How’s Your LOVE Life? (Based on « The Relationship Principles of Jesus » by Tom Holladay)...

How’s Your LOVE Life?(Based on « The Relationship

Principles of Jesus » by Tom Holladay)

Matthew 23:1 - 12Mark 10:32 - 45

How’s Your LOVE Life?

• These two portions of Scripture are not written as direct commands but rather as definite relationship principles.

• Jesus emphatically said those who serve will have the highest distinction.

• Jesus is trying to teach us that there needs to be a definite connection between our desire to be great, and our decision to humbly serve.


• Jesus had a constant theme in His teaching; that showed true greatness coming only through the path of service.

• There are three reasons why we should possess and follow through with Godly ambitions:

• 1. We are created by God, and we need to live out the purpose for which we were created.


• 2. God has given us the responsibility of managing the world.

• 3. We are to reflect God’s image in this world. • Jesus’ ultimate goal is to have us dependent

on the Father in every aspect.• Jesus said ‘unless you change and become like

little children’ we would not be able to develop a humble attitude of dependence.


• Our relationships are filled with the need to be noticed. • When we humble ourselves however, and consciously

focus on seeing the needs of others, we begin to look at the world differently.

• Jesus taught us that there was freedom in the ability to see, care about, and act on the needs of those around us.

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• We are to be aware that we don’t get caught up in symbols. We are not to seek recognition and honour. We are not to be known by our titles, for the wrong reasons.

• If we are to be humble in our relationships then we will consciously look for opportunities to assist others in their visible areas of need.


• The author suggests that the only way we can do this is to trust God to meet our need for recognition.

• When you start to meet the needs of others, your own stress level drops; because you’ve taken the focus off the needs in your own life which can cause negative thoughts.


• Another trap we need to watch out for is the tendency to compare ourselves, one to another. Jesus taught that greatness is not a matter of winning a competition, or

appearing to be the greatest; but rather that greatness is a matter of humbly living the life God gave you to live to the best of your ability as He enables you.


• If we adopt this attitude towards greatness then we are equally satisfied wherever we find God places us.

• When we choose to exalt ourselves, we end up with a do-it-yourself design for relating to God.

• To avoid this trap, we must learn to trust in God and become more dependent upon Him.


• There is a definite connection between our abiding in Christ, and our ability to love as He intends us to love.

• Jesus promises that if we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit……and His joy will remain in us, so that our joy may be full.

• Remember, humility is not putting yourself down.


• It’s being honest about who you are – your strengths and your weaknesses; and it’s about being honest about who God is – about His strength, His goodness, His faithfulness, and what He can accomplish through your life.

• Humility sets us free to trust God and to live out His ambition for our lives.

TITLE

• The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

How’s Your LOVE Life? (Based on « The Relationship Principles of Jesus » by Tom Holladay)...

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