23 John 15:12-17 Loving like Jesus does

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Sermon outline

1. Amibiguous Pronouns
2. The Call to love like Jesus (Jn 15:12)
   1. To what does this refer?
      1. Joy (Jn 15:11)
      2. Or abiding in Christ’s love (Jn 15:9-10, 1Jn 4:19)
3. How did Jesus love us?
   1. Jn 13 is fresh in their minds
   2. Whose is the greater love? (John 15:13)
   3. Dying for friends (Jn 15:14a)
      1. We are not servants (Jn 15:15)
      2. We are privy to the Father’s plans to (Eph 1:10, Heb 2:14-15, Rev)
   4. But there was an if in Jn 15:14
      1. Does this mean that my experience of Jesus’ friendship is based upon obedience to his command?
      2. Remember how we defined the command in Jn 15:12.
   5. We can love in a similar fashion but not to the same degree
4. How can we love like this?
   1. Simple answer is you can’t by yourself
   2. We desperately need the Holy Spirit to work in you and through you (Gal 5:22-23)
   3. Practical Suggestions for loving as Christ loved you
      1. Open your eyes to the needs of those around you
         1. Start with your spouse or kids.
         2. Look around your work or the church
         3. Help a friend
      2. As you begin to love those in your midst, open your eyes to the broader church of God
      3. Ask God to open your eyes to places where you aren’t loving so well then
5. A closing story from Africa