TALK NO. 6LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR

CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

THE AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN

Talk by: sis Tintin SFC Mapandan

GOAL

Explain the meaning of Christian Love and to

help people apply Christian Love in their lives…

Define “LOVE”

Loving your neighbor, together with

loving God is a form of CORE of the

CHRISTIAN LIFE.

JESUS summed up the whole law in these

two greatest commandments.

LOVE IS . . . .

“If anyone says “ I LOVE GOD” but he

hates his brother, he is liar. For anyone who

does not love his brother, whom he has seen,

cannot love GOD whom has not seen. And

he has given us this command; Whoever

loves GOD must love his brother.”

1 JOHN 4:20-21

What Christian – LOVE is NOT?

1. Love is NOT only having POSITIVE FEELINGS

2. Love is NOT always saying “YES”

3. Love is NOT defensive

4. Love is NOT self-seeking

5. Love is NOT manipulative.

1. Love is NOT only having POSITIVE FEELINGS

Feelings of Sexual Attraction

Personal Affection

Warmth

BUT feelings change,

and thus cannot be the sole basis for love.

Feelings follow true love, but love is not equal to feelings

What Christian – LOVE is NOT?

2. Love is NOT always saying “YES”.

a. To serve others or put them first does not

mean never turning down opportunities

to serve.

b. We have wrong concept of a LOVING PERSON

As a NICE GUY who tries to please everybody.

What Christian – LOVE is NOT?

3. Love is NOT defensive

Love is a risky business.

Love seems to set one up to get hurt.

Christian love is not guaranteed to be painless.

BUT the pain endured through commitment, and injury is sustained through

forgiveness,

forbearance …

What Christian – LOVE is NOT?

4. LOVE is NOT SELF-SEEKING

Christian Love is READY for

SELF-DENIAL.

We recognize that putting others first can be bothersome or inconvenient for us.

What Christian – LOVE is NOT?

5. Love is NOT Manipulative

Sometimes we manipulate that LOVE is

REWARD

PUNISHMENT!

But when we get hurt is a

LOVE IS SO POWERFUL, people are tempted to use it

In this way.

But this is a CONDITIONAL FORM of LOVE.

What Christian – LOVE is NOT?

What is CHRISTIAN LOVE?

WHAT DOES GOD MEAN BY LOVE?

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.”

John 15:9-10

So they asked Him, “Who is the fellow who told you pick it up and walk?”

John 5:12

Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends.

John 15:14

You are my friends if you do what I command.

How does Jesus LOVE?John 15:13

But most are not called to actually die for others.

How the do we translate love into practical everyday terms?

John 13:1-5Foot Washing to His

Disciples

Dying on the Cross was not the only example Jesus gave.

He demonstrated

CHRISTIAN LOVE

as

SERVICE LOVE

JESUS commanded us to love each other

committed in our service. (Galatians 5:13-14)

Question: Who is your neighbor?

Can you choose whom to love?

The implication for us:All men in need of your help are your

NE

IG

HB

OR

The Good SamaritanLuke 10:29-37

How do we love in everyday

life?

Patient – slow to anger, able to give allowance for

shortcoming of others.

Kind – not an attitude of criticism, but posture and speech that is up building and encourage

Not Jealous – not coveting what others have.

Not pompous or inflated – humble

Not Rude – accord honor and respect to one another.

Characteristics of Christian Love.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Not self-seeking – not focused on having your rights met, but more on your duties

Not quick-tempered – able to master your emotions and feelings.

Not brood over injury – not holding grudges or resentments

Not Rejoicing over wrongdoing – always seeking the good of others, even enemies.

Rejoicing the truth – telling the truth to one another

Forbears – can bear insult, injury, disappointment, without taking counter action; has self-control.

Trusts – believing the best about other people.

Hopes – having a positive attitude towards life and problem; can remain joyful and peaceful under any circumstances.

Endures – can bear things, not with passive resignation but with triumphant fortitude.

Christian love is a command, and it is essential to

Christianity.

1. We have seen that

LOVE is NOT _____

2. We have seen that

Love is ______

We discuss the Characteristics of LOVE.

Conclusion

Always remember that:

God commanded us to LOVE

also gives us the power to love.

To enable us to love,

God made us temples of the Holy Spirit.