To Abound In Love
2 Corinthians 8:2 in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity...3 For they gave according to their means…and beyond their means of their own accord 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints 5...they gave themselves first to the LORD and then by the will of God to us
1 | A Life Worthy of the Gospel Abounds in Sacrificial Love (v. 9)
- 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us
- 1 John 4:19 we love because He first loved us
- 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, so we also ought to love one another.
2 | A Life Worthy of the Gospel Abounds in the Excellent Things (v. 10)
3 | A Life Worthy of the Gospel Abounds in Fruit (v. 11a)
- Proverbs 12:12 the root of the righteous bears fruit.
4 | A Life Worthy of the Gospel Abounds in Glory/Praise (v. 11b)
Way To Abound In Sacrificial Love:
1 | It means not keeping yourself so busy that you have no practical time to love others
2 | It means being committed to knowing people
3 | It means willingness to have your life complicated by the needs of others
4 | It means persevering in love and patient even when love isn’t returned
5 | It means actively looking where you can be a tool of Christ’s love
6 | It means overlooking minor offenses & fighting the temptation to become bitter, judgmental, critical, or cynical
7 | It means moving beyond simply surrounding yourself with people whom you find comfortable and likeable
8 | It means daily remembering and being in awe of Christ' love and abounding in responsive love.