LOVING GOD Augustine “Don’t tell me what you know if you want me to know who you are. Tell me what you love.”

LOVING GOD And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is One Lord; and you shall worship the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31

LOVING GOD And He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.“

LOVING GOD He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. "For Moses said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH'; but you say, 'If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God), 'you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that." Mark 7:6-13

LOVING GOD I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lamp stand out of its place--unless you repent. Revelation 2:2-5

LOVING GOD Church in Ephesus  Founded by Paul  Pastored by Timothy  Frequent guest speaker was Apollos  Elder was John the Apostle  Female elder was Mary, the mother of Jesus

LOVING GOD You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder. James 2:19 Pascal “Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true. The cure for this is first to show that religion is not contrary to reason, but worthy of reverence and respect. Next make it attractive, make good men wish it were true, and then show that it is.”

LOVING GOD And He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him… Mark 3:12 "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends…” Luke 15:29

LOVING GOD How do we cultivate a loving relationship?  Humble yourself before the Lord  Set time before the Lord  Place everything before the Lord Make Jesus to be your holy obsession