April 12-13, 2003      IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE! Luke 19:36-40; Selected

KNOWING WHAT LOVE DOES!

*** Luke 19:36-40 “And as he rode along, the people spread clothes on the road in front of him. Some took palm branches and went out to greet him. When Jesus was starting down the Mount of Olives, his large crowd of disciples were happy and praised God because of all the miracles they had seen. They shouted, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God." Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, make your disciples stop shouting!" But Jesus answered, "If they keep quiet, these stones will start shouting." [Contemporary English Version]

IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE!

$ THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN KNOW IS THAT GOD LOVES YOU and THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IS TO LOVE HIM BACK!

$ THE ONE WHO KNOWS YOU BEST LOVES YOU MOST!

THEY WERE FILLED WITH PRAISE BECAUSE:

1. LOVE HELPS THE HURTING!   

*** Matthew 9:35-36 “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages… preaching the Good News about the kingdom, and healing all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them because they were hurting and helpless….” [New Century Version]

*** Luke 7:11-16 “Jesus went to the village Nain. His disciples were with him, along with quite a large crowd. As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession—a woman's only son was being carried out for burial. And the mother was a widow. When Jesus saw her, his heart broke. He said to her, "Don't cry." Then he went over and touched the coffin. The pallbearers stopped. He said, "Young man, I tell you: Get up." The dead son sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother. They all realized… that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, "God is back, looking to the needs of his people!" [The Message]

*** Matthew 11:28-29 “Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.”

 [New Living Translation]

$ YOU CAN’T HAVE HIS HELP UNTIL YOU HAND HIM YOUR HURT!

2. LOVE HEALS WITH HOPE!

*** John 11:25-27 “Jesus then said, "I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord!" Martha replied. "I believe that you are Christ, the Son of God. You are the one we hoped would come into the world." [CEV]

*** Matthew 12:20-21 “He will not crush those who are weak, or quench the smallest hope, until he brings full justice with his final victory. And his name will be the hope of all the world." [NLT]

3. LOVE FLOWS WITH FORGIVENESS!

*** Luke 7:41-48 “Jesus told him, "Two people were in debt to a moneylender. One of them owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. Since neither of them could pay him back, the moneylender said that they didn't have to pay him anything. Which one of them will like him more?" Simon answered, "I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn't have to pay it back. “You are right," Jesus said. He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn't give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn't even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love." Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." [CEV]

4. LOVE PAYS THE PRICE!

*** John 13:1 “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.”

[New International Version]

5. LOVE DEMANDS OUR DEVOTION!

$ IN YOUR SURRENDER!

*** John 14:23 “Jesus replied, "All those who love me will do what I say.” [NLT]

$ IN YOUR STEWARDSHIP!

*** 2 Cor. 8:8 “I am not commanding you to give. But I want to see if your love is true by comparing you with others that really want to help.” [NCV]

$ IN YOUR SONG!

*** Col. 3:16 “Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives…. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.”