May 28, 2017

Sermon Message by Rev. Ray Sparling

"My Command: Love Each Other"

Bible Texts: NLT

This month's sermon theme: "How to model our lives after Jesus"

John 15:9-17

Jesus, the True Vine

9) “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10) When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11) I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12) This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13) There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14) You are my friends if you do what I command. 15) I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17) This is my command: Love each other.

Deuteronomy 6:4-6

A Call for Wholehearted Commitment

4) “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.

5) And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.