May 14, 2023
Love Your Enemies
- Darrin Simpson
Sermon Notes
To Become More Like Jesus
Luke 6:27-28 NIV
"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."
Luke 6:27-28 NIV
"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 my enemies?
Agape – Unconditional Love
Who are my enemies?
Echthrous – One who opposes you / shows hostility.
To become more like Jesus … love like Jesus.
Luke 6:27-28 NIV
"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."
Right Place / Right Time
Comfortable Jesus
To become more like Jesus … grace, not hate.
Luke 6:27-28 NIV
"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."
To bless is to speak well of those who want to actively hurt us.
To become more like Jesus … bless the mess.
Luke 6:27-28 NIV
"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."
Psalm 109:8, 11-12 NIV
May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on them.
To become more like Jesus … spend time with him.
Luke 6:29-30 NIV
"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."
Luke 6:31 NIV
"Do to others as you would have them do to you."
Luke 6:32-35 NIV
"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."
Luke 6:36 NIV
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Mercy = Right to punish; showing compassion and forgiveness
Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Titus 3:3-5 NIV
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.