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The Relationship Principles of Jesus
THE POINT:
As disciples of Jesus, we try to do what He did. What He did was form close, discipling relationships.
JESUS IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
The way Jesus & the apostles made disciples is completely different than the way most of us look at “evangelism” and “church activities”.
Jesus’ ministry was not meetings and events, it was relationships.
Jesus deliberately chose close friends and then worked, ate, lived, died and rose again with them.
He told us to go therefore and make disciples.
THE GREATEST COMMAND
Mark 12:29-31 (NIV)
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: '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 mind and with all your strength.'
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
ARE YOU MY NEIGHBOR?
Before the Industrial Revolution, your neighbor:
- Would have been called on for help in case of emergency or attack by enemies
- Would likely be from your same tribe or clan
- Would likely be someone that you work with in farming or trade, or would at least be someone that you traded with most regularly
BEING A LOVING PERSON
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
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LOVE IS
- Love is patient
- Love is kind
- Rejoices with the truth
- Lies are bondage, truth is freedom
- Truth provides an environment for love
LOVE IS NOT
- Love is not proud.
- Love is not rude
- Love is not self-seeking
- Love is not easily angered
LOVE DOES NOT
- Love does not keep a record of wrongs
- Love does not delight in evil
- Love does not envy
- Love does not boast
LOVE ALWAYS DOES
- Love always protects
- Love always trusts
- Love always hopes
- Love always perseveres.
WHAT THEN SHALL WE DO?
- Grab a book “Relationship Principles of Jesus” if you don’t have one.
- Be sure you have someone to discuss these principles with.
- Practice saying and meaning:
- “Wow! That’s really cool and I’m genuinely excited for you.”
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