Why should I concentrate on Hillcrest Chapel

1
(No Transcript)
2
Why should I concentrate on Hillcrest Chapel?

• Abba Anthony What must one do to please God?
  
  
• Always be aware of God's presence,
• and always obey Gods Word.
• Wherever you find yourselfdo not
  easily leave.

3
The second priority is to love one another
Above all, love each other deeply, because love
covers over a multitude of sins--I
Peter 48.

• Peter says we are to love like this - deeply.
• It means stretching out as a runner stretches at
  the end of a race.
  
• Love deeply
  -- stretched out
  
  -- extending ourselves to the max
  -- seeking the highest good of
  others

4
I Corinthians 131-8

• 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of
  angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding
  gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the
  gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and
  all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can
  move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
  3 If I give all I possess to the poor and
  surrender my body to the flames, but have not
  love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love
  is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it
  is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not
  self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps
  no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight
  in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It
  always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
  always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

5
What is love?

• It does not/is not
• earnestly desire
• a braggard, windbag
• puffed up/arrogance
• behave disgracefully
• seek its own
• easily angered
• dwell on wrongs
• delight in evil/gossip

• It shows/has/always
• patient perseverance
• active goodness
• looks for truth, mercy, justice for everyone
• protects
• trusts
• hopes
• perseveres
• love never fails

6
Put your name in the blank

• ______ is patient, ______is kind. ______does
  not envy, ______does not boast, ______is not
  proud. ______is not rude, ______is not
  self-seeking, ______is
  not easily angered, ______keeps no record of
  wrongs. ______does not delight in evil but
  rejoices with the truth.
• ______always protects, always trusts,
  always hopes, always perseveres.

7
Why should we love like that?

• Two powerful reasons from Scripture
• First, we who know Gods love should be happy to
  give it to others--I John 314-17.
  
• Second, love will keep us from being destroyed by
  the hurts of others--Hebrews 1215.
  
• We are also to love each other deeply,
  ...because love covers over a multitude of
  sins--v. 8.
  
• Because of the enormous benefit it is to us,
  e.g., loving others is the healthiest thing for
  us to do, according to current research.

8
What will help us then to apply current research
to our church?

• A small group offers us the opportunity to
  develop the kind of relationships that will help
  us achieve spiritual and even physical health.

9
The L.O.V.E. challenge

• L--Love others deeply--I Pet. 48
• O--Open wide our hearts to others - risk!--
  II Cor. 613
  
• V--Verbalize our love--Ephesians 429 52
• E--Engage others in small groups and other
  relational circles--Acts 246