momentumLoving God

Mark 12:30 (NIV) ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with

all your strength.”’

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Love: desiring the best for the

other

What is the best for God?

Knowing God’s perfect heart for all and co-operating in His plan.

Ephesians 1:4-5He created the universe as a place for

us to be born, and respond to His love invitation to be adopted into His family forever, becoming like Him – He wants to fill the earth with love.

John 14:15If anyone loves Me, he

will obey what I command.

Why is it loving to obey God?

Because God is love and His commands direct us to the

best outcome for all.

Attitude to commands

1. Disobey to resist interference in my plans.2. Obey to stay out of trouble.3. Obey to get benefits.4. Obey to please the Father and co-operate in His wonderful plan.

Know & experience God By His creation

God’s invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from

what has been made (Romans 1:19-20).

Know & experience God By His word

Creator – childrenRedeemer – invitation

King – imitationJudge – rewards

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But He is at heart first a Father His mercy

triumphs over judgment – life is not

about right and wrong but about connection with Him, with Dad.

Know & experience God

By His SpiritListen to Him personally and talk

to Him by spending time with Him – you are unique.

Know & experience God

In community fellowshipLearning of God’s family diversity

and learning to live for others and not for ourselves.

Matthew 25:34-36 For you gave Me something to eat,

gave Me something to drink, invited Me in, clothed Me, looked after Me

when sick, visited Me in prison.

Example of Jesus Christ

In losing our lives for the benefit of the interests of others, we

actually discover our true selves.

Know & experience God

Bring others into the family and demonstrate His character.

God is love‘Love never fails.’

‘The greatest of these is love.’Love is a choice, not a feeling.

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GODLY = Choosing love as a character trait:

intentional response to promote well-being when responding to that which has generated ill-being.

1 John 4:20-21 (NIV) ‘If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.’

Jesus simplifies the commands

If anyone loves Me he will obey what I command. This is My

command: Love one another as I have loved you.

Loving God 1. Know Him and His heart – spend time in His creation and His Word.2. Obey His commands – co-operate in His plan.3. Spend time with Him listening and praying.

Loving God 4. Live for others’ interests in your community – assist those who are vulnerable.5. Bring others into the family – make the invitation.6. Choose God’s character of love, no matter what.