Make Love The Measure of Maturity
MAKE LOVE THE MEASURE OF MATURITY
Main Scripture: John 13:35, 1 Cor. 13:1-13
Additional Scriptures: Isaiah 50:4, Matthew 7:1-5
POINTS:
The Problem:
We make and multiply disciples that don’t know how to love.
We don’t know how to love others because we don’t know how to love ourselves, so we over-function and under-function in relationship with one another.
We bring our old nature and responses into our relationships.
We choose being right over being loving.
The Solution: Loving others as Jesus loves them.
Ask three questions of ourselves as we engage in connection with others:
Are we fully present or distracted?
Are we loving them or judging them?
We turn our differences into virtues of moral superiority
Are we open or closed to being changed?
Jesus teaches us three dynamics when loving others:
Enter into each other’s world by practicing empathy.
Hold on to yourself in relationship with others.
Live in the tension of two worlds.