Loving Our Families As Jesus Loves Us

1. Read: Luke 6:32-36

2. About the Text:

1) If God expects us to behave like this toward our enemies, then how ought we to treat our families?

2) Do you love your family in this way?

3) How can we practice this kind of love toward our families?

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. We all have expectations for other people.

1) Disappointment comes when our expectations are not met.

2) We interpret that as failure or lack of love from others.

3) This kills relationships.

2. Jesus loves us in this way.

1) Read Romans 5:6-10.

2) Notice the words, “without strength,” “ungodly,” “sinners,” and “enemies.”

3) Jesus’ love was freely given regardless of what the sinner chooses.

3. We need to love our families in this way.

1) We will love people for who they are, not for what we want them to be.

2) We will not withdraw our love because someone else doesn’t meet our expectations.

3) “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).

4. Do we love our families this way?

1. Selfishness gets in the way of faithfulness.

1) When we start thinking of self only, then we hurt our relationships with others.

2) We won’t want to keep our commitments.

3) We won’t seek the welfare of others first.

2. Jesus loves us this way.

1) He was faithful in the task that God gave Him.

2) “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

3) He didn’t seek His own welfare first, but ours.

3. We need to love our families this way.

1) “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil.2:3-4).

2) We will not abandon relationships to fulfill selfish desires.

4. Do we love our families this way?

1. Love is a gift; it only works when you give it away for free.

1) If you harbor grudges when you give, it robs the giver of the joy of giving.

2) If you become envious or have resentment/hatred in your heart . . . .

3) “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

2. Jesus loves us this way.

1) John 3:16-17

2) Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

3. We need to love our families this way.

1) “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10).

2) We will love other people graciously without reserve.

4. Do we love our families this way?

1. When we love our families as Jesus loved us, we will be . . .

1) Loving our families without expectations.

2) Loving our families selflessly with faithfulness.

3) Loving graciously without reservation.

2. Invitation