A QUESTION FOR YOUJohn 21: 15-17

THE BOAST

“EVEN IF EVERYONE ELSE FORSAKES YOU, I NEVER WILL!” (Mark 14:29)

THE WARNING“…I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, BEFORE THE COCK CROWS, YOU WILL DISOWN ME THREE TIMES.” (John 13:38)

THE THREE DENIALS

1. “You are not one of His disciples are you?” He replied, “I am not.” (John 18:17)

2. As Simon warmed himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it saying, “I am not.” (John 18: 25)

3. The high priests servant challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with Him?” He swore and denied it saying, “I don’t know the man.” And at that moment the cock began to crow. (John 18:27)

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me (100%) more than these?”He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love you (60%)He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me (100%)?”He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love you (60%).”He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

“He said to him a third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me (60%)?Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love me (60%)?” And he answered and said to him, “You know all things; You know that I love you (60%)Jesus said to him, “feed My sheep.” John 21:15-17

I. WHAT IS LOVE?

FOUR DIFFERENT WORDS FOR LOVE:

1.STORGE: PUPPY LOVE – AFFECTION2.EROS: ROMANTIC3.PHILEO: FRIENDSHIP (60%) (brotherly love)4.AGAPE: COMMITMENT (100%)

II. WHAT DOES LOVING JESUS LOOK LIKE IN OUR EVERY DAY LIFE?

1. PRIORITY: DO I PUT HIM FIRST IN MY LIFE?

“SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS…” Matthew 6:33

2. OBEDIENCE: DO I CONSISTENTLY OBEY HIS WILL IN MY LIFE?

“IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS…” John 14:15

3. PROXIMITY: DO I FOLLOW JESUS CLOSELY?

“MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE AND THEY FOLLOW ME…” John 15:3,4

4. WORSHIP: DO I EXALT HIM WITH MY LIFE?

“Make His praise glorious…all the earth will worship Thee.” Psalm 66:1,4

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: DO I ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS AND THANK HIM AND HONOR HIM?

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good…” Psalm 106:1

6. CONVERSATION: DO I CONVERSE WITH JESUS OFTEN?

“Pray without ceasing…” I Thess. 5:17

7. EXPECTANCY: DO I LOOK FOR HIS SOON RETURN?

“For all those who love (long for) His appearing.” II Tim. 4:8

III. HOW MUCH DO I LOVE JESUSAND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

THE TEST OF LOVE:

QUESTION #1: DO YOU LOVE ME WITH A 100% LOVE (AGAPE), MORE THAN THESE?

ANSWER: #1: I LOVE YOU WITH A 60% LOVE (PHILEO).

THE TEST OF LOVE, cont.

QUESTION #2: DO YOU LOVE ME WITH A 100% LOVE (AGAPE)?

ANSWER: #2: I LOVE YOU WITH A 60% LOVE (PHILEO)

THE TEST OF LOVE cont.

QUESTION #3: DO YOU LOVE ME WITH A 60% LOVE (PHILEO)?

ANSWER #3: YOU KNOW ALL THINGS. YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU 60% (PHILEO)

IV. HOW MUCH SHOULD I LOVE JESUS?

“THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITHALL YOUR HEARTALL OUR SOULALL YOUR MINDALL YOUR STRENGTH

THIS IS THE GREAT AND FIRST COMMANDMENT Matthew 22:37

V. WHAT DO I DO WITH THE LOVE THAT I PRESENTLY HAVE FOR JESUS?

SERVE GOD AND OTHERS WITH WHERE YOU ARE AT TODAY! “FEED MY LAMBS” VS. 15 “TEND MY SHEEP” VS. 16 “FEED MY SHEEP” VS. 17

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

1.LOVE IS THE RESULT OF A PROCESS IN OUR LIVES THAT CAUSES OUR LOVE TO GROW AND INCREASE AND ABOUND!

“And this I pray, that your love will abound still more and more…” Phil. 1:9“May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love…” I Thess. 3:12

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

2.GOD CALLS US TO SERVE HIM TODAY WITH THE LEVEL OF LOVE THAT WE PRESENTLY HAVE – AND AS WE DO, HE WILL INCREASE IT

“I have a 60% love…” (feed my lambs)

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

3. ONE OF THE KEYS TO OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AND PROGRESS IN OUR LIVES, IS TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES AND HONEST WITH GOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY

THE QUESTION FOR YOU:

JESUS WOULD ASK EACH ONE OF US:

(NAME) DO YOU LOVE ME?