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We love being a christian. We love helping people becoming Christians. We can do many things to show our love for people. We can give them money, we can even save their lives. But there is nothing greater than giving them a chance to go to heaven.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
No love greater than this.
How do we put this into practice - Love the lost
1. He spent time with them
John 1:35-39
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.
36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
39 "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
Quality time - Jesus invited people to be a part of his life.
What did he do with them?
Mark 1:21-22
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
Taught them, they were "amazed".
Mark 1:24-25
24 "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
Dealt with people's sin, heart.
Mark 1:29-31
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
30 Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.
31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
Involved in their peonsal lives - at Simon's (Peter's) home helping his mother.
If you want to make disciples you've got to invest the time, that's how you get people into your hearts by making them a part of your life.
1 Thessalonians 2:8
2. He spoke the truth to them
John 3:1-3
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"Nick" was a religious leader, very sincere yet he was lost.
From the start, people need for us to speak the truth in love to them.
Nicodemus didn't understand it at the time but the truth had an effect.
John 20:29
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
What kind of friend are we being to people?
Proverbs 27:6
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Need to understand where people are at and be sensitive but there is no substitute for speaking the truth.
3. He served them
John 13:1-5
1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Consistently, not just when he felt like it. He denied himself even though he knew he was going to die the next day. Prepared special meal and then even washed their feet.
Someone who served you in a great way.
We need to think of special ways we cn serve the people we are working with.
Sleep over - preparing a meal for them helping them find a job.
Unconditionally - washed Judas feet too. He did't quit serving when his disciples deserted him but went all the way to the cross.
Are we being friends to people like Jesus?
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