OUTLINE FOR OPEN CELLS
(Week of 3 /7 – 3/13, 2010)
"The Measure That Matters"
Subject - Value in life is measured on many different scales; from possessions to physical beauty, intelligence to productivity. Earth has many systems for calibrating worth. Heaven has a value system too. How do we stack up when measured by the divine and eternal standard clearly displayed by Christ?
I. The greatest "sign" the world has ever seen; what does it mean? How is it presented?
A. "Oh, foolish Galatians! What magician has cast an evil spell on you? For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ's death as clearly as though I had shown you a signboard with a picture of Christ dying on the cross." (Gal. 3:1 NLT)
B. The willing sacrifice of Jesus is the greatest illustration of unconditional love that the world has ever seen. The Cross stands for all time as an icon of a loving heavenly Father's willingness to go to any length in order to free His children from bondage. We are freed to be like Him!
C. Jesus clearly shows us in John 15 that we are not simply called to stand at a distance and admire, worship or adore the standard of love that He has displayed, but to imitate it and be changed by it. Many may desire to be "with Him" (in heaven) but fewer are concerned with being "like Him" (on earth).
1. (John 15:12-13) "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."
2. (Eph. 4:32, 5:1-2) "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us." (Paul points us in the same direction.)
II. Do you know Him?
A. (1 John 4:7-9 NLT) "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God -for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him." (LOVE IS A VERB - GOD SHOWED HOW MUCH HE LOVED)
III. Truth is Truth . . . and Love is Love . . . and those who love are born of God.
A. "To love another person is to see the face of God." (Les Miserables)
1. (Matt. 25:40) " . . as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."
B. "Love cures people - both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it." (Dr. Karl Menninger)
1. (1 John 4:18) "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear."
C. "For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation." (Rainer Maria Rilke)
1. (John 13:35) "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
D. "Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules. Then you must forget the rules and play from your heart." (Author Unknown)
1. (Gal. 5:14) "For all the law is fulfilled in one word; 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
E. "Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured - yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more than any material possession ever could." (Barbara De Angelis)
1. (Songs 8:7) "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."
F. "Love won't be tampered with, love won't go away. Push it to one side and it creeps to the other." (Louise Erdrich)
1. (1 Cor. 13:8) "Love never fails."