Centennial Park Baptist Church – Sunday May 3rd, 2009 – 10:30 am

 

REALITY T.V. – REALITY RELATIONSHIPS

 

What are the 2 most popular reality T.V. shows?

 

1. THE BIGGEST LOSER

 

2. DANCING WITH THE STARS

 

 

# 1 catches hold of a Biblical principle:  The more we give up the more we gain; the more we die to the principles of self and of this world, the more alive we become in Christ and His kingdom.

 

See John 12: 24-25 -  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

 Galatians 2:20 - 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

 

The greatest gain / loss principle is given to us by Paul in I Corinthians 13: 1-4

 

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

 

Love is a popular, powerful word, but isn’t it strange that many people, as they think about growing and changing their relationships, don’t consider love. 

 

A.        A Few Losses – Things that Won’t Work Just by Themselves

 

            1. TALK - vs. 1

 

            2. KNOWLEDGE - vs. 2

 

            3. FAITH - vs. 2

 

            4. COMPASSION - vs. 3

 

            5. SACRIFICE - vs. 3

 

 

But Love Never Fails

 

B.         The Biggest Winner

 

            - 2 big words for Love in the Greek language:

 

            * Eros

 

            * Agape – a giving, selfless, expect-nothing-in-return kind of love

 

 

Consider a couple characteristics of Agape.  Evaluate the strength and quality of your love for your spouse, children, parent(s), brothers and sisters at church:

 

1. How am I doing?

 

2. How would my spouse’s (etc.) behaviour change if my love included Agape principles?

 

AGAPE LOVE IS:

 

I           PATIENT

 

            Tough to live with someone who’s easily angered, has a volatile personality

 

            This word means:  the capacity to be angered and not retaliate

 

II          KIND

 

            We have forgotten how to be this in 2009

 

            The word means a person who is both strong and gentle

 

III        Not JEALOUS

 

            Extreme response – controlling someone else

 

IV        Not ARROGANT or BRAGGING

 

            Picture word – bellows

 

            Person who is puffed up with self

 

            The contrast to this is HUMILITY. 

 

            If we love people this way, we will be more concerned with serving and helping             rather than inflating ourselves.

 

NOTES: ________________________________________________________________

 

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

 

________________________________________________________________________