Today we being a new series on our seven commitments as a church. These commitments were initially presented in the Fall of 2016. Because it has been five years, we decided it was a good time to re-evaluate who we are and who we want to become. We have now abbreviated the commitments as follows:
7 Commitments (abbreviated)
We will cultivate a Deeper Love for God
We will be a Loving Intergenerational Family
We will Pursue Unity Focused on Jesus
We will Nurture Marriage and Young Families
We will Make Disciples who Make Disciples
We will Have an Outward Focus on Our Local Community
We will be Mission Minded for the Lost of the World
Today’s sermon places the focus on Commitment # 1 – We Will Cultivate a Deeper Love For God. All the other commitments must flow through this one. Loving God with all of our being is easier said than done. It requires continually cultivation, getting down to the roots, making sure we aren’t operating out of a spiritual deficit, or that our “doing for” God does not exceed our “being with” God.
Deut. 6:4, 5- 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Matt. 22:35-40 – 35 One of them, an expert in the law,tested him with this question:36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Ps. 1:1-3- Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
Jeremiah 17:7, 8 – “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Luke 10:38-42 – Mary and Martha dilemma
“Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.””