[Propertalk] Gospel tips - John 13:31-35 - Part 4

[Joe Parrish]

The hard truth about us is that we do not fear, love, and trust God above all else. In short, daily we renounce the Lord our God and abandon the Christian faith. Daily we fail to die to ourselves and knowingly commit apostasy. Following the suggestion of C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, I call this functional atheism. When we exclude God from whole portions and chapters of our lives, we abandon our God and function as atheists in that area or that period of our lives.

http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-7/050324-4-e.html

Samuel Zumwalt, 2005 
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...we run faster, do more, buy more and access more, and find that there is less and less time for intimate meaningful relationships with family, friends and God. Suicides and divorces are up, drug and alcohol abuse still plague us. Studies and personal experience tells us we are increasingly unhappy and unfulfilled. In many ways, the American dream is about personal success. Yet, it is also about the pursuit of happiness, which we often forget is not material, but spiritual. The Psalmist, referring to Israel's obsession with material success wrote, "God gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." [Psalm 106:15]. America's soul is lean. 

http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/baxter_4222.htm

Nathan D. Baxter, 1998
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Here is a list of what the American Medical Association says are the top killers in our society. You could probably guess most of them. Heart disease, hypertension, and cancer are all on the list. BUT... the worst disease of all was not listed. Do you know what this most devastating disease of all is? It is a horrible disorder and every person on earth is vulnerable to its consequences.

I trust I have your ear now. Here it is:The most destructive disease on planet earth is lack of love! 

http://www.lectionarysermons.com/giftlove.html

John Jewell, 1998
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I am the eldest of three very strong­-willed boys. When I was growing up we had all of the fights and arguments you can imagine of rambunctious boys. Sometimes our disagreements would get so intense we would go to mother to have our righteous indignation ratified. She would often say to us, "You boys go back and resolve it, but remember you are brothers." "But Mom," we would reply, "he took my ball; he said I was a liar." "Mom, he broke the rules." But all she would say was, "You boys go back and resolve it and remember, you are brothers." It was eventually clear that what was most important to Mother was that we behave, in such a way that demonstrated our bond as brothers. This was even more important to her than our resolution (which she also expected).

I think this is what God says to the church. "I know you have differences, but you must struggle to resolve them as brothers and sisters. This is what I expect of you because you are my children."

Jesus said it this way in the Gospel of John: "By this, everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" [John 13:35].

http://day1.org/910-what_a_christian_community_can_offer_a_polarized_society

Nathan D. Baxter, 1996
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It is unfortunate (but true) that many in the church believe that love is simply something you feel. There is the notion that love is simply the warm feeling that one gets in church when something is said that moves you. Or when a child is baptized and we feel touched. Such moments may be the seeds of love, but it is not love until it gets beyond feeling and introspection to some kind of doing, living commitment. He calls us to love one another as he loved. That love was incarnational. It was love in action, in ministry, in life style.

http://day1.org/903-beyond_introspection

Hugh L. Eichelberger, 1996 
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...the men said that if it were not for the incredible bravery of the sergeant they all would have been killed. He was always like a mother and a father to us, they said.

http://www.agreeley.com/hom01/may06.htm

Andrew M. Greeley, 2001
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