THETHREE LOVESOF A

DISCIPLEJn. 14:15-23

INTRODUCTION:

Jesus commissioned His apostles to make disciples (Mt. 28:18-20).

What does God expect of a disciple?

A disciple is a learner, follower, an adherent. Jesus wants us to learn from Him

(Mt. 11:28-30).

He expects many things. Especially love (2 Pet. 1:5-8).

What are we to love? Proper questions to ask:

There are at least three loves that we can discuss today that might help answer our questions.

How can we best show our love?

A disciple loves: The Lord… The brethren… The lost…

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt. 22:37).

A DISCIPLE LOVES THE LORD… Jesus taught His disciples to do so:

John wrote that you cannot love God without loving Christ (1 Jn. 5:1). Jesus said: “He who hates Me hates My Father also” (Jn. 15:23).

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, If you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:34-35).

A disciple then is one who loves both the Father and the Son.A DISCIPLE LOVES THE BRETHREN…

Jesus made this a mark of true discipleship.

THE LIFE-CYCLE OF LOVE

John made it a sign of spiritual life: “We know that we have

passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death” (1 Jn. 3:14).

“He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in dark- ness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his

brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 Jn. 2:9-11).

A DISCIPLE LOVES THE LOST… God loved the lost (Jn.

3:16). Jesus, obviously, had compassion for the lost “because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Mt. 9:35-38).

A disciple is one who loves God.

Paul exhibited great concern for the lost as well. “Brethren, my heart’s

desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (Rom. 10:1).

He “became all things to all men, that [he] might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:19-22). A disciple of Jesus is one who loves those who are lost in sin!

THETHREE LOVESOF A

DISCIPLEPart II

2 Pet. 1:5-8

A Disciple’s

LoveDemonstrat

edJn. 14:15-23

Review:

A disciple loves: The Lord… The brethren… The lost…

THE HOWS OF DEMONSTRATINGLOVE:

To God - Through worship… This best shows our love for

God. This assumes our worship is in harmony with what Jesus taught. In spirit and truth (Jn 4:23-24). In keeping with command- ments (Jn. 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10). Do so with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Mk. 12:30).

We worship God in two ways: Public assemblies (Heb. 10: 24-25). Private devotions (Mt. 6:6).

A disciple shows his love by his worship!

To Brethren – Through Fellowship… We best show our brothers

and sisters love by being together. By not forsaking the assembly together (Heb. 10:24-25). By longing to be together (Phil. 1:8). We are to fellowship

with brethren in two ways:

As a church, for the Lord’s supper and other means of edification (Acts 2:42-47; 20:7). By extending hospitality to one another.

• “…have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospit- able to one another without grumbling” (1 Pet. 4:8-9).

Disciples show love for each other by fellowship at church and home!

To The Lost – Through Evangelism…

Jesus showed His compassion in this way.

No better way to show love for those outside of Christ.

He taught the lost (Mt. 9:35-36). He requested prayer for people to teach the lost (Mt. 9:37-38). By developing and sending forth laborers (Mt. 10:1, 5-7).

We can show our concern for the lost in similar ways. Through individual and

congregational efforts. • “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you, with meek- ness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15).

• By supporting evangelist on foreign soil (Rom. 10:14-15).

Disciples demonstrate their love for the lost by engaging in both local and foreign evangelism!

CONCLUSION:

We can become effective disciples when we… Love the Lord

Love the brethren Love the lost

We can become effective as disciples by showing that love through… Public and private worship.

Fellowship: private and church. By local and foreign

evangelism.

Worship God in public, but not privately.

Fellowship with brethren at church but not in their homes.

Evangelize at home, but do nothing to support evangelism abroad.

Unfortunately, many Christians only love partially when they…

No matter how much we love asdisciples of Christ, we can always

improve.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in

knowledge and all discernment”(Phil. 1:9).