Community Principle #5 Loving and Being Loved
COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES
Knowing and Being Known
Serving and Being Served
Admonishing and Being Admonished
Encouraging and Being Encouraged
Loving and Being Loved
The Essential Ingredient for Community with Christ in His Churchv
You are My friends if you do what I command you (John 15:14)
This is My command to you: Love One Another (John 15:12)
Love is expressed in sacrifice and service (John 15:13)
Loving and Being Loved
Text: Romans 12:1-20
Step One: How you relate to God
Offer yourself as a living sacrifice in service to God Seek a renewed mind, that is transformed to know and do the will of God (see Romans 12:1-2)
Step Two: How you view yourself
Do not think too highly of yourself Use your giftedness to serve God and the church (see Romans 12:3-8)
Step Three: How you feel toward each other
Nurture genuine love toward one another Be devoted to one another (see Romans 12:9-10)
Step Four: How you treat the saints
HONOR ONE ANOTHER: Show preference for one another. Do this with diligence, fervency, as serving the Lord, rejoicing, persevering, and prayerfully. CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER: Give to aid the saints ASSOCIATE WITH ONE ANOTHER: Practice hospitality (see Romans 12:10b-13)
Step Five: Practical actions that are loving
Bless those who persecute you
Identify with others in their rejoicing and weeping
Seek unity with one another
Do not be haughty – prideful
Associate with the lowly
Do not consider your own opinion of much significance
Do not seek to get even
Respect what is right and proper
Seek to be at peace with all men
Do not seek revenge
Be kind even to those who are not kind to you
(Romans 12:14-20)
Things NOT on the list and that should never be!
Make sure people are loving you the way you deserve.
Tell them if they are failing to love you well.
Do not love them if they do not love you first.
In the words of Jesus
“ This is My Commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you.”
John 15:12