Sermon Introduction:

We’re in the final of our Think Like Jesus series. We’ve been talking about the values, values, characteristics, & attitudes of Jesus that he wants to develop in you and in me.

These are the building blocks of great relationships. This is how God wired the world to get along. When we have these kinds of values, values, characteristics, & attitudes then we are going to have great relationships.

Placed in us His values, His virtues, His characteristicsJesus is the Truth. Tell The Truth To God, To Yourself, and To OthersJesus is Powerful. What do you do when you are the most powerful person in your department? Church? Organization? Classroom? Family? Look for ways to leverage your power for the sake of the other people in the room.The Rest of Jesus. “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” What gets us in trouble is Aggression and Arrogance.Today we’re talking about The Love of Jesus.

Matthew 22:35-36: And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

5 major groups among Jews. Two most prominent were the Sadducees and the Pharisees.

Sadducees – Torah – 1st 5 books – only books – Sadducees didn’t believe in angels and demons or the afterlife. They tried to trip up Jesus by asking a question about the afterlife.

Pharisees – middle class – conservative – Believed all the Old Testament. Could be very legalistic. 613 commandments – loved to debate them.

Pharisee asks the question. “Expert in the law.” I imagine that he knew all 613 and was known to debate which ones were the most important.

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment.” Matthew 22:37

Any time Jesus says something is important – listen.

Jesus is referring to a verse in Deuteronomy 6

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deut. 6:4-5

known as the “shema” “listen” or “hear” and is the most famous of all Jewish sayings.

Heart, Soul, and Mind – with every part of your personality, unreservedly.

100% - Paradox: If you get this right, everything else will fall into place.Both act in a loving way and learn to be transformed by God who will change your motivations.

But how do we do this. How do we love God?

Gary Champan wrote a book several years ago call “The Five Love Language.” Great book to help husbands and wives understand how to speak each other’s love language.

He has written studies that relate the five love languages to married couples, children, teenagers, and “The Love Languages of God”

The five love languages are ...

1. Words of Affirmation

2. Quality Time

3. Gifts

4. Acts of Service

5. Physical Touch

Let's look at each one.

1. Words of Affirmation

God speaks words of affirmation. So many placed in the Word of God he affirms us and tells us He loves us, that He will never leave us.

For some of you, this is the primary way that you experience God’s love. You

How can I affirm God?

God loves to hear you praise Him.God loves to hear you thank HimHe loves to hear you speak words of affirmation to your children and to your wife and to your employees and to your friends.

How sweet Your word is to my taste—sweeter than honey to my mouth. Psalm 119:103

Put a star next to this if this is the way you experience God’s love on a regular basis.

2. Quality Time

“Quality time is time with each other, giving the other person full attention.” Chapman, p. 34.

For some of you this is the primary way you experience love from God. Your feeling is summed up in the following classic hymn:

IN THE GARDENI come to the garden aloneWhile the dew is still on the rosesAnd the voice I hear, falling on my earThe Son of God discloses

And He walks with meAnd He talks with meAnd He tells me I am His ownAnd the joy we share as we tarry thereNone other has ever known

He speaks and the sound of His voiceIs so sweet the birds hush their singingAnd the melody that He gave to meWithin my heart is ringing

And He walks with meAnd He talks with meAnd He tells me I am His ownAnd the joy we share as we tarry thereNone other has ever known

I'd stay in the garden with Him'Tho the night around me be fallingBut He bids me go; through the voice of woeHis voice to me is calling

And He walks with meAnd He talks with meAnd He tells me I am His ownAnd the joy we share as we tarry thereNone other has ever known

- Words and Music by Charles Austin Miles, 1913

“As soon as you turn your focus on God, God turns His focus on you.” Chapman, p. 34

3. Gifts

God gives good gifts.

His name is Jehovah Jireh – God Provides

John Wang and wife went to Johnson City from China to go to the UT Medical School at Johnson City.

Both he and his wife were doctors in China but had to get degrees here in order to practice. They had a pre-school aged child and had him at Central Baptist Church in Johnson City for a period of time so they could go to school. Money got tight and they had to take their child out of pre-school.

At some point they pulled together enough money for a couple of weeks of pre-school so he took his son to the church and told them his name, the director said, we’ve been waiting for you … An anonymous donor paid for your son to attend preschool for the whole year.

He was overwhelmed. It was the first time he experienced unconditional love from someone that did something not wanting to get back.

So he started going to the Chinese bible study that the church hosted and later became a Christian.Gather furniture when Chinese students came to Vanderbilt he would gather and store furniture and give to them free of charge and establish relationship and invite them

James 1:17 – “Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.”

4. Acts of Service

“Doing things for people—especially things you know they would like for you to do.” Chapman, p. 62

Meet the needs of others who are hurting or helpless or in need. Do things in the name of JesusGod acts on our behalf. A couple of weeks ago we talked about the servant nature of Jesus when he washed the disciples’ feet. But is Greatest act of love is when he gave his life on the cross for our sins.

Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, Colossians 3:23 (HCSB)

Carol Barca - soup

5. Physical Touch

You’ve experience God’s physical touch when you feel the presence of God.

Phillip helps us visualize God dancing with us, holding our hand, holding us when we are struggling, lifting us up when we fall.

You think about the conversion of the apostle Paul.

It was dramatic and emotional

Father Damien – Molokai – Kalapapa – Hansen’s disease – leprosy.

“Keep company with God and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” Eph. 5:2 (Mes)

“I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20)