Breaking Through The Barriers
BREAKING THROUGH THE BARRIERS
1 John 4:11 – Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
John 13:35 – By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
1 John 4:7 – Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
I John 4:8 – He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:10 – In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:11 – Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:19 – We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4:21 – And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love His brother also.
What are some of the barriers to warmth and empathy? How do we overcome them in Jesus’ Name?
I’M DIFFERENT
Matthew 12:25 – Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
1 John 4:9 – In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
Galatians 3:27 – For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
It is often a seduction of the secondary that keeps us from our primary love for Christ and those He has given us to love.
You are the same kind of different as me.
I’M BUSY
Luke 10:33 – But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
Luke 10:34 – So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
The Holy Spirit wants there to be Room in the Inn!
I’M AFRAID
Genesis 3:8 – And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:9 – Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:10 – So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.
1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Samuel 5:20 – The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breakthrough of water.
1 John 4:11 – Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Discussion Questions
What is holding you back from loving other people the way Jesus wants you to love?
How is Jesus helping you to overcome this barrier in your life?
Is there someone the Lord is putting upon your heart to reach out to in a special way?
Will you say yes to that call?