First Baptist Church of Newton, IL

February 1st, 2012

     I don't know how many of you remember the 70's sitcom The Love Boat. I probably shouldn't admit that I remember it, let alone that I ever watched it. The Love Boat was a cruise ship that took weekly runs and featured a number of story lines about people in love, or people falling in love, and so on and so forth. Captain Merrill Stubing led his intrepid crew and oversaw the happenings, occasionally spouting forth his wisdom to those in love.

     Shows of this nature are successful because we place great emphasis on love. Of course, this is as it should be. However, we need to make sure when we are talking about love that we have the correct focus on love. To do this, we can allow the scripture to be our guide. Love is found throughout the scripture. We see examples of expressing love correctly, and we also see examples of how not to express love. An example of the latter would be Abraham saying to Sarah, "This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, 'He is my brother.'" (Genesis 20:12)

     Nothing is quite as heinous as using love as a means of manipulation. When we misrepresent this gift that God has given to us and counterfeit love, we sin against God and against those we injure by such actions. Our love should be pure, whether it is marital love, love for family, love for others, and certainly love for God. The expressions of our love should be genuine and meaningful. We need more than a "Love Boat" kind of love for others.

     God shows us how to love. Moses declared, "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling." (Exodus 15:13) David tells us, "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." (Psalm 103:8) We see God displaying his love for his Son in Luke 3:22, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Jesus shows his love for us - read John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." He also reminds us to "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Luke 10:27) This is how we should love.

Dr. Steve Willis - Pastor

Key Truths for Biblical Christians

Key Bible Events

Account of Creation - Genesis 1 & 2
Account of the Fall - Genesis 3
Account of the Flood - Genesis 6 - 9
Account of Abraham - Genesis 12
Account of Moses - Exodus 4-10
Account of Joshua - Joshua 1
Account of David - II Samuel
Account of the Captivity - II Chronicles 36
Accounts of the Captives - Daniel, Esther
Account of Rebuilding - Ezra, Nehemiah
Account of the Birth of Jesus - Matthew 1 & 2; Luke 1 & 2
Accounts of the Early Church - Acts

Key Bible Doctrines

1) Inspiration of Scripture - II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21; John 17:17

2) Virgin Birth of Christ - Isaiah 7:14-15; Matthew 1: 18-24; Luke 1:26-38; Galatians 4:4

3) Substitutionary Atonement - Isaiah 53:4-5; Romans 3:25; Romans 5:1-14; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:26; I John 2:2

4) Bodily Resurrection - Romans 1:4; Romans 4:25; Romans 8:11; I Corinthians 15:20-21

5) Literal Return of Christ - John 14:1-6; Acts 1:10-11;
I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19

Key Bible Scriptures

Matthew 5:43-48 -- Matthew 7:13 -- Matthew 11:28-20
Matthew 28:19-20 -- Mark 8: 34-38 -- Mark 10:45 -- Luke 19:10
John 1:14 -- John 3:16 -- John 10:27 -- John 14:1-6 -- Acts 1:8
Romans 1:16 -- Romans 3:10 -- Romans 3:23 -- Romans 5:8
Romans 8:26-39 -- I Corinthians 12:27 -- I Corinthians 13
II Corinthians 5:17 -- Galatians 3:6; 3:36-29 -- Ephesians 2:8-10
Philippians 2:1-4 -- Philippians 4:13 -- Colossians 1:15-20
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- II Timothy 3:16 -- Hebrews 13:5
James 3:9-12 -- I John 1:9 -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Revelation 22:17

Key Bible Activity

1) Pray about the one whom you would like to speak with about Christ.

2) Share your story about how you received Christ.

3) Invite them to accept Christ into their heart as Savior and Lord.

4) Pray with them about this decision. "Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart as my Savior and my Lord. I accept you know as my Savior. Thank you for giving me the gift of eternal life."

5) Assure them of the decision they have made - use John 3:16 & 6:47.

My Favorite Bible Verse

Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Psalm 28:6-7

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Revelation 22:17