1. 1 Peter 1:22-25 Loving Other Christians

2. 700 “Friends”

3. Something unidentified and insidious is lurking in the shadows like a 'thing in the bushes,' and it has the organization in a death grip. Kevin Graham Ford and James D. Osterhaus

4. Sustainable: A method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged Encourage: To give hope or promise… (This is more than wishing for something that has no foundation.)

5. BIG IDEA We are called to genuine sacrificial love for each other because of God’s life-giving and transformational work in our lives through His Word. 1 Peter 1:22-25 Challenging Command Encouraging Resource

6. What’s so challenging about the Command? What’s so encouraging about the Resource? I Peter 1:22-25 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

7. What’s so challenging about the Command? I Peter 1:22-25 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. Genuine Energetic Sacrificial Focused

8. John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

9. Most people really believe that the Christian commandments … are intentionally a little too severe—like putting the clock ahead half an hour to make sure of not being late in the morning. Soren Kierkegaard 1813-1855

10. What’s so challenging about the Command? What’s so encouraging about the Resource? I Peter 1:22-25 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

11. I Peter 1:22-25 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. Isaiah 40:6-8

12. What’s so challenging about the Command? What’s so encouraging about the Resource? I Peter 1:22-25 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. Process?

13. Revelation Genuine Sacrificial Love Faith/Obedience New Birth Transformation Process?

14. BIG IDEA We are called to genuine sacrificial love for each other because of God’s life-giving and transformational work in our lives through His Word. 1 Peter 1:22-25 Challenging Command Encouraging Resource

15. Where did Peter get this big idea?

16. BIG IDEA We are called to genuine sacrificial love for each other because of God’s life giving and transformational work in our lives through His Word. 1 Peter 1:22-25 ACTION Step 1: Focus on God’s Word for your understanding of loving relationships. (I Cor. 13:4-8) Step 2: Submit to God’s work in your life through His Word. (Hebrews 4:12)

17. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double- edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

18. BIG IDEA We are called to genuine sacrificial love for each other because of God’s life giving and transformational work in our lives through His Word. 1 Peter 1:22-25 ACTION Step 1: Focus on God’s Word for your understanding of loving relationships. (I Cor. 13:4-8) Step 2: Submit to God’s work in your life through His Word. (Hebrews 4:12)

19. Anselm of Canterbury 12 th Century Restless believers are like trees that are frequently transplanted or often disturbed…

20. Anselm of Canterbury 12 th Century If he often moves from place to place at his own whim, or remaining in one place is frequently agitated by hatred of it, [he] never achieves stability with roots of love.