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Walking in Love
Introduction:
1. According to the Scriptures, Christians are to be: a. "people of faith" (Hebrews 10:38) b. "people of hope" (1 Peter 1:3) c. "people of love" (Ephesians 5:1-2). 2. Please note from Ephesians 5:1-2 that God's people are to "walk in love." 3. Some helpful guidelines for "walking in love" are given in Romans 12:9. a. Love is to be without "dissimulation" [hypocrisy]. b. We are to "abhor that which is evil" [there are things we must not love]. c. We are to "cleave to that which is good" [we must love that which is good]. 4. In our lesson we are contrasting 6 forbidden types of love with 6 types of love that we are to possess. 5. Let us begin by pointing out that . . . Discussion: I. THE BIBLE FORBIDS CERTAIN TYPES OF LOVE A. (John 12:42-43) We must not love "the praise of men more than the praise of God." 1. The Pharisees had this problem, and it kept them from confessing the Lord. 2. If we want Jesus to confess us we must confess Him (Matthew 10:32-33). B. (I Timothy 6:10) We must not love "money." 1. The love of money: a. prevented the rich young ruler from following Jesus (Matthew 19:16-22) b. caused the first scandal in the church (Acts 5:1-11). 2. In I Timothy 6:17-19, Paul showed us what God wants. C. (II Timothy 3:1-2a) We must not love ourselves [think too highly of ourselves -- Romans 12:3]. D. (II Timothy 3:4) We must not be "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." E. (I John 2:15-17) We must not love "the world." F. (III John 9) We must not love having "preeminence." II. THE BIBLE COMMANDS US TO POSSESS CERTAIN TYPES OF LOVE A. We are to love God (Matthew 22:37; I John 5:3). B. We are to love Christ (Matthew 10:37; John 14:15). C. We are to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:39; 7:12). D. We are to love our fellow Christians (John 13:34-35). E. We are to love God's Word (Psalm 119:97). F. We are to love the lost (Romans 10:1). Conclusion: 1. "Walking in love" is an important activity for God's children (Ephesians 5:2a). 2. We learn from Ephesians 5:2b that Christ is to be our example. 3. Let us examine our love as well as the objects of our love to determine if we truly are "walking in love." | ||