2. Do You Love God? Matthew 22:36-40 Romans 5:5-8 1 John 4:8-11; 4:17-19
Our Father Loves Us
Do You Love God?
Matthew 22:36-40
Romans 5:5-8
1 John 4:8-11; 4:17-19
John 3:16; 3:36; 14:15
1 John 3:18
Matthew 22:36-40 ( NKJV ) 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’£  38This is the first and great commandment.  39And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’£  40On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Romans 5:5-8 ( NKJV ) 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
1 John 4:8-11 ( NKJV ) 8He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  9In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:17-19 ( NKJV ) 17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  19We love £Him because He first loved us.
John 3:16 ( NKJV ) 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 
John 3:36 ( NKJV ) 36He who believes (pisteuo) in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe (peitheo) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 14:15 ( NKJV ) 15“If you love Me, £(you will) keep My commandments. 
1 John 3:18 ( NKJV ) 18My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ( NKJV ) 4Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 John 3:1 (KJV) “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”
John 14:9 (KJV) “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
Jerry Crolius Buckhorn Circle - Conway, AR

3. Greatest Short Story - Ever!
Our Father Loves Us
Greatest Short Story - Ever!
The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:20
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ”
1 John 4:7-11 ( NKJV ) 7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  8He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  9In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:19-21 ( NKJV ) 19We love £Him because He first loved us. 20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, £how can he love God whom he has not seen?  21And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
John 3:14-16 ( NKJV ) 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,  15that whoever believes in Him should £not perish but have eternal life.  16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 
John 3:36 ( NKJV ) 36He who believes (pisteuo) in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe (peitheo) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
1 John 3:18 ( NKJV ) 18My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ( NKJV ) 4Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Jerry Crolius Buckhorn Circle - Conway, AR

4. Psalm 103:8-14
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. 14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

5. Behold What Manner Of Love
Our Father Loves Us
Behold What Manner Of Love
1 John 3:1 (KJV)
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”
Jerry Crolius Buckhorn Circle - Conway, AR

6. Behold What Manner Of Love
Our Father Loves Us
Behold What Manner Of Love
It was the kind of love that touched people who suffered from incurable leprosy when no one else wanted to touch them.
Luke 5:12-13
Luke 5:12-13 ( NKJV ) 12And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
Jerry Crolius Buckhorn Circle - Conway, AR

7. Behold What Manner Of Love
Our Father Loves Us
Behold What Manner Of Love
It was the kind of love that offered living water to a Samaritan woman who was living in sin and was an outcast in her own village.
John 4:9,13-14
John 4: ( NKJV ) 9Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans…. 13Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,  14but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Jerry Crolius Buckhorn Circle - Conway, AR

8. Behold What Manner Of Love
Our Father Loves Us
Behold What Manner Of Love
It was the kind of love that thought the best of and hoped for the changed life of prostitutes.
Luke 7:36-39, 47
Luke 7:37-39 ( NKJV ) 37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,  38and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.  39Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
Luke 7:47 ( NKJV ) 47Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
Jerry Crolius Buckhorn Circle - Conway, AR

9. Behold What Manner Of Love
Our Father Loves Us
Behold What Manner Of Love
It was the kind of love that believed in people even though they had the earned public reputation for defrauding people.
Matthew 9:10-13
Matthew 9:10-13 ( NKJV ) 10Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.  11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Jerry Crolius Buckhorn Circle - Conway, AR

10. Behold What Manner Of Love
Our Father Loves Us
Behold What Manner Of Love
It was the kind of love that washed the disciples’ feet when they were arguing over who was the greatest.
Luke 22:24-27 John 13:1,12-17
Luke 22:24-27 ( NKJV ) 24Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  25And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’  26But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  27For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
John 13:1, ( NKJV )
1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
12So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?  13You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.  14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  15For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.  16Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.  17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Jerry Crolius Buckhorn Circle - Conway, AR

11. Behold What Manner Of Love
Our Father Loves Us
Behold What Manner Of Love
Paralytic (be of good cheer) Mt 9:2-3
Woman Caught In Adultery (neither do I condemn you) Jn 8:10-11
Jesus’ Murderers (they know not what they do) Lk 23:34
Thief On The Cross (today you will be with Me in Paradise) Lk 23:43
Matthew 9:2-3 ( NKJV ) 2Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” 3And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
John 8:10-11 ( NKJV ) 10When Jesus had raised Himself up £and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Luke 23:34 ( NKJV ) 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. 
Luke 23:42-43 ( NKJV ) 42Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Jerry Crolius Buckhorn Circle - Conway, AR

12. Behold What Manner Of Love
Our Father Loves Us
Behold What Manner Of Love
Forgives Us Of “All Sin” (1 John 1:7-9)
Forgives Worst Sins Imaginable (1 Cor. 6:11)
Forgives Repeatedly (Matt. 18:21-22)
Remembers Our Sins No More (Heb. 8:12)
1 John 1:7-9 ( NKJV ) 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ( NKJV ) 9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,  10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  11And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Matthew 18:21-22 ( NKJV ) 21Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 
Hebrews 8:12 ( NKJV ) 12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
Jerry Crolius Buckhorn Circle - Conway, AR

13. What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Hear The Gospel (Rom 10:17)
Believe in Jesus as the Son of God (John 8:24)
Repent of Your Sins (Acts 17:30-31)
Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Rom 10:9-10)
Be Baptized for Forgiveness of Sins (Acts 2:38)
Be Faithful Unto Death (Rev. 2:10)

14. Love God and Neighbor The two greatest commandments Mat 22:36-40
The ultimate goal of Paul’s instruction 1 Tim 1:5
The distinguishing mark of the Christian Jn 13:34-35
Without it a Christian is nothing 1 Cor 13:1-3
Sums up the Christian’s responsibilities Rom 13:8-10
The crowning virtue of all other virtues Jas 2:8; Col 3:14; 2 Pet 1:7
Matthew 22:36-40 ( NKJV ) 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’£  38This is the first and great commandment.  39And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’£  40On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
1 Timothy 1:5 ( NKJV ) 5Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
John 13:34-35 ( NKJV ) 34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ( NKJV ) 1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body £to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Romans 13:8-10 ( NKJV ) 8Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” £“You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,”£ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”£ 10Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
James 2:8 ( NKJV ) 8If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”£ you do well;
Colossians 3:14 ( NKJV ) 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
2 Peter 1:7 ( NKJV ) 7to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.