“One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 NASB 95

1. How can I love God with all my heart?

• Value Him above all else

The essence of worship is value

“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John 5:21 NLT

The chief way to worship & value God is to pursue joy & satisfaction in Him.

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 NIV

1. How can I love God with all my mind?

• Think about God often

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer

1. How can I love God with all my strength?

• Love your neighbor as yourself.

“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” Luke 6:31 NLT

1. How can I love God with all my soul?

• Live like you are dying.

“…death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2 NIV

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” Matthew 16:26 NIV

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 NIV

1. What is love?

– To define agape love, we must begin with God

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 NIV

– Agape love is an attitude and an action

Agape love is an others-centered, loyal, and sacrificial commitment to the ultimate good of another, even at personal cost.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

2. Who is my neighbor?

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:30-37 NIV

– The scope is unlimited

– Our specific response is determined by proximity and opportunity

Your neighbor is anyone whose path crosses yours—regardless of their background, beliefs, lifestyle, politics, or status

This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus…We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:17,19-21 NIV

Because You Say So I Will Choose to Serve the Lord

“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and do away with the gods which your fathers served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15 NASB

The CHOICE

“choose for yourselves today whom you will serve”

The CHALLENGE

“choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living;”

The COMMITMENT

“but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

• David-Commitment (2 Samuel 8:15, 1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22)
• Solomon-Compromise (1 Kings 11)
• Rehoboam-Corruption (1 Kings 14:21-31)

How is my house? (Ephesians 5:33-6:9)

• How am I treating my spouse?

Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

• Am I honoring my parents?

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

• How am I treating my children?

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

• What kind of employee am I?

Slaves (Servants, employees) be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With goodwill render service, as to the Lord, and not to people, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

• How am I doing as a employer, boss, or leader?

And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” Ephesians 5:33-6:9 NASB

• Am I loving the household of Christ?

“So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,” Ephesians 2:19 NASB