Three Questions Regarding Love

All You Need Is Love
Three Questions Regarding Love

I. Introduction

A. Luke 10:25-37 (NLT) ²⁵One 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?” 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!” ²⁹The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 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. ³²A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. ³³Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. ³⁴Going 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.’ ³⁶Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. ³⁷The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

II. Three Questions Regarding Love

A. Is love a “ ”?

1. I John 4:8 (NAS) The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

2. I John 4:20 (NAS) If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

3. I John 3:14 (NAS) We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

4. The acid test of the genuineness of a person’s faith is !

B. How much should love take?

1. “Love is seeking the – of others.”

2. The Bible says love is a !

3. I Corinthians 13:11 (NLT) When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

4. Paul says, “That’s why we don’t want to love like little children love! We want to love like !”

5. At times, choosing to will be extremely !

C. Is it possible to love ?

1. Jesus never or unwise, immature, or destructive love.

2. I Corinthians 13:11 (NLT) When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

III. Conclusion