Living the Great Commandment, pt. 1

Alan has been taking us through a series on Living the Great Commandment. To listen to part one of this series, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Alan’s outline with links to the Scriptures listed. Enjoy!

Living the Great Commandment

Deuteronomy 6:4-5; 30:1-11, Mark 12:29-30, Luke 11:42, John 5:42-43, Matthew 10:37, John 8:42, Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 24:12, John 13:34-35.

Why This Study?

1. A general lack of love and an overabundance of arrogant, narrow-minded, judgmental hatred.  Matthew 24:12
2. The whole of scripture hangs on the commandment.
3. A disconnect between belief and action is a common thing.
4. A climate of us-them way of thinking that smacks of self-righteousness.
5. A compartmentalized view of Christian living that doesn’t involve the whole of one’s person.
   
   The Command Itself
   Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 22:36-40
   
   What does it mean to love God?
   1. To love God one has to know God and not reject His son.  John 5:42-44, John 14:7-9, Deuteronomy 30:6
   
   
   2. Loving God is a matter of heart affection more than moral behavior.  Mark 7:1-23, Matthew 12:39
   
   3. Serving God is grounded in loving God but serving God is not a substitute for loving God.  Matthew 6:24.
   
   4. Keeping God’s commands is made possible by love.   John 14:15
   
   5. Our level of love is in direct proportion to our understanding of God’s forgiveness.  If you think it’s all “those others” that should be asking for God’s forgiveness you don’t know love.
   
   6. Love involves the whole of our being.  More on this later.
   
   7. Love is seen in what we call the Golden Rule, which is “do unto others as you would be have them do into you.”  The Golden Rule is basically the same as “love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31
   
   
   Contact:  Dr. Alan Brock
   albrock.ab@gmail.com