How to Tangibly “Love God”

Everybody, Nobody, and Anything
How to Tangibly “Love God”

I. Introduction

A. The Knowing/Doing

B. Luke 6:46 (NAS) “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

C. Luke 10:25 (NLT) One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

1. There are in the Old Testament!

D. Luke 10:26-28 (NLT) ²⁶Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” ²⁷The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁸“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

1. There are 613 laws in the Old Testament. And all 613 can be summed up in, “Love , and love your .”

E. Luke 10:29 (NLT) The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

1. “Who do I to love? And who do I have to love?”

2. Loving God and loving people is really !

F. Luke 10:30-31 (NLT) ³⁰Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. ³¹By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.”

G. Luke 10:32 (NLT) “A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.”

H. Luke 10:33 (NLT) “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.”

1. Samaritans were the most people in all of Israel.

I. Luke 10:34-35 (NLT) ³⁴“Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. ³⁵The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’”

J. Compassion is not just a ! Compassion always leads to !

K. Luke 10:36 (NLT) “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

L. Luke 10:37a (NLT) The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

M. Luke 10:37b (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

N. Or, if we allow to take precedence over doing what we know Jesus wants us to do.

1. Jesus is the One who came along and saw in your need.

2. Our church is the ! And each one of are innkeepers!

3. What’s really important is not what does next, but what do next!

II. Conclusion