1. According to 1 John 4:16, "God is love." 2. This morning we covered 3 things that God does for His children because He is love. 3. This verse also shows that God's children are to dwell in love. 4. Those who dwell in love are blessed in that: a. they dwell in God b. God dwells in them. 5. In our lesson we are examining passages that teach us what we need to know about dwelling in love. 6. Let us begin by pointing out that . . .
Discussion:
I. WE ARE NOT TO DWELL IN CERTAIN TYPES OF LOVE
A. (John 12:42-43) We must not love "the praise of men more than the praise of God." 1. This problem prevented the Pharisees 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 in the sense of thinking 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. WE ARE TO DWELL IN 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. In I Corinthians 13:13 the Bible shows us how important love is. 2. Love is so important that we are to dwell in it. 3. Those who dwell in love are assured that: a. they dwell in God b. God dwells in them.
