A Different Kind of Love
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Faith, Hope & Love
Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sermon Outline
The love Jesus urges us to (v44) requires a whole new way of life.
1. The Right Motivation
v45 "he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust"
2. The Right Model
v44-45 "love... so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven"
v48 "as your heavenly Father is perfect"
3. The Right Reward
v46 "if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?"
vv46-47 "even the tax collectors... the gentiles..."
Questions for Reflection
What is your response to the teaching that you should love your enemies? What is your gut reaction?
What is most appealing about the teaching to love our enemies? What is most difficult?
How can you, in your life, "make the sun rise on the evil and the good", and "send the rain on the just and the unjust"? What good can you be doing even if doing so blesses those you otherwise might resent? What good are you withholding, and why?
Why is it important to not let spite, vengeance, contempt, or other such feelings, take deep roots within you? What can you do when these are present to keep them from putting down roots?
Should you treat others they way they have treated you? What is hard about treating others as you believe God has treated you?
What are ways to love someone who is mistreating you? What are strategies to overlook the offenses? What ways of love also protect you? How do you discern when love takes the form of putting limits into a relationship?
How much of your love and kindness towards others is linked to something you expect to gain? Is it possible to really love someone without expecting any reward? Is it love if you don't expect a reward from the person you are loving, but do hope for a reward from God?
Why is knowledge that God loves His own enemies and shows favor to the unjust hopeful for us? How can that quality of love have a greater impact on your life?
Prayer of Confession
Our heavenly Father, we have not loved you or others in the ways you have loved us. We have let pride, spite, vengeance, fear, and various emotions and influences limit our love. We have not only failed to love our enemies, but we have failed to love our friends. We have participated in the wrong doing of our world. We have not looked to you, and we have not been content to trust you for our reward. Forgive us all of our sins. Thank you for loving us, even while we were your enemies. Amen.