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Love Like Jesus, Week 3: "Break Bread"
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Focus: If we want to live like Jesus, we need to love like Jesus.
Luke 7:33-35
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47 SMV (Sad Modern Version) (A cultural "re-write" for effect) The Christians were devoted to themselves and occasionally got to church when they had time. No one was filled with awe because there were no signs and wonders performed by the believers. Very few of the believers were together and they had almost nothing in common because they had no real time with each other. If they sold something, they used the money to buy something better for themselves. They ate on the run, kept to themselves and were too rushed to enjoy one another or give praise to God. They claimed to love God, but they didn't really love each other and they felt very empty and alone. As a result, most people disliked them and very few people were ever saved.SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS
I. Your PRESENCE matters
Hebrews 10:25
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
Practice being in God's presence;
then practice bringing God's presence into the present with others.
II. How MEETING TOGETHER moves us
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
III. A caring community is CONTAGIOUS
Acts 2:46-47
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Dear Jesus,
We get so busy and forget the power of community. Please reignite in us our passion for coming together in worship and in life. Holy Spirit, empower us to not just go to church, but to be the Church, together, and spur each other toward love and good deeds. Amen.
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