(9 Marks)

"I will run... "I will run... for you have…"for you have…"

- Psalm 119:32 (NIV)- Psalm 119:32 (NIV)

"I will run "I will run

in the path of your commandsin the path of your commands

for you have for you have

set my heart free"set my heart free"


Mark 1:Mark 1:

A Disciple loves God passionatelyA Disciple loves God passionately

Mark 2: Mark 2:

A Disciple loves the Word of GodA Disciple loves the Word of God

Mark 3:Mark 3:

A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer lifeA Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life

Mark 4: Mark 4:

A Disciple gives up in order to gain A Disciple gives up in order to gain

Mark 5:Mark 5:

A Disciple lovesA Disciple loveslike God…like God…

Mark 5:Mark 5:


Love your enemies…Love your enemies…

Pretends to be your friendPretends to be your friend

Starts the rumor that keepsStarts the rumor that keepsyou from being promotedyou from being promoted

Bullies your son or daughterBullies your son or daughterTill they try to end itTill they try to end it

Hits a womanHits a woman

Hits a womanHits a womanTerrorizes the kidsTerrorizes the kids

In-Law who constantlyIn-Law who constantlymakes you feel like garbagemakes you feel like garbage

"Love your enemies…"?"Love your enemies…"?

Mark 5:Mark 5:


Why does it matter?Why does it matter?Reflecting God glorifies GodReflecting God glorifies God

Church is Church is the body of Christthe body of Christ

The visible representationThe visible representationOf Christ upon the earthOf Christ upon the earth

Church is Church is the body of Christthe body of Christ

The visible representationThe visible representationOf Christ upon the earthOf Christ upon the earth

What people see in usWhat people see in usIs what they know of JesusIs what they know of Jesus

How we treat one anotherHow we treat one another


How we treat those How we treat those outside the Familyoutside the Family


How we treat those How we treat those outside the Familyoutside the Family

How we treat our enemiesHow we treat our enemies

Jesus tell his church…Jesus tell his church…

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:

just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples,

if you have love for one another”- John 13:34-35

(LGLP)Context: Dirty Feet!

Mark 5:Mark 5:

A Disciple lovesA Disciple lovesLike GodLike God

It empowers our PurposeIt empowers our Purposeand Missionand Mission

"I'm trying to love her…""I'm trying to love her…"


"I just don't love you anymore…""I just don't love you anymore…"


"I just don't love you anymore…""I just don't love you anymore…"

"I just love you SO MUCH right now""I just love you SO MUCH right now"

God's Love is not Emotion-basedGod's Love is not Emotion-based

God's Love= God's Love= AgapeAgape: :

SelflessSelfless vs. "What's in it for me?" vs. "What's in it for me?"UnconditionalUnconditional vs. "Don't screw up" vs. "Don't screw up"

SacrificingSacrificing vs. "Not if it costs me" vs. "Not if it costs me"

God's Love comes fromGod's Love comes fromWhoWho he is he is

And is And is proved byproved byWhat he has committed toWhat he has committed to

God's Love comes fromGod's Love comes fromWhoWho he is he is

And is And is proved byproved byWhat he has committed toWhat he has committed to

For God so loved the world…For God so loved the world…

Our Love for PeopleOur Love for PeopleComes from GodComes from God

We love because he first loved us

I can only love people as God intendedI can only love people as God intended

If I love God as Christ providedIf I love God as Christ provided

We love because he first loved us

Only if I know GodCan I love others like God

Implications for all relationshipsSelfless, Unconditional, Sacrificial

I only love GodI only love GodIf I love peopleIf I love people

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother,

he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen

cannot love God whom he has not seen

- 1 John 4:19-20

God wants more for youGod wants more for youThan you want for youThan you want for you

Love beyond your capabilitiesLove beyond your capabilities

A Zealot and a Tax CollectorA Zealot and a Tax CollectorWalk into a BarWalk into a Bar


What changed? What changed? Emotions and Convictions?Emotions and Convictions?


What changed? What changed? Emotions and Convictions?Emotions and Convictions?

Love beyond their capabilitiesLove beyond their capabilities

God wants more through youGod wants more through youFor your worldFor your world

Than you can possibly conceiveThan you can possibly conceive

His love working through youHis love working through you

Why does it matterWhy does it matterif I love like God loves?if I love like God loves?

Because God wants to do moreBecause God wants to do moreIn this ValleyIn this Valley

Than is currently being doneThan is currently being done

Mark 5:Mark 5:


How Does God Love?How Does God Love?

Working Definition:Working Definition:

Love is Love is notnot an emotion an emotionBut a decision of the willBut a decision of the will

Love is not an emotionLove is not an emotionBut a decision of the willBut a decision of the will

To serveTo serve people peopleAccording to their needs According to their needs

Love is not an emotionLove is not an emotionBut a decision of the willBut a decision of the will

To serve peopleTo serve peopleAccording to their needs According to their needs

Whether they deserve it or notWhether they deserve it or notEven if it means Even if it means sacrificesacrifice

Jesus is God's LoveJesus is God's LoveIn ActionIn Action

I can act without lovingI cannot love without acting

“If you love me, you will obey what I command…Whoever has my

commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me… He who does not

love me will not obey my teaching- Jesus, John 14:15, 21, 24

Love for GodIs not words

or even emotions

But action

This is love for God: to obey his commands.

And his commands are not burdensome

- I John 5:3

Love means actionObeying God by Faith

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said,

‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’

And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he

changed his mind and went.

And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered,

‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.”

Jesus said to them,

“Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into

the kingdom of God before you"

- Matthew 21:28-21

Talking the talk is AmericanWalking the walk is Christian

Jesus constantly exposesThe hypocrisy of people

Who claim to have received

God's love

Yet refuse to show loveTo people made in his image

A Jew and a SamaritanNever walk into the same bar…

Half-breeds (Jew and Babylonian)

Not allowed to worship in synagogues

Prayers asking God To not grant forgiveness

A lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying,

“Teacher, what shall I do to inheriteternal life?”

He said to him, “What is written in the Law?

How do you read it?”

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength

and with all your mind,and your neighbor as yourself.”

And he said to him, “You have answered correctly;

do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus,

“And who is my neighbor?”

Just like us…

Jesus replied,“A man was going down

from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him

and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead…

Now by chance a priest was going down that road,

Now by chance a priest was going down that road,

and when he saw him he passed by on the other side…

So likewise a Levite,when he came to the place

and saw him,

So likewise a Levite,when he came to the place

and saw him, passed by on the other side.

Reasons are never excuses

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed,

came to where he was,

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed,

came to where he was, and when he saw him,

he had compassion.

He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.

Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn

and took care of him.

And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the

innkeeper, saying,

‘Take care of him,and whatever more you spend,

I will repay you when I come back.’

And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the

innkeeper, saying,

‘Take care of him,and whatever more you spend,

I will repay you when I come back.’

Out of God's blessingsTo a man who hates him

Which of these three, do you think,

proved to be a neighbor to the man

who fell among the robbers?”

Proved to be a neighbor = showed love

He said, “The one who showed him mercy.”

And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise”

- Luke 10:25-37

In ChristMy love must lead to action

AND…I give up the right

To decide who I will love

Who do I hate?

Do I have that right?

Does that meanI have the emotion of love

Towards them?

Mark 5:Mark 5:


““You have heard that it was said,You have heard that it was said,‘You shall love your neighbor and hate ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate

your enemy.’ your enemy.’

But I say to you, But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray Love your enemies and pray (action)(action)

for those who persecute you…for those who persecute you…

How do you love? Pray for…How do you love? Pray for…

……so that you may beso that you may besons of your Father who is in heaven.sons of your Father who is in heaven.

For he makes his sun rise For he makes his sun rise (action)(action) on the evil and on the good,on the evil and on the good,

and sends rain and sends rain (action)(action) on the just and on the just and on the unjust.on the unjust.

How does God love? Blesses.How does God love? Blesses.

For if you love those who love you, For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? what reward do you have?

Do not even the tax collectors do the Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet same? And if you greet (action)(action) only only

your brothers, what more are you your brothers, what more are you doing than others? doing than others?

Do not even the Gentiles Do not even the Gentiles do the same?do the same?

You therefore You therefore must be perfect, as your must be perfect, as your

heavenly Father is perfectheavenly Father is perfect

- Jesus, Matthew 5:43-48- Jesus, Matthew 5:43-48

I glorify God by giving up the rightI glorify God by giving up the rightTo choose who I will loveTo choose who I will love

And instead, serveAnd instead, serve

But I don't love himBut I don't love himI don't love herI don't love her

I'm angry I'm angry and feel no love whatsoeverand feel no love whatsoever

You aren't responsible to programYou aren't responsible to programyour emotionsyour emotions

You ARE responsible to:You ARE responsible to:

ForgiveForgiveWeed out bitternessWeed out bitterness

Serve according to needsServe according to needs

Mark 5:Mark 5:


How?How?

Start with knowing GodStart with knowing God

How?How?

- Serve fellow believers- no excuses- Serve fellow believers- no excuses- Serve family- even when you don't - Serve family- even when you don't

feel like itfeel like it- Treat unbelievers well- Treat unbelievers well- Seek the best for everyone- Seek the best for everyone

How would this kind of loveHow would this kind of lovechange your world?change your world?

How would this kind of loveHow would this kind of lovechange their perception of Christchange their perception of Christand his Church?and his Church?

How does this kind of loveHow does this kind of loveempower our Purpose (glorify God)empower our Purpose (glorify God)and Mission (make disciples)?and Mission (make disciples)?

You therefore You therefore must be perfect, as your must be perfect, as your

heavenly Father is perfectheavenly Father is perfect

- Jesus, Matthew 5:43-48- Jesus, Matthew 5:43-48

"I will run in the path "I will run in the path of your commandsof your commands

for you have for you have set my heart free"set my heart free"


(9 Marks)

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