IDEA We are called to genuine sacrificial love for each
other because of God’s life giving and transformational work in our lives through His Word.
1 Peter 1:22-25
ACTION
Step 1: Focus on God’s Word for your understanding of loving relationships. (I Cor. 13:4-8)
Step 2: Submit to God’s work in your life through His Word. (Hebrews 4:12)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
BIG
IDEA We are called to genuine sacrificial love for each
other because of God’s life giving and transformational work in our lives through His Word.
1 Peter 1:22-25
ACTION
Step 1: Focus on God’s Word for your understanding of loving relationships. (I Cor. 13:4-8)
Step 2: Submit to God’s work in your life through His Word. (Hebrews 4:12)
Anselm of Canterbury12th Century
Restless believers are like trees that are frequently transplanted or often disturbed…
Anselm of Canterbury12th Century
If he often moves from place to place at his own whim, or remaining in one place is frequently agitated by hatred of it, [he] never achieves stability with roots of love.