Christian Love In Relationships

Rev. James Wong

   

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”                                                      ~Matt 5:43-48

1. Becoming Perfect Vs. Being A Perfectionist

It is boring to live with someone who never change to become better. It is unbearable  to live with a perfectionist.

2. To Be Perfect is To Love Enemies

This command of Jesus deals with personal relationship

“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” ~Matthew 5:45

3. The Different Levels Of Love

I love my dearest parents (Greek Word: ‘storge’ = family love)

I love my spouse (Greek Word: ‘eros’ = sexual love)

I love my closest friend (Greek word: ‘philia’ = real affection)

God loves the world (Greek Word: ‘agape’ = invincible good will)

Jesus never asked us to love our enemies in the same way as we love our nearest and our dearest. The very word used is different. To love with ’agape’ love is an act of the will, a determination of the mind.  Jesus laid this love down as a basis that should govern our relationship with others. 

4. The Reason To Love

Love makes a man like God. Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26) and the great characteristic of God is his universal benevolence and unconquerable good will.

“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” ~Matthew 5:45a

4. Applying The Law Of Love In Relationships

“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” ~Matthew 5:45b

12 “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

~Colossians 3:12-14

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CHURCH ACTIVITIES FOR THIS WEEK

Why I Join A Life Group

by Rev. James Wong

A life group provides a structure for church growth and for members to love and care for one another in a practical manner. The followings are the benefits that I have found joining a life group.

1. A Life Group Helps Me To Find Power For Living. Mc Donald reminds me of hamburgers and KFC helps me to think of fried chicken. Invariably there will be a time of worship in a life group. The lyrics of the worship songs remind me of the grace and faithfulness of God. This gives me a proper perspective on life’s challenges. I can then rest assured that ‘There is no problem too big that God cannot solve it. There is no mountain too tall that He cannot move it. There is no storm too dark that God cannot calm it. There is no sorrow too deep that he cannot sooth it.’

2. A Life Group Helps Me To Develop Proper Life Values. Value is a belief system. It is influence by our past experience, childhood up bringing, culture and our own cultural traits. A boy who refuses to go to school unless he has a pair of Niki is a reflection of his value which affects his choices. Proverbs 10:2 says, “Ill-gotten gain has no lasting value, but right living can save our life” (NLT).  The discussion in the life group based on the Sunday sermon is a powerful way for us to learn the truths to ensure right thinking and right living

3. A Life Group Helps Me To Discover My Talents In Serving Others. God has given everyone of us gifts or talents and we are to use them well to “serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT). The life group gives me the opportunity, not only just to receive like a consumer, but to contribute in serving others like Jesus did. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20::28 NIV). It is very often in serving and giving that I discover the gifts that God has given me and thus, develop my potential.

4. A Life Group Helps Me To Build Meaningful Relationships. I cannot have conversation with 60 people but I can have meaningful conversation with 6 or 10 people in a small group. It gives me the opportunity to develop deep and meaningful friendship rather than superficial relationships with many people. Proverbs 27:10 says, “Do not forget your friends or your father’s friends ...” (NLT). This is the importance of friendship that the Bible teaches but good friendship can only develop among a small number of people.

Our understanding and attitude towards life group makes the key difference in our life and the lives of others. When you think of life group, think of the benefits as well.

Becoming Part of a Life Group

Rev. Johnny Wong

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. ~Acts 2:42-47

I) Why is the life group so important?

1) We belong to God’s family

2) We need encouragement to grow spiritually

II) The nature and character of a life group.

1) Teaching of God’s word

2) Fellowship

3) Worship

4) Prayer

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