HTLC Sermon Notes: 05.10.26 Sixth Sunday after Easter

Last week we listened in as Jesus was talking to his disciples in the Upper Room.

This week our gospel passage continues his conversation with them. Jesus is telling them to keep his commandments. He is promising that he will not abandon them. And then in verse 21 he says,

“21Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

So today I want to focus on love.

In the Greek New Testament there are many words to describe different kinds of love. In our culture, we use the word love to describe many things – like the love of our parents or the love parents have for a child; the love of a spouse or our friends.

But we also say we love new cars…we love a good book…we love rainy days… we love pizza! Today I want to suggest to you that love can also be a verb!

Many years ago I attended a marriage encounter weekend with my husband, Greg. One of the most impactful lessons I learned that weekend is that love is a choice! That love can often be an action. That we can choose to respond in love even when we’re angry. (Spilled Milk)

Or consider that great movie Fiddler on the Roof — the patriarch Tevye sings to his wife of 25 years, “Do you love me?” Instead of a mushy loving answer, she answers by saying (paraphrased)--I’ve washed your clothes for 25 years, cooked your meals, cleaned our home…if that isn’t love, what is?

Kurt and I are sometimes examples of love being a verb. Years ago, Kurt had a couple of surgeries, and I did my best to lovingly care for him. Now, of course, he not only cares for me, but also shoulders most of the household chores, as well as helping me with church stuff. Kurt’s love language is service, and he does an awesome job!

We are called to bear each other’s burdens…not just as a spouse but in the world. There are many passages in the Bible that give us clear verb-like instructions on how to love.

One of the best passages on this topic is found is found in Romans 12. Because most of us don’t bring our Bibles to church, I’m going to have Tom pass out this passage to you so you can follow along with me. We begin with Roman’s 12:9-13. (Read)

This is the kind of love we have for our family, our friends, the people with whom we work or worship.

The next section includes verses 14-18. (Read)

This is a bit harder - it’s more difficult to show love to someone we don’t like. We might call this section love even during hostility.

We are human…various things push our buttons. Maybe you get upset with certain drivers. Or we all know folks who are sweet to our face but might be quick to gossip the minute our back is turned. Let’s face it…the world is full of hypocrites. One of the biggest hypocrites in the Bible was Judas Iscariot …

Are we really supposed to respond in love? Yes, we are! And I’m here to tell you, it’s simply not possible…Unless, of course, we remember that each of us is filled with God’s Holy Spirit! It’s only through our relationship with Jesus and the gift of the Spirit that we can swallow our anger and respond in love. So, next time you want to respond in a very human way—to shake your fist, or yell, or worse—maybe you can take a second, breathe, and try to calm yourself.

Next is the hardest command of all: verses 19-21. (Read)

Love our enemies? You know you don’t want to! How can we? Why should we?

I’ll give you three reasons:

1. Jesus commands it;

2. Jesus practiced it (On the cross);

3. People will notice!

If we practice responding in love, people will wonder what’s up…they will notice.

If we think of love as a verb and remind ourselves that Jesus is the perfect example of responding in love (in all situations), we will be changed! Just like the disciples of long ago, we should keep the commands of Jesus because we love him.

It’s just that simple … or that difficult!

And this seems like a good place to say, “I love you.” That’s not hard for me at all….and it isn’t just a “pizza” kind of love either!

Amen.