03.26.2023 | LEAN INTO LOVE
LEAN INTO LOVE
We value people.
Every person is made in God’s image with a unique destiny.
Reaching the lost, helping the least, protecting the weak, growing in Christ. (Matthew 25:31-46; Isaiah 1:17)
Matthew 25:31-32 (NIV)
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Matthew 25:33-34
He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Matthew 25:35-36
“For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.”
Matthew 25:37-39
Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?”
Matthew 25:40-41
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these, brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.” Then He will say to those on His left, “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Matthew 25:42-43
“For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.”
Matthew 25:44-46
They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You? He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.” Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
Isaiah 58:6-7 (NLT)
No, this is the kind of fasting I want: free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Caring for others confirms you belong to Jesus.
Isaiah 1:17 (NLT)
Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
“The sin noted by the king was (as in the parables of the bridesmaids and talents) not active evildoing, but failure to do good…the list is not comprehensive, but it represents good deeds that people often fail to do.” – Life Application Bible Commentary
John Maxwell’s THE RULE OF FIVE:
1. The essence of Jesus is that He values people.
2. God values you.
3. God values people you don’t know.
4. God values people you don’t like.
5. Christ-followers have to make a choice between spending their lives connecting with people or correcting them.
1. Think About People (Renew My Mind)
We naturally think about ourselves and our stuff. Jesus is naturally thinking about and interceding for others! This is a big transition!
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2a (MSG)
…Fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it.
What are we renewing our minds to?
We value people because God does!
Luke 19:10 (NLT)
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
John 3:16 (TPT)
For here is the way God loved the world—He gave His only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life.
John Maxwell says it this way: “Think of ways to add value to people.”
Intentional living is upfront thinking, rather than backend thinking; preparing versus repairing.
Each day, ask yourself, “Who am I going to see, and how can I add value to them?”
2. See People (Give Us Eyes to See)
We value people because they are created in the image of God.
Genesis 1:27 (NLT)
So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.
Ephesians 1:17-18a (NKJV)
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling.
3. Hear People (Give Us Ears to Hear)
James 1:19b (NLT)
You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
“Dual Listening – Listening to the heart of the person and also listening to the heart of the Holy Spirit.” –
Pastor McLean Faw
“We want to listen to people, hear the cry of their heart, and help them open their heart to hear the cry of His heart.” – Adapted from Pastor McLean Faw
4. Serve People (Give Us Hands that Help)
Matthew 25:44-45 (NIV)
They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?” He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.”
5. Speak to People (Let Our Mouths Birth the Kingdom)
We value people because we are ambassadors for Christ, reflecting His heart through our new hearts!
2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (NLT)
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
Romans 10:14
But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?
Matthew 25:46 (NIV)
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
Romans 9:2-3 (NLT)
My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.
Discussion Questions:
1. What are some ways your life has been transformed by Christ?
2. If you were at this judgment of the King, would you be sent to His right or His left? Why?
3. How can you take time this week to better position yourself to demonstrate the Love of Jesus for people around you?
4. Share one specific action step you will take this week to care for people (give a cup of water).
5. What does the choice between connecting and correcting look like for you?