OMG! #2 -- Love: 041713

Message: OMG! – God of Love

I.                    Introduction

a.       Over the next few weeks we are going to be talking about different character traits of God.  Beyond this, God desires us to be like him, so we will show how we can live out that characteristic in our own lives.

b.      Tonight we are going to look at the character trait of love

                                                               i.      1^st John 4:8c says, “God is love.”

                                                             ii.      We have a God of love

II.                 Body

a.       What is Love?

                                                               i.      If we are saying God is love, what exactly does that mean?  What is this type of love?

                                                             ii.      The Greeks had 3 words for love: Eros, Philia, and Agape in order to differentiate what they meant when they said love.

1.      Eros meant lustful love, when you want something; you love it because of what you can get from it.  Can be for an object, a person of the opposite gender, or a person of the same gender.

a.       When you look at some one and check them out, that is Eros.  It is all about passion and emotion that comes and goes.

2.      Philia meant natural love.  It is a love that is built over time because of mutual relationship.  You love them, they love you. 

a.       When you say you  love your brother, sister, mom, or dad, that is Philia.  There is no romantic part of it, it is all about a built relationship. 

3.      Agape meant a sacrificial love.  It is a love that is for someone despite what they have done, and it always ends in an action. 

a.       When you take care of a stranger or help an enemy that is Agape.

                                                            iii.      When we talk about the love God has for us it is Agape.  He loves us despite what we do, no matter how bad or good we are He loves us.  And this was displayed for us when he died for us, a sacrifice we didn’t deserve.

                                                           iv.      This is the perfect love, while Eros is a corruption of love.  In one it is about what you can get out of it, instead of what you can give.

b.      Read 1^st Corinthians 13:4-8a – “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.”

                                                               i.      Go through the list as how God loves us

III.               Conclusion

a.       Read 1^st John 4:7-8 – “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

b.      This is the same passage that we started with.  It says that God is love, but it also says that we are love one another.  In fact we don’t it means we don’t know God, we aren’t in relationship with Him, we don’t get Him.

Read 1^st Corinthians 13:4-8a – “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.”

                                                               i.      Go through the list as how we should love others

d.      Are you loving like this?

Hero #2 -- 011112

Tonight we continued our series on how to be a hero.  We all have the ability to be a hero but in order to be one we have to love God (last week's message), love others (tonight's message), have soild character, and follow your destiny.  Matthew 22:35-40 tells us that we are to love your neighbor as our self.  Jesus in a nother place makes the point that our neighbor is any other human.  But the ability to love even our enemies doesn't come naturally.  Do you want to change the world?  Heroes change the world!  Loving others has the end result of changing the world for good.  If you love others you can change the world!  But only God can give you that love for the unlovable or even love those who have hurt us.  In order for us to love like God we have to: #1.  Allow him to change your heart to be like his.  #2.  Allow him to take away your wounds that others have inflicted on you.  #3.  Act on that love, the more you do it the more natural it becomes.  It is time to change the world and be a hero by loving our neighbor.

I give tonight: A-
Favorite moment: The second round of STL giving (go army men!)

How to Be a Hero #1 -- 010412

Tonight we began a series about how to be hero.  What exactly is a hero?  It is a legendary figure given great strength or ability, who shows great courage and is amdired for his or her achievements or noble qualities.  We all have the ability to be a hero but in order to be one, we have to commit to four things: loving God, loving others, having character, and following our destiny.  In Matthew 22:35-38 Jesus tells us the great commandment is to love God with everything in us (heart, soul, mind).  It is the greatest command because if we love God we are obyeing his commands, which means we will love others, we will have a solid character, and we will follow what he has called us to do.  How does a person love God?  By committing to loving him first and foremost, but maintaining their relationship with him instead of letting it slip, a by growing that relationship by getting to know him through the bible, prayer, and other experiences with him.  Loving God makes us a hero because we start on that path, it is him who gives us the strength, ability, and courage to acheieve greatness hand have nobel qualities, he also gives us a destiny to live and die for.  Do you want to be a hero?

I give tonight: C-
Favorite moment: Attendance awards

Risk #3 -- Risk to Love Differently: 042011

Tonight we continued with our Risk series by looking at the risk of loving differently. This is a risk because the way the world loves is the easiest path, though not the best, whereas if we love like God asks us to it will be a struggle. Our verses for the night were 1st John 4:19-21. We are to change who we love as well as how we love. Most people love those who are nice to them and themselves. But God calls us to love everyone and love Him as well. Most people associate love with an emotion, something that just happens that we have no control over, but the Bible teaches us that it is a choice and it is associated ith action. 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 gives us the best description of love: it is patient, kind, doesn't envy, doesn't boast, isn't proud, isn't rude, not self-seeking, isn't easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, doesn't delight in evil, rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, and never fails. Why should we take this risk? #1. All people are valuable. #2. God commands us to. #3. It will help to end drama. #4. It helps form our character to be more godly.

I give tonight: C
Favorite moment: "What's Love, Baby Don't Hurt Me!" -- Always fun to sing in front

181 Days -- Love Your Enemies: 092210

Tonight we continued our series on having 181 days to change your school into something that God wants it to be transformed into. The first step was for you to be changed by God, then bring God into everyday conversation, then to pray. Tonight we focused on the idea of how we treat others can transform our schools too. We read from Acts 9:1-19 in which a guy intent on killing christians is changed by God but loses his sight. A man named Ananias must pray for him to recieve his sight back, even though he didn't deserve it. But Ananias had been transformed by god, he had prayed and God directed him, and that prayer also brought about healing. Ananaias showed compassion and love isntead of fear and revenge, thus treating Saul better than he deserved. This changed the world, Saul ended up writing most of the NT and going on missionary journeys the rest of his life, just be cause Ananias allowed God to use him and he treated his enemy with love.

I give tonight: B
Favorite Moment: The Adam Johnson Story