#348 Welcome Home Series# 1, Love

#348 Welcome Home Series# 1, Love
By: Pastor D. Karl Thomas

Jesus Favourite House:
Luke 10:38“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.”
John 11:3“Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

OUR SIGN OUT FRONT PICTURE … “ God Loves You.”  … Go inside to see what that looks like!

1 John 3:1“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”(NLT)
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called  children of God!”(NKJV)

John 13:34  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”     Love:– Sacrificially ascribing infinite worth to another.

Paul’s Goal For Healthy Church:
1 Thessalonians 3:6 “…and brought us good news of your faith and love,”
2 Thessalonians 1:3“…because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,…”
Don’t want ORTHODOXY WITHOUT ORTHOPRAXY

“The causes of homelessness reflect an intricate interplay between structural factors, systems failuresand individual circumstances. Homelessness is usually the result of the cumulative impact of a number of factors, rather than a single cause.”
The State of Homelessness in Canada 2013. Toronto: Canadian Homelessness Research Network Press.

 structural factors — economic and societal issues … recession no jobs … no affordable housing

systems failures — poor transition from facilities or care … hospitals or prison or immigration or child welfare

individual circumstances — family breakup, violence and abuse, addictions … accidents … traumas

Jesus talked about real life stuff:
Prodigal Son —I want to live life my way. Wanted his inheritance. Homeless … Welcomed as Son
Good Samaritan — saw a person in need and in crisis … helped! was attacked … homeless.
Widow Of Nain —Crisisloss of only son.

1 John 3:14-16 (NLT)“If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.  Anyone who hatesanother brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. …” “…And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our livesfor our brothers and sisters.”

1. Hate Precedes Murder.

Genesis 37:4-5, 18 “…saw that their father loved him more … they hated him. Now Joseph had a dream, … they hated him even more…even before he came near them, they conspired against him  tokill him.”

2. Anger Precedes Hate.
Genesis 4:1-8 “… And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. … Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.”
Water boils … blows up when it reaches a high temperature 100 C … only way to keep it from blowing up is remove the water … turn it as high as you want … no anger in me

3. An Offense Precedes Anger.
Mark 6:1–3 “And many hearing Him were astonished,saying, ‘Where did this Man get these things? … Is this not the carpenter, the Son … So they were offendedat Him.”
Luke 4:28–29“…were filled with wrath.”

Astonished: to strike, to expel by a blow, to drive out or away.
Luke 4:18-21“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me …   And He began to say to them, “    “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”    I’m the Messiah

4. Unfulfilled Expectations Precede Offenses.
Luke 7:20-23“John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ … ‘blessed is he who is not offendedbecause of Me.’”

Skandalizo:—stumble and stone; to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend
From the word Skandalon:—the movable stick or trigger of a trap

WHEN YOU HAVE OFFENSE YOU GIVE ROPE TO DEVIL
“If they do that again I will …”     If my family is not restored in 7 years I’ll Kill Myself 

3 Things You Can Do With A Stumbling Stone:
1. You Can Step Over It.
2. You Can TripOver It.
3. You Can CarryIt With You.

5. Forgiveness Precedes Love.
Matthew 5:44“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…”

Genesis 27:41“Esau said in his heart, ‘The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.’”
Genesis 33:4 “But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, andfell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.”

Ephesians 4:32“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,even as God in Christ forgave you.”    Charizomai:— to bestow grace unconditionally.

6. Receiving Love Precedes Giving Love
1 John 4:19“We love each other because he loved us first.”
If you feel like you have to earn forgiveness form God; you will expect others to earn  forgiveness from you.

John 13:34
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
Love :– Sacrificially ascribing infinite worth to another.

Archie Moore a heavy weight boxing champion, once got knocked down early in a fight. He got back up and won the match by knock-out. Afterwards a reporter asked him, “Archie, what were you thinking while you were on the canvas?” He said, “I thought, Hey, I’m the champ! I don’t belong here!”
I’M A CHILD OF GOD GET UP GOD LOVES ME HE IS MY FATHER!!!

348 Welcome Home Series# 1, Love, PowerPoint Slides

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