Class Lesson May 19, 2019

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

France may have had its Eiffel Tower, but Britain had Sir Edward Watkin, an ambitious railroad businessman who decided London should have its own tower. His tower would be fully 200 feet taller and make people forget the ugly French Tower. Sure, the Eiffel Tower had restaurants, but Watkin’s tower would have restaurants, theaters, Turkish baths, two observation decks, and a ninety-room hotel. At the very top would sit an astronomical observatory.

Watkin’s tower had only one drawback: It was never finished. Despite Sir Edward’s grandiose plans, his tower only reached 154 feet before he ran out of funds and building stopped in 1894. Then they discovered where he was building was totally unsuitable for a tower. It sat there in its sad unfinished state until it was torn down in 1907.1

We’ve all had big plans that never came to pass. Unfortunately, many of us come to Christ with great plans in how we will follow Him, but our commitment does not always match our plans. Jesus longs for us to follow Him, but He also wants us to know exactly what it means to be His disciple. He calls us to count the cost.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Luke 14:25-27

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

At this point in Jesus’ ministry, He was certainly popular. Many were drawn to Jesus as the miracle worker who fed them, healed them, and taught them with great authority. They were looking for more of the same, but Jesus turned to them and challenged them to move from being superficial followers to become fully committed disciples.

Disciple includes the idea of following someone, but it goes far deeper than how we typically use the word “follower.” A disciple wants to learn, and he also wants to adhere to what he learns; a disciple wants to fully imitate the one he follows. Those who truly follow Jesus want to be trained by Him so that they can be just like Him.

Jesus didn’t issue this invitation to a select, elite group. He said it to a large mass of people—ordinary people. Consider the twelve apostles who walked closely with Jesus. Nothing was special about them; they were fishermen, tax collectors, and rebels. These men had their doubts and insecurities, yet they still chose to follow Jesus. It should be encouraging to us that Jesus calls ordinary people.

At this point, Jesus was nearing the end of His ministry (Luke 9:51). He knew everything that was about to happen, and He challenged the disciples and followers to search deeper and be even more committed to following Him. That challenge came with a powerful, hard-to-swallow statement. You can’t be Jesus’ disciple if you do not hate: Parents, wife and children, brothers and sisters, your own life.

That’s rough. Really? Jesus wants me to hate everyone? “Hate” sounds so harsh. “Hate” sounds extreme. How do we justify this in light of the fifth commandment to honor our fathers and mothers? Also, as we read in an earlier session, Jesus has commanded us to “love your enemies” (Luke 6:27). Was Jesus now contradicting Himself?

We tend to use “love” and “hate” in an emotional sense, but Scripture uses the words in another way. “Love” can mean to choose something or prefer something; consequently, “hate” can mean to reject something or to prefer something else. In that sense, Jesus calls us to choose Him, to prefer Him above all. It’s a statement of comparison. Our love for Jesus is to be so great that, by comparison, our love for others doesn’t come close to the love we have for Him.

Jesus wants us to love Him in a way that leads us to lose concern for everything else in our lives—including our own lives! It’s a call for every person to “carry their cross.” His disciples and followers knew exactly what that meant: to pick up a cross is to die. Jesus is quite clear about what we must do to be His disciple: we must choose Him over and above everything else in life!

Luke 14:28-33

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”

What Jesus had called the crowd to do was no easy task: (1) to love Him so much that all other loves look like hate, and (2) to be willing to die for Him. Jesus knew this would be difficult for many of them, so He cautioned them to think through all that meant. In other words, He called them to count the cost of following Him.

To place Jesus before everybody else in our lives may not set well with others. Family members and friends may not share our radical commitment to Christ, so we must consider what that could cost us. We might experience rejection by those closest to us, as Jesus knew firsthand. He also knew that the rejection would increase and that the cross lay before Him. He knew His disciples would also experience it. So Jesus calls us to count the cost.

Today, throughout our world, persecuted Christians flee their homes because they have chosen Christ and are no longer welcomed by their families as a result. Some have merely been ostracized and ignored by families; others have been killed. It is estimated that one in twelve Christians worldwide experience persecution, including imprisonment, abduction, sexual assault, and death.2 All because they choose to follow Jesus.

We also can know blessing in following Jesus, but He does warn us to count the cost. Choosing to follow Jesus is not a lighthearted decision and it should never be treated as such. If you are ready, then you must be willing to give up everything and everyone you know. You must be willing to lay down your own agenda and your own desires—and pick up a cross.

Luke 14:34-35

34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

The Christian life is no place for half-hearted commitment. Half-hearted commitment would be like salt that isn’t salty!

Typically, when we think of salt, we think of enhanced flavor. We use salt to make our food taste better. In the days before refrigeration, however, salt was used as a preservative, to keep foods from spoiling. Jesus described His followers as “the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13); as such, we are a preserving influence for the kingdom of God.

People have used salt symbolically to represent a covenant between friends. To share a meal with someone was to eat as friends, and salt was a staple at meals. Even today, the Arabic expression, “There is salt between us” describes hospitality that seals friendship.3 

When we enter into a relationship with Christ—a covenant based on what Christ has done to bring us to God—we become His salt.

What can we do to ensure we remain that strong influence in the world?

• Stay in fellowship with Jesus. Keep your eyes on Him and  your mind set in His Word.
• Be at peace with one another. Remember, following Jesus means taking up our cross; when we die to selfishness we can be at peace with each other.

• Be in community with other believers. Community reminds us we are not alone as believers.

Keep going—no matter how hard it gets. Remember the covenant of salt—that covenant of permanent loyalty. It’s not just a commitment of your loyalty to God; it’s also God’s commitment to you. He is with you. He loves, He restores, and He strengthens. You can keep going.

LIVE IT OUT

Jesus calls us to do hard things by putting ourselves aside and following Him. What will you do to reflect your commitment to Him?

Choose one of the following applications:

• 

  Evaluate yourself. Do a self-evaluation. In what areas of your life is compromise evident? If you determine you have not given everything to Christ, pray and make that commitment now.

• Influence others. Determine to let your conversations this week reflect your relationship with Christ. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:6).

• Count the cost. Get involved in being salt in the community. Invest your time and energy in helping others in your community see the love and grace of Christ in you.

We’re not building towers or armies. We’re building something so much more important: lives and communities devoted to Christ. Let’s be sure to count the cost!

Hope to see everyone on Sunday!


In His love,



David & Susan

Class Lesson May 12, 2019

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Following a sports team can be a fun endeavor, but fans come in two breeds: (1) Fair-weather fans follow a team only when it’s winning. They like to cheer, and following the best team available gives validity to their cheering. (2) Faithful fans hang in there through thick and thin. They develop a strong foundation to stand on as they support their team in both the ups and the downs.

In my elementary and junior high days, I was a die-hard Cubs fan. The only time I’d be inside during the summer was when the Cubs were on TV. However, in high school my allegiance changed to the Astros. It’s interesting how the seasons of life can affect what we hold as important, even which sports team we follow.

Unfortunately, the same can be true about the priority we place on following Jesus. It’s easy to follow Jesus when everything is going great, but what happens when it becomes uncomfortable or other things call for our attention? In Luke 9, Jesus challenged us to consider the cost of following Him.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Luke 9:57-58

57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus called people to follow Him. The Greek word akoloutheo (ak-ol-oo-THEH-o) was used seventy-seven times in the Gospels to refer to following Jesus. This word means “one going in the same way.” The call from the Lord to follow Him was always in the present imperative, which means it was an ongoing command. Following Jesus, then, is not a momentary decision or just for a set period. When Jesus calls for someone to follow Him, He literally means “keep on following Me.” Jesus’ call for us to follow Him is simple: From now on—for your entire life—follow Me.

Luke gave us three instances of “would-be” disciples that show us just how radical the call is to follow Jesus. The first of these three would-be disciples made a strong statement, “I will follow you wherever you go.” This man had likely seen many miracles and heard Jesus teach, and he decided this was a man he could get behind. He may have determined Jesus was the political messiah the Jews hoped for, and he wanted to jump on Jesus' bandwagon. But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, knew what was in the man’s heart (John 2:25); Jesus knew this was not a whole-hearted declaration to follow Him, so Jesus addressed this scribe’s statement by introducing the full cost of following.

Wild animals like foxes and birds had a more comfortable life ahead of them than Jesus did. Jesus knew the full sacrifice involved in what lay ahead of Him. Because following meant “one going in the same way,” Jesus knew all it would take for someone to follow Him. Jesus knew that this scribe was not ready to let go of personal comforts.

Earlier, in Luke 9, Jesus spoke of the cost of following Him: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). When Jesus invites us to follow Him, He is calling us to deny ourselves of our own desires and comforts and to step into this new life of following Him.

Jesus was willing to live without the creature comforts of the creatures He created! Why? Because He loves us that much. It seems this scribe was not willing to accept a lack of personal comfort. Jesus never told the man he could not follow. Jesus simply outlined the cost and allowed the scribe to decide for himself.

We must be willing to accept the gift of God that, in one sense, cost us nothing (Eph. 2:8-9), but at the same time, cost us everything as we deny ourselves to follow Him. Are you willing and ready to follow Jesus, even if the cost includes no guarantee of comfort?

Luke 9:59-60

59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

The first would-be disciple had come to Jesus on his own seeking to be a follower. With the second would-be disciple, Jesus Himself took the initiative of calling him to follow. What an honor it is to have Jesus Himself say to you, “Follow me.” Whether this man felt honored or not, we are uncertain, but he did give a response.

“Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” This sounds like a reasonable request. In fact, for Jews, burying the dead was a religious duty. On the surface, it appears this man was asking to do an honorable task. That’s why Jesus’ answer seems particularly harsh: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Whoa. Wait! What did He just say?

As honorable as the man’s request sounds to our contemporary ears, we miss one critical detail: the man’s father wasn’t dead yet! If his father had already died, he would have been buried immediately. The man also would’ve been in a month-long period of mourning—and not conversing with Jesus.

The saying, “I must bury my father,” is still used in parts of the Middle East. A man would say it today to explain that he would remain home until his father dies to help with the family business and responsibilities, and receive his inheritance after his father’s death. Perhaps the would-be disciple’s excuse carried a concern that leaving and following Jesus in that moment could mean the loss of his inheritance.

This man’s response brought his priorities to light. His attitude of delayed obedience was actually disobedience. Jesus was not asking for commitment to Him alone and nothing else, but all other commitments must flow out of and be subservient to our commitment to Him.

Jesus knows what it costs to follow Him. Jesus knows exactly what it would take for His followers to proclaim the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, His response was not one of disrespect for the man’s family, but a call to the greater commitment. We display our commitment to Christ in the way we handle other priorities. Following Jesus is not an important thing; it’s the most important thing!

Luke 9:61-62

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

The third would-be follower spoke up and made the proclamation, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” At first glance, this third man has one step up on the one who wanted to bury his father, because, really, how long could saying goodbye take? However, this man’s commitment to follow Christ was derailed by one word: but.

This man started off in the right direction, but he quickly got turned around because Jesus was not his first priority. He wasn’t concerned first and foremost with following the Lord and seeking the kingdom. He may have been concerned about what his family would think or do when they found out he was leaving them for Jesus. It was more than just a matter of saying goodbye.

You can’t plow a field while you are looking back. Your lines wouldn’t be straight. Your rows would probably be on top of each other. The apostle Paul put this principle to practice in his own life. He wrote: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).

You likely know people who are continually pulled back into their old lives. Or others who talk about “the good old days.” It seems impossible for them to live in the present. In reality, they struggle to understand how good the present is. If we spend our time looking over our shoulder at the past, focusing on what might have been or even continuing to live in the sin of the past, we will not be fit for effectiveness in the kingdom of God. Looking back reflects a divided heart, and we cannot follow Christ with a divided heart.

God most likely will not take away all our earthly possessions, nor will He ask us to leave our families and friends. But to follow Jesus we must be willing to give up all those things.

LIVE IT OUT

Jesus allows no shortcuts to following Him. The cost is high, but the reward is great: a full, joy-filled life now and forever. Choose one of the following applications:

• 

  Let go of the past. Do not let the past become more important than where God is leading you today. Focus on Christ daily as you follow Him and embrace what lies ahead.

• Evaluate your priorities. Realize following Jesus includes no guarantee of comfort. Look for ways that your desire for personal comfort has hindered you from truly following Jesus. Remove those hindrances and put Jesus first.

• Follow Jesus with immediate obedience. If there is an area in your life where you have delayed your obedience, understand that this is disobedience. Repent and act immediately on what you know Christ is calling you to do.

This joy-filled life is ours in Christ, if we choose to truly follow Him.

Hope to see you on Sunday!!

In His Love,


David & Susan


Teacher Notes:

Last week, I asked you what it had really costs you to follow Jesus?

Life can often feel like an unending round of tasks and responsibilities. Many things call for our attention and care – and most of these are good and important things. So, it’s a challenge when Jesus spoke of all-or-nothing commitment if we are to follow Him.

In Luke 9, Jesus challenged us to consider the cost of following Him.

• Jesus wants all who are willing to follow Him – that’s why He came.
• Jesus didn’t do the popular things, the spectacular things to attract the masses. 
• Jesus doesn’t soft-sell what it means to be a disciple.
• Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart or for those who feel a burst of energy after some special experience.

He wanted followers who would follow no matter the cost.

This morning, Jesus gives us 3 instances in Luke 9 of “would-be” disciples that show us just how radical the call is to follow Jesus. 

Luke 9:57-58

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

What does Jesus want us to understand about being His disciple?

1. Following Jesus includes no guarantee of comfort.

• Our enthusiasm to follow Jesus is to be matched by an even greater commitment.
• Discipleship includes a desire and willingness to go with Jesus wherever He leads.
• Disciples may be called upon to set aside personal comforts and conveniences in order to be with Jesus.
• A faithful disciple needs to be prepared to deal with rejection for choosing to be a disciple of Jesus.

Are you willing and ready to follow Jesus, even if the cost includes no guarantee of comfort?

What are some comforts we may be called to give up in order to follow Jesus?

Earlier, in Luke 9, Jesus spoke of the cost of following Him: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). When Jesus invites us to follow Him, He is calling us to deny ourselves of our own desires and comforts and to step into this new life of following Him.

Jesus simply outlined the cost and allowed the scribe to decide for himself.

We must be willing to accept the gift of God that, in one sense, cost us nothing, but at the same time, cost us everything as we deny ourselves to follow Him.

Luke 9:59-60

He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

What does Jesus want us to understand about being His disciple?

2. Delayed obedience is disobedience.

• Following Jesus calls for immediate response and action.
• We have no assurances concerning the future.
• Disciples of Jesus are charged to make known the gospel of Jesus and the coming of the kingdom of God. 

“Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 

This sounds like a reasonable request. For Jews, burying the dead was a religious duty. Jesus’ answer seems particularly harsh: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 

We miss one critical detail: the man’s father wasn’t dead yet! If his father had already died, he would have been buried immediately. The man also would’ve been in a month-long period of mourning—and not conversing with Jesus. The saying, “I must bury my father,” is still used in parts of the Middle East. A man would say it today to explain that he would remain home until his father dies to help with the family business and responsibilities, and receive his inheritance after his father’s death. 

This man’s response brought his priorities to light. His attitude of delayed obedience was actually disobedience. 

Jesus knows what it costs to follow Him. Jesus knows exactly what it would take for His followers to proclaim the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, His response was not one of disrespect for the man’s family, but a call to the greater commitment. 

We display our commitment to Christ in the way we handle other priorities. Following Jesus is not an important thing; it’s the most important thing!

Luke 9:61-62

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

What does Jesus want us to understand about being His disciple?

3. We can’t move forward in Christ if we’re looking back.

• Following Jesus means letting go of the past, refusing to look back, so you can move forward with Him as Lord.
• We have many commitments but none more important than our commitment to Christ.
• Jesus must be first; He will not be second to anybody or anything.

This man’s commitment to follow Christ was derailed by one word: but.

This man started off in the right direction, but he quickly got turned around because Jesus was not his first priority. 

He wasn’t concerned first and foremost with following the Lord and seeking the kingdom. He may have been concerned about what his family would think or do when they found out he was leaving them for Jesus. It was more than just a matter of saying goodbye.

You can’t plow a field while you are looking back. Your lines wouldn’t be straight. Your rows would probably be on top of each other. 

Paul put this principle to practice in his own life. He wrote: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).

You likely know people who are continually pulled back into their old lives. 

Looking back reflects a divided heart, and we cannot follow Christ with a divided heart.

God most likely will not take away all our earthly possessions, nor will He ask us to leave our families and friends. But to follow Jesus we must be willing to give up all those things.

Conclusion: The point of this lesson is clear. 

Following Jesus takes priority over all other commitments.

What does Jesus want from His followers?

“Total dedication. Not half-hearted commitment. His followers must accept the cross along with the crown, judgment as well as mercy. They must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given them security. Nothing should detract them from service for the kingdom.” 

The demands are high, the work is hard, but the benefits are heavenly!

In what way have you sacrificed conveniences or comfort as a disciple of Jesus?

Have you ever been rejected because of your commitment to be a disciple of Jesus? How did you get through it?

Was there a time in your life when you fully knew God had asked you to do something, but you looked for excuses or delayed responding to Him?

How did you bring about resolution – or have you? 

Class Lesson May 5, 2019

Click Here to Watch

#4

Love Your Enemies

Luke 6:27-36

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

When it comes to sports, you’re supposed to trash-talk the other team and its fans. When a coworker makes you look bad in front of the boss, you’re supposed to make him look worse. When someone spreads a rumor about you, you’re supposed to retaliate and spread a more hurtful rumor about her. When someone blunders in a way that affects you, you’re supposed to gossip about the person. When a family member wrongs you again and again, you’re supposed to drop him—remove him from your life—and never forgive.

You’re supposed to? That’s the way the world expects you to act, and the same thinking resides in our sinful human nature. But Jesus calls us to a different approach. A radical approach. Jesus calls us to love, serve, bless, and pray. That’s easy enough with those we like, but Jesus calls us to do the same thing for our enemies. That includes those who trash-talk us, make us look bad, spread rumors, hurt us, and even hate us.

How do we do that in a world that says hate and anger is the answer?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Luke 6:27-28

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Christ calls those who know Him and follow Him to live lives that reflect who He is. To follow Jesus means to be like Him, and that means we reflect His love through our actions and attitudes—even toward those who hate us—with no exceptions or escape clauses. We are to love unconditionally.

What does unconditional love look like?

• Forgive others. “Love your enemies,” and love begins with forgiveness. Forgiveness is hard, but it is completely doable. Jesus modeled perfect forgiveness on the cross. As He died in our place, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Just as God forgives our sins, we should forgive others’ sins. Forgiveness frees up space in our heart where bitterness or hatred wants to take root. Forgiving others is a response to the forgiveness we have received from God. Since Jesus died for our sins, we can forgive others for the wrong they’ve done to us.

• Do good to others. “Do good to those who hate you.” Serving others requires faith to know the Lord is good and He works His goodness through us. Faith is active. Faith takes initiative. Faith seeks to please God by serving people who are difficult to serve— people who the world neglects or tells us not to love. They may have wronged us, but at the end of the day, they are still the ones we are called to love and serve. Nothing makes Christians stand out in our broken culture like Christ shining through us while we do good to those who have wronged us. 

• 

  Bless others. “Bless those who curse you.” Our words have the ability to speak life or death. “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Prov. 18:21). Wow! When we speak affirmation or praises, or speak well of our enemies, we are choosing to bless them by “speaking life” over them. Sincere affirmation of others frees us from a spirit of hatred. The more we affirm people, the more our hearts warm toward them, resulting in greater willingness to forgive.

• Pray for others. “Pray for those who mistreat you.” Jesus made a clear correlation between loving our enemies and praying for them, but why? Why do we need to pray for those who have wronged us? Because it’s not about us. It’s about our relationship with Jesus—living in Him and for Him. Prayer brings us closer to Jesus; therefore, it brings us closer to healing, and praying for those who hate us sanctifies us in humility. Praying for those who hurt us requires us to lay down our pride, which paves the way for an abundance of God’s grace in our lives.

Luke 6:29-31

29 “If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

The Christian life is a life of sacrifice; sometimes we may even be required to sacrifice the parts that are the most near and dear to us. Loving others, especially our enemies, will often require intentional sacrifice. These sacrifices may be in the areas of money, time, energy, or expectations. We certainly will need to sacrifice any pride or self centered thinking. But we can only give sacrificially of any of these things by knowing and walking with the Lord.

Jesus communicated this truth through three examples.

1. If someone slaps your cheek. Slapping a person on the cheek was an insult, and Jesus said to let him slap you again; in other words, if a person insults you once, don’t be afraid to let him insult you again.

2. If someone takes your garment. Taking another person’s garment was a legal matter to a Jewish audience (Matt. 5:40). Luke was writing to a Gentile named Theophilus (Luke 1:3), so the Old Testament law on this matter (Ex. 22:26-27) would not have been important to him.

3. If someone takes your things. This implied taking someone’s things without permission. Even here, Jesus stressed a selfless approach to those who take advantage of us: “do not demand it back.” See it as a gift, not a loan.

Jesus gave the perfect summation of His teaching in verse 31: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Versions of this statement can be found in ancient literature, but they were stated negatively: “Whatever you would not like done to you, do not do to another.” Jesus gave us a positive command to follow, one that is grounded in love and mercy for the other person.

Sacrificial giving speaks unconditional, undeniable love to the recipient. It’s not surprising when we do that for a friend or loved one, but when we do it for someone bent on harming us, it can be life-changing.

Luke 6:32-36

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Why does all this “love your enemies” talk even matter? Because to be a Christ-follower means to live like Jesus. Jesus loves others; therefore, we love. His love for others is far different from the way the world expects us to love, and we are to love as He loves.

One word describes the way the world thinks: expectations. We always expect something in return. I will treat you well if you treat me well. I will loan to you if you repay me. I will love you if you love me. We always expect something in return. For the follower of Christ, however, this isn’t enough. Instead, God is calling us to take our expectations out of the picture. Do good to the other person even if he is not good; love even if she doesn’t love you; loan without asking for repayment.

The only way to spread this kind of love is to love others as He loved us, spreading His glory throughout all of our relationships and situations—and that goes far beyond words. Others see it in our actions.

Jesus modeled a life of service (Matt. 20:28). Christ was a servant to all people, even those who wronged Him. We are to do the same. Though our culture encourages instant gratification and rarely promotes selfless acts, we are called to serve. As Christians, we are not here to be served, but to serve others. When we realize the magnitude of our sin, experience God’s love despite that sin, and begin to understand what He did for us, we can’t help but be transformed into servants to all people as well.

LIVE IT OUT

Loving others—especially our enemies—is hard, but it’s what we’re called to do. What will you do this week to love as Jesus loves?

Choose one of the following applications:

• 

  Bless. If you’re continually around a person who is hard to love, be intentional in blessing them with a smile, a greeting, or some simple gesture of kindness.

• Identify. Write down the names of those who have wronged you. Convert that list of names into a prayer list. Pray for their needs and pray for God to move your heart to love and serve them. Ask God to help you see them as people He loves, people who were created in His image.

• Serve. Invest your time and energy in helping an enemy with something they could use some help with. Use the opportunity to point to Christ.

Living our lives to reflect the life of Jesus is what sets us apart. Our radical love for people through our words and actions points to the One who fills us with His love.

Hope to see everyone this Sunday!


In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher Notes:

Video: THE GRACE OF GOD IN LES MISÉRABLES SCENE

Click Here to Watch

When it comes to sports, you’re supposed to trash-talk the other team and its fans. When a coworker makes you look bad in front of the boss, you’re supposed to make him look worse. When someone spreads a rumor about you, you’re supposed to retaliate and spread a more hurtful rumor about her. When someone blunders in a way that affects you, you’re supposed to gossip about the person. When a family member wrongs you again and again, you’re supposed to drop him—remove him from your life—and never forgive.

You’re supposed to? That’s the way the world expects you to act, and the same thinking resides in our sinful human nature. But Jesus calls us to a different approach. A radical approach. Jesus calls us to love, serve, bless, and pray. That’s easy enough with those we like, but Jesus calls us to do the same thing for our enemies. That includes those who trash-talk us, make us look bad, spread rumors, hurt us, and even hate us.

How do we do that in a world that says hate and anger is the answer?

An old song asks, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” When it comes to following Jesus, the answer is, “Everything!” Jesus commanded us to love one another, and He said the key trait of His disciples is love (John 13:34-35). The apostle John said anyone who does not love does not really know God (1 John 4:8). Our Lord commanded us not only to love one another, but also to love our enemies. 

Interestingly, Jesus took for granted that we would have enemies. He knew the world hated Him, and He warned His disciples that the world would hate them as well. The question is not whether you’ll have enemies, but how you respond to them. 

Why did He command us to love our enemies? How is it possible for us to love them? 

I. Loving those who hate us should be seen in our attitude and actions. 

Luke 6:27-28

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

What does it mean to love your enemies?

• It means responding to hatred with kindness. Do good to them, Bless them, and Pray for them. 

Christ calls those who know Him and follow Him to live lives that reflect who He is. To follow Jesus means to be like Him, and that means we reflect His love through our actions and attitudes—even toward those who hate us—with no exceptions or escape clauses. We are to love unconditionally.

What does unconditional love look like?

• Forgive others. 

• Do good to others. 

• Bless others. 

• Pray for others. 

Who do you know that models Jesus’ teaching in these verses? 

• Being a disciple of Jesus Christ calls for radical behavior, at least as compared to what the world expects. Our willingness to love even our enemies comes from an attitude of faith that firmly believes God is in control of all things. One way to make our enemies our friends is to bring blessing to their lives and to pray earnestly for them.

These are faith responses based on the conviction that:

1. God is in control of all things

2. He will provide security

3. He will act justly

4. The things we consider of upmost importance in this life really are not, and 

5. In the end vengeance belongs to Him

In other words, we trust Him to care for us even as we face our enemies. These are difficult words to hear, let alone practice. We spend a lot of time creating exceptions to what Jesus said, explaining when the rule doesn’t apply. Jesus offered no explanations or exceptions.

II. Loving others may require action on our part.

Luke 6:29-31

“If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Which of the statements seems easiest for you to live out? Which seems most difficult?

When have you seen someone living out these principles? (My son, Dave)

• The Christian life is a life of sacrifice; sometimes we may even be required to sacrifice the parts that are the most near and dear to us. Loving others, especially our enemies, will often require intentional sacrifice. These sacrifices may be in the areas of money, time, energy, or expectations. We certainly will need to sacrifice any pride or self centered thinking. But we can only give sacrificially of any of these things by knowing and walking with the Lord.

What does it mean to love your enemies?

• It means being slow to take vengeance.  Those who love as Jesus expects will be more concerned for others than themselves. Believers are to take the initiative to treat others as they would want to be treated. (The Golden Rule) 

• It is less about feelings and more about actions. Robert H. Stein says, “Often loving feelings follow loving actions much like a caboose follows an engine. Jesus’ commands, however, are addressed to the engine of the will and not the caboose of feelings.” 

Does this mean we should let others take advantage of us?

• We must balance this teaching against other Scriptures. Paul warned against subsidizing laziness (2 Thess. 3:10). We must not do anything that will compromise our testimony. We must be careful of our own motives. Are you truly seeking justice, or do you just want revenge? Is it truly a matter of principle, or are you just trying to pacify your wounded pride?

What are the results of loving your enemies?

• It makes an impression on them. It might make them feel ashamed of the wrong they’ve done to you (Romans 12:20). It will prevent them from justifying themselves. It’s a powerful testimony to others.

III. Our love flows out of the love Christ has shown us.

Luke 6:32-36

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

How have you seen God’s undeserved goodness and mercy displayed recently?

In what ways can our treatment of others help or harm our witness?

What are some characteristics of the kind of radical love Jesus is describing in these verses?

The reward for loving your enemies.

• You will receive a reward in heaven. Jesus did not mean this would be our ticket into heaven. We are saved by God’s grace, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Nevertheless, God’s grace does produce good works (Eph. 2:10). We will still have to give account to God (2 Corinthians 5:10). He will take note of when you did good to those who hated you, or when you gave to people who could not pay you back.

• You will bring glory to God. You will be an example of His mercy. You will demonstrate the meaning of unconditional love. You will have opportunities to tell others about Jesus.

• Followers of Jesus will be different: loving the unlovable, doing good to those who don’t appreciate it, and sharing with others without expecting anything in return.

• God will bless those who extend His love to others.

• When we practice God’s kind of love, we are showing others that we are children of God.

• God is kind, merciful, and compassionate to all people.

• We are to demonstrate mercy just as God our Father has shown mercy to us.

Conclusion: I like some parts of following Jesus better than I do others. I like knowing He is present with me in all things at all times. I like knowing the warmth of His love. I am grateful for His grace. I like the comfort of His peace. I like knowing that because of Him, I will go to heaven. 

But did you notice that all those things I like about following Him are what He does for me?

Following Jesus is more than getting in line to get His wonderful blessings. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ makes demands on me as well. (the cost) That’s the part I don’t like. I like being in control. But following Jesus calls for me to submit to Him. And one great demand that causes me to struggle is His expectation that I am to love everybody – even my enemies, those people that hurt me or would like to hurt me if they had the chance. Do I have to do that – love them, I mean? Yes, but it’s not really a “have to” thing; even though it is what He expects. Doing the tough things that Jesus expects, that honor Him, and bring glory to the Father are not things I have to do, ought to do, or must do; they are things I get to do and want to do for Him.

How about you? Are you a follower of Jesus Christ? If so, what does that mean to you? What difference does it make in the way you live, including your attitudes and actions toward others; and particularly, someone you might classify as an “enemy”? Maybe you struggle with it like I do. 

But what a joy to walk with Him and to serve Him day in and out. From that perspective, maybe the demands are not demands after all. They are opportunities; they are privileges – opportunities and privileges that have been given to me because of His great love, His love that he wants me to share – even with my enemies.

What do you like about following Jesus?

What are some of the hard places of being a disciple of Jesus where you struggle?

How well are you doing in the area of loving people you find difficult to love?

Name a person who is in some way your enemy. ______________________

What are you doing about the relationship?

How often do you try to do good for the person?

Have you prayed for that person today?

Read Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Why should that verse encourage you to take some action to reach out in love to someone you have avoided or just don’t like?

The story goes that shortly after the Civil War ended, a group of former Confederates paid a visit to President Lincoln. They were very defensive, but Lincoln’s friendly and genial manner quickly disarmed them. The meeting was quite pleasant, and the Confederate leaders left with a new respect for the man who had recently been their enemy. A northern Congressman later criticized the President for being so gracious, and he said Lincoln should have had them shot as traitors. Lincoln smiled and said, “Am I not destroying my enemies by making them my friends?” 

When someone does you wrong, it’s only natural to want revenge. However, we are sinners by nature, so the “natural” response is not always God’s response. When you repay evil with evil, you only enable wrongdoers to justify themselves. Why not learn to love your enemies, and repay their evil with kindness? I admit it’s a tall order. It’s an area where I struggle and often fail. Nevertheless, it’s what our Lord demands us. After all, He showed us kindness when we did not deserve it. How can we do any less? 

The Point: Love your enemies even as Christ has loved you.