34 “But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees,
they came together.
35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your mind.
38 This is the great and first commandment.

39 And a second is like it,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
40 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”

Matthew 22:34–40 (RSV)

I. How Do We Love God?

1. What is a commandment

2. The Purpose

28 “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10 (RSV)

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

3. A Response and A Choice

“We love, because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:19 (RSV)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

John 14:15 (RSV)

4. With Your All

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”

Psalm 103:1 (RSV)

5. It Deepens as Our Relationship Grows

4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:4–5 (RSV)

22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22–23 (RSV)

II. How Do I Love Others?

1. With God’s Heart

2. Follow the Example of Christ

5 “But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him:
6 The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.”

1 John 2:5–6 (CSB)

3. Follow The Golden Rule

“So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”

Matthew 7:12 (RSV)

III. What Does It Look Like?

1. It Begins in the Heart

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are
full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

Matthew 23:27–28 (RSV)

2. Extend His Glory

A. Dedicated to God

B. Dedicated to
His Purpose

C. Dedicated to
Bring Others into His Purpose