7/25/22

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.

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Emotionally Healthy Discipleship: Growing from Grief