Shirts! /layman

Re:Love 2

Appetite

That's just the way he is…

Must...Buy…It!

She's always been like that…

2 Things: Love carries an eraser Love gives up control

But… Does love turn a blind eye To destructive behavior?

Does love leave people As they are?

Is it, "Live and let live?"

Love encourages change Because love cares too much To let people remain broken

Creation Fall Redemption Restoration

God is…Jesus…is…?

Christ Jesus…who, being in very nature God… - Phil. 2:5

…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2 Cor. 5:17

Does love leave people As they are?

God is love God loves us just as we are God loves us too much to let us stay as we are

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” - Matt. 4:18-19

Change!

Change! What type?

It is impossible to commit to Jesus And not be changed

It is impossible to be a follower of Jesus And not be in the process of being changed

Morality-based Religion= I've arrived! The Faith= Only Jesus is Perfect

Immediate Change- Trajectory

"Boat Sleep" Rocks…

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" - Matt. 4:40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" - Matt. 4:40

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" - Matt. 4:40 Lepers, Unclean Spirits Healing for a City Full of People

He's pointing out Areas needing growth ("You're just scared- that's just the way you are…")

Love encourages change Because love cares too much To let people remain broken

Love engages Because love puts their needs Above their wants

Word on the Street…?

“But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar- Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it

Is Jesus seeing Who Peter is at this very moment? Is Simon a "Rock" yet?

Jesus knows: 1) Where Peter has come from Jesus knows: 1) Where Peter has come from

Jesus knows: 1) Where Peter has come from 2) Who he is right now Jesus knows: 1) Where Peter has come from 2) Who he is right now

Jesus knows: 1) Where Peter has come from 2) Who he is right now 3) What he can become as he follows by faith………..

And he calls him What he can become Rather than who he is

What might that have Meant to Peter?

What God sees in you Is beyond anything You've ever seen In yourself

Simon is called Peter And then… The Rock crumbles

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you” Reprove, admonish, forbid

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” -Matt. 16:15-18, 21-23

The key to becoming The Rock Jesus sees in him Is found in focusing On the things of God Over the things of man

Jesus calls him Who he isn't yet But deals with him As he is

Love encourages change Because love cares too much To let people remain broken

Love engages Because love puts their needs Above their wants

3 Ways to View People…

- As I am right now - As they are - As they can be

- As I am right now Gives me the right to judge you Find you wanting And look down on you Most people

- As I am right now My strengths against your weakness

- As I am right now My areas of maturity Against your immaturity

Does nothing To encourage change

- As they are - Understand and empathize With where you are And what you've experienced

- As they are - Gives grace And refuses to judge From a position of superiority

- As they are - Recognizes that we are all Broken Just in different ways

Gives grace… But does nothing to bring Healing and change

That's just the way he is…

She's always been like that…

Says that nothing can be done Jesus is a good teacher But he doesn't change lives

- As they can be - Created by God and Loved right this moment

- As they can be - Potential to become All that God created him/her to be

Gives Acceptance Now Yet Understands: 1) Where they've been Gives Acceptance Now Yet Understands: 1) Where they've been

Gives Acceptance Now, yet Understands: 2) In Christ, No One is Limited by their past Or their present Gives Acceptance Now, yet Understands: 2) In Christ, No One is Limited by their past Or their present

Gives Acceptance Now, yet Understands: 3) I have a part to play In helping them discover All that God created them to be Gives Acceptance Now, yet Understands: 3) I have a part to play In helping them discover All that God created them to be

Love encourages change Because love cares too much To let people remain broken

Love engages Because love puts their needs Above their wants

"From now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view" - 2 Cor. 5:16

"From now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view" - 2 Cor. 5:16 - Eyes of faith - An unshakeable confidence in God's life-changing Power

- Simon? Peter!

Is he there yet? Will he be?

God loves you as you are… God loves you too much To let you stay that way (And we should, too!)

How? Power of our words Strength of our example

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear - Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear - Eph. 4:29

…let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - Heb. 10:24-15

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ - Galatians 6:1-2

"I want to encourage you To become all that God created you to be" - I'm not perfect - I see so much in you - I'm going to encourage God in your life……….

Love encourages change Because love cares too much To let people remain broken

It's OK to not be OK It's not OK to stay that way…

Hope for every Relationship: - Jesus changes people From the Inside Out

Changes Everything: - Our relationship becomes a catalyst for growth rather than letting destructive actions continue for fear of being called "judgmental"

"Today, Lord- help me to see beyond my own arrogance and supposed growth…

Help me to see more than someone's story and history, though I do need to try to understand it…

Help me to see what people can become as they follow you fully. And make me an instrument of encouragement toward that as the other person allows"

As a Church: - It's always OK to not be OK - It's not OK to stay that way

As a Church: We want to be an instrument Of God's love for real change Because that's Discipleship