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New Hope EFC - July 19, 2009
We are call to love Love God. Love One Another. Love the World. There are three loves that stand at the center of God’s great dream for humanity, that ring true in our hearts as the full expression of life and encompass the essence of Jesus’ message. When these three loves find a home in a people, history is forever changed for the good. As an ordinary rag-tag group of friends (here at New Hope) we have made it our goal, our joy, and our vow to love in three directions.
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20)
1. Love God: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. We love because he first loved us. (1 Jn. 4:10; 16;19) Come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. Your face, Lord, I will seek. (Is 55:3; Ps 27:8)
2. Love One Another: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12-13) For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matt. 6:14) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. (Eph 4:29)
3. Love The World: As you go, share this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matt. 10:7-8) Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ...pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. (Col. 4:3-5) If you spend yourself on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness (Is 58:10). (Also Eph. 6:19-20)
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