The Kingdom Ethic of Love!

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

First of a series: “Jesus, on Relationships”

Scripture: Luke 6:17-28

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Luke 6 records Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount by the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus spent much of his ministry. Jesus taught that He is the King of kings, who is bringing a counter-cultural kingdom. The kingdom values and ethics are not about getting wealth, power, comfort, or fame. The kingdom of God is about being in right relationship with God–loving God and loving others, especially you enemies.

Jesus draws the multitudes in an unprecedented way.

Jesus teaches counter-cultural kingdom!
Two kinds of people:  “blessed” and “cursed”.
Two ways of living: “blessed” or “happy”.
Our identity determines our lifestyle.

The inverted paradigm of Kingdom ethics –

Hunger
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)

Comfort
“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.” (Luke 6:21)

Power
“Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.” (Luke 6:22)

Fame
“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26)

The Kingdom ethic is expressed in love
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27)

How Do You Love God?

Message by our own Sean Duggan

Scripture: Mark 28-31

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Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength? Since that is what Jesus commanded us to do, does the way you live your life show that love? Sean helps us to assess the focus of our lives.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 8)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13

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I Corinthians 13 is known by many people as the “Love Chapter.” However, it is also greatly misunderstood. Many people read it without considering the context. Chapter 13 is not a theological treatise on love. Nor is it just sentimental instruction on Christian charity. The context is spiritual gifts and Paul is telling us the true motive for doing spiritual gifts (ministry) must be love.

The evidence of spiritual maturity is not demonstrating the greatest gifts, but its loving Jesus and loving people.
1 Corinthians 13:1 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

Love is the standard for doing ministry together in the church!
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – 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.

Love must dictate the culture of the church
The dictionary defines culture as “the sum of attitudes, customs and beliefs that distinguish one group of people from another. Culture is the relational environment that we create as we do ministry together.

What makes up a church’s culture?

• Focusing on kingdom values (Matthew 13:46)
• A people who truly know God (Daniel 11:32; Acts 4:13)

Assessing the eternal value of love
1 Corinthians 13:8-9 – But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

• Maturity discerns between the eternal and temporal
• The Perfect is Jesus
• Continue in faith, hope and love

Burn

Our own Sean Duggan is our guest speaker today

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Scripture: Mark 12:29-30

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Are you burning your life for God? Or are you just a pew-sitter in the Church?