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Love like Jesus

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. MATTHEW 5:43-48 ESV

JESUS CLARIFIES WHAT LOVE IS REALLY ABOUT

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ MATTHEW 5:43 ESV

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,… MATTHEW 5:44 ESV

Jesus calls me to love:

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son… ROMANS 5:10 NIV

JESUS CHALLENGES ME TO LIVE AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF LOVE

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. MATTHEW 5:46-48 ESV 

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. ROMANS 3:23-24 NLT

NOBODY IS PERFECT, EXCEPT FOR JESUS

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… HEBREWS 12:2 BSB

NOBODY CAN GET YOU TO HEAVEN, EXCEPT FOR JESUS

Jesus said… “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. JOHN 14:6 ESV

NOBODY IS WORTHY OF YOUR LIFE LIKE JESUS

HOW TO GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS:

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet space to be with God. Take a few deep breaths and invite Him to guide this time of reflection. Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 (ESV) Would you describe yourself as a loving person? Who do you typically show the most love to, and who is difficult for you to love? Think of one person who’s hard for you to love. What’s one small way you could love or pray for them this week? Invite God to show you what it would look like to live at a higher level of love for 1) people who you don’t see or are indifferent to 2) people who you don’t like and disagree with or 3) people who have been mean or you feel wounded by. Consider Romans 5:10 (NLT): “Since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son.” Take a moment to reflect on the good news of Easter – while we were still sinners, Jesus died on the cross for us, then rose again with the promise of eternal life. Thank God for the gift of Jesus. Express your gratitude to Him for loving you, forgiving you, and saving you. If you have not given your life to Jesus, you can make that decision now. First, admit you’re imperfect, a sinner who has fallen short. Then, ask Jesus for His forgiveness and invite Him to be your Lord and Savior. If you’ve made this decision, we want to celebrate with you! Share your good news with your group leader, a campus pastor, or simply let us know at sandalschurch.com/followjesus.

Discussion Questions

For our Matthew series, we’re offering two options for discussing the sermon and Scripture. Choose option A or B to guide your group’s discussion time.

(A) The R.E.A.L. Bible Study Method:

1. Read the Passage. Start by reading Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV) out loud.

2. Explore the Theme. What is the main point or theme of the passage? What does this passage reveal about God and/or humanity? Consider these passages in your discussion: Romans 5:10, Romans 3:23-24, Hebrews 12:2.

3. Ask God. How do we apply these passages to our lives today? How might God be encouraging or challenging you?

4. Live It Out. What prayerful and specific action will you take based on these passages?

(B) Choose a couple of questions from each section below to discuss as a group:

  1. START HERE: What comes to mind when you think about Easter?
  2. START HERE: What are some qualities of a loving person?
  3. START HERE: How do you express love to the people you love?
  4. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV). How did Jesus model for us the love he teaches about in this passage?
  5. KEEP GOING: When you think of enemies, who comes to mind?
  6. KEEP GOING: Why do you believe Jesus challenges us to love and pray for people who are unkind to us?
  7. KEEP GOING: Read Romans 5:10 (NLT). How does what Jesus has done for you inspire you to love your enemies or give you hope that you can?
  8. KEEP GOING: Read Romans 3:23-26 (NLT). Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, are you willing to do so right now? To be forgiven of your sin and restored to a right relationship with God, follow the “How to Give Your Life to Jesus” guide in the sermon notes.
  9. LIVE IT OUT: Read Hebrews 12:2 (NLT). How does God make it possible to love people we’d rather avoid or write off?
  10. LIVE IT OUT: What would it look like for you to begin showing love to someone you don’t like or disagree with?