What if God wanted to do something that fundamentally changed our society?

The greatest commandments (Matthew 22:36-40) should be our daily practice. We can fulfil them by finding God with us right now and being kind to others.

1 John 4:8 God is love! God has so much love for all people, for all His Church in our city.

Ephesians 3:17 The resting place of God’s love is to be the source of our life. God loves us with the same force and fullness as He loves Jesus!

We must taste the love of God experientially.

Song of Songs 8:6 describes love to us. “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, the very flame of the Lord.”

1. Jesus’ love is intensely personal.

Jesus became exactly like us, taking humanity fully on to Himself, and our sin fully onto Himself. God has raised us up just as He has raised Christ up. We’re united with Him so we can do all things: how can we use this for the good of others? God’s love is not transactional but relational. He’s always thinking about us. Christians are not like other people because the Father’s love is in us.

2. God’s love is unstoppable.

Death can’t be escaped from, and nor can God’s love! As resurrection believers, we upgrade this further and say that love is stronger than death! This means we can live in such peace and security throughout all the hardships that this life will bring. Satan cannot have you. This guarantee of God’s triumph should humble and encourage us: it’s His work and He will do it. We just need to love Him and others, try to disciple them, and watch what God does.

3. Jesus’ love is all-consuming.

Every reference to fire in the New Testament is about God’s love. The love of God should consume our theology and all the things we do. We defeat sin by staying in His presence through prayer and the Word, not by trying to obey laws. Of the increase of His Kingdom there will be no end. The love of money whisper, “If you had more money, you’d have more peace.” This is an anti-Christ lie because only the love of God gives peace.

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Questions:

• We’re calling our new series “Loving Like Jesus” - what does that phrase mean to you?
• How did God speak to you through Akhtar’s preach?
• How do you reassure yourself of God’s love for you?
• How does God’s love empower us to love others?
• God wants you to hear His loving voice every day: how are you seeking to hear Him?
• Which of Akhtar’s points most encouraged you: that God’s love is intensely personal, unstoppable, or all-consuming?
• How can we make everything we do be about love?!
• What daring act of love could you do this week, by God’s love?