But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” — Luke 10:29
Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. — Matt. 7:12
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. — John 13:34-35
And Piper begins the chapter.................I don’t presume in the previous chapters to have solved all perplexities in the life of love. There are competing claims on our limited time and resources. There are hard choices about what to give up and what to keep. There are different interpretations of what is good for another person. I don’t mean that all of that becomes simple.
Radical Command and Radical Provision - What I do mean is this: Loving God sustains us through all the joy and pain and perplexity and uncertainty of what loving our neighbor should be. When the sacrifice is great, we remember that God’s grace is sufficient. When the fork in the road of love is unmarked, we remember with joy and love that his grace is sufficient. When we are distracted by the world and our hearts give way temporarily to............to finish reading what Dr. Piper has to say about this "demand," click the following link to download this book free of charge -
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/1822_What_Jesus_Demands_from_the_World/
Questions from the workbook - Chapter 34
To what does Jesus change the lawyer’s question in Luke 10:29? What implication does this have on our lives?
What was the lawyer’s question really an attempt at doing? Why does Jesus refuse to address such a question?
What role does Jesus’ death play on our obedience to the command to love?
What’s “new” about the new commandment? How is the new commandment harmonious with he “old” commandment?
How was Jesus “loving himself perfectly” (p. 268) when he died for us? Is it loving for him to ursue his own joy? Why or why not? Should you follow this example (i.e., pursuing your own joy in your loving others)? Why or why not?
*Next week - Laying up treasures for ourselves in heaven!
To that end.............
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Demand #33: Love Your Neighbor With The Same Commitment You Have To Your Own Well-Being
. . . as yourself. — Matt. 22:39
From the workbook (click link below to read and/or download a free copy of the book and workbook)
Explain why Jesus assumes we love ourselves. Is he right? Why or why not? How is this profoundly counter-cultural for 21st century America?
When does self-love become sinful pride and selfishness?
Why is the second commandment threatening to our desires to be happy? How is this threat averted?
What, according to Jesus, is to be the new form of our self-love?
Reflect upon the various expressions of neighbor-love that are listed in the final section of the
chapter.
Describe how an authentic love for God will overflow in love for neighbor in each of these ways. Which people in your life could you put some of these suggestions into practice for?
From the workbook (click link below to read and/or download a free copy of the book and workbook)
Explain why Jesus assumes we love ourselves. Is he right? Why or why not? How is this profoundly counter-cultural for 21st century America?
When does self-love become sinful pride and selfishness?
Why is the second commandment threatening to our desires to be happy? How is this threat averted?
What, according to Jesus, is to be the new form of our self-love?
Reflect upon the various expressions of neighbor-love that are listed in the final section of the
chapter.
Describe how an authentic love for God will overflow in love for neighbor in each of these ways. Which people in your life could you put some of these suggestions into practice for?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Demand #32; Love Your Neighbors As Yourself, For This Is The Law and The Prophets
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” — Matt. 22:36-40
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. — Matt. 7:12
From the Workbook: (complete book and workbook available from Desiring God at "no charge" via download at right)
What observations help us see the weightiness and magnitude and seriousness of Jesus’ second commandment in Matt. 22:39?
Why can’t we say that the “Golden Rule” in Matt. 7:7–11 is proof that Jesus was simply a moral teacher whose teaching wasn’t primarily about God?
Explain how the second commandment (to love your neighbor) is the fulfillment or demonstration of the first commandment (to love God).
How can love of neighbor both be the law and the prophets (Matt. 7:12) and be what the law and
the prophets hang on?
When Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves, who does he have in mind? What is his primary concern and ultimate goal in this demand? Are you failing to be a good neighbor to anybody in your life?
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. — Matt. 7:12
From the Workbook: (complete book and workbook available from Desiring God at "no charge" via download at right)
What observations help us see the weightiness and magnitude and seriousness of Jesus’ second commandment in Matt. 22:39?
Why can’t we say that the “Golden Rule” in Matt. 7:7–11 is proof that Jesus was simply a moral teacher whose teaching wasn’t primarily about God?
Explain how the second commandment (to love your neighbor) is the fulfillment or demonstration of the first commandment (to love God).
How can love of neighbor both be the law and the prophets (Matt. 7:12) and be what the law and
the prophets hang on?
When Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves, who does he have in mind? What is his primary concern and ultimate goal in this demand? Are you failing to be a good neighbor to anybody in your life?
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