First UnitedMethodist Churchof Baton Rouge

The Best Life (part 6): Love Your EnemiesSermon Notes • September 16, 2018

930 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA225.383.4777 • www.firstmethodist.org

The Problem with Vengeance

“While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself.”-DOUGLAS HORTON

“In spite of the fact that the law of revenge solves no social problems, men continue to follow its disastrous leading. History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path.”MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

“Maybe retaliation or holding on to anger about the harm done to me doesn’t actually combat evil. Maybe it feeds it. Because in the end, if we’re not careful, we can actually absorb the worst of our enemy and, on some level, even start to become them."-NADIA BOLZ-WEBER

A Radical Commitment to Love

Luke 6:27-28, 3627 But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you…36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

“When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives, along with the command, the love itself.”-CORRIE TEN BOOM

38 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth

for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

MATTHEW 5:38-48

SERMON MOUNTon thethe best life

First UnitedMethodist Churchof Baton Rouge

The Best Life (part 6): Love Your EnemiesSermon Notes • September 16, 2018

930 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA225.383.4777 • www.firstmethodist.org

The Problem with Vengeance

“While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself.”-DOUGLAS HORTON

“In spite of the fact that the law of revenge solves no social problems, men continue to follow its disastrous leading. History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path.”MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

“Maybe retaliation or holding on to anger about the harm done to me doesn’t actually combat evil. Maybe it feeds it. Because in the end, if we’re not careful, we can actually absorb the worst of our enemy and, on some level, even start to become them."-NADIA BOLZ-WEBER

A Radical Commitment to Love

Luke 6:27-28, 3627 But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you…36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

“When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives, along with the command, the love itself.”-CORRIE TEN BOOM

38 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth

for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

MATTHEW 5:38-48

SERMON MOUNTon thethe best life

First UnitedMethodist Churchof Baton Rouge

The Best Life (part 6): Love Your EnemiesSermon Notes • September 16, 2018

930 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA225.383.4777 • www.firstmethodist.org

The Problem with Vengeance

“While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself.”-DOUGLAS HORTON

“In spite of the fact that the law of revenge solves no social problems, men continue to follow its disastrous leading. History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path.”MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

“Maybe retaliation or holding on to anger about the harm done to me doesn’t actually combat evil. Maybe it feeds it. Because in the end, if we’re not careful, we can actually absorb the worst of our enemy and, on some level, even start to become them."-NADIA BOLZ-WEBER

A Radical Commitment to Love

Luke 6:27-28, 3627 But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you…36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

“When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives, along with the command, the love itself.”-CORRIE TEN BOOM

38 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth

for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

MATTHEW 5:38-48

SERMON MOUNTon thethe best life

A Few Words of Caution

“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.”-M. GANDHI

“Peacemaking doesn’t mean passivity. It is the act of interrupting injustice without mirroring injustice, the act of disarming evil without destroying the evildoer, the act of finding a third way that is neither fight nor flight but the careful arduous pursuit of reconciliation and justice. It is about a revolution of love that is big enough to set both the oppressed and the oppressors free.”-COMMON PRAYER: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

Romans 12:20-21If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

THINKING CAPS, ENGAGE!

Is there someone in your life you’ve considered, or consider, an enemy? Have you ever wished harm upon that person, or perhaps rejoiced at their misfortune? Are these feelings helpful or harmful? What would change if we could live out Jesus’ call to “love our enemies”? What’s something you could do this week to demonstrate a “radical commitment to love”?

PRAY: God of Radical Love, through Christ you proclaimed your love for me even when I was hostile to you and your ways. Your love is greater than even the hurt I have caused you, others, and myself. As one who has been saved by such radical love, you call me to live out that love in the world today. Help me to let go of the impulse to harm those who harm me. Give me creative insight into how I might respond to my “enemy” with wisdom and love.

put me on your bathroom mirror [I'm too pretty to be trash]

pray

with

me

toda

y

ask God to help you live in love

A Few Words of Caution

“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.”-M. GANDHI

“Peacemaking doesn’t mean passivity. It is the act of interrupting injustice without mirroring injustice, the act of disarming evil without destroying the evildoer, the act of finding a third way that is neither fight nor flight but the careful arduous pursuit of reconciliation and justice. It is about a revolution of love that is big enough to set both the oppressed and the oppressors free.”-COMMON PRAYER: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

Romans 12:20-21If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

THINKING CAPS, ENGAGE!

Is there someone in your life you’ve considered, or consider, an enemy? Have you ever wished harm upon that person, or perhaps rejoiced at their misfortune? Are these feelings helpful or harmful? What would change if we could live out Jesus’ call to “love our enemies”? What’s something you could do this week to demonstrate a “radical commitment to love”?

PRAY: God of Radical Love, through Christ you proclaimed your love for me even when I was hostile to you and your ways. Your love is greater than even the hurt I have caused you, others, and myself. As one who has been saved by such radical love, you call me to live out that love in the world today. Help me to let go of the impulse to harm those who harm me. Give me creative insight into how I might respond to my “enemy” with wisdom and love.

put me on your bathroom mirror [I'm too pretty to be trash]

pray

with

me

toda

y

ask God to help you live in love

A Few Words of Caution

“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.”-M. GANDHI

“Peacemaking doesn’t mean passivity. It is the act of interrupting injustice without mirroring injustice, the act of disarming evil without destroying the evildoer, the act of finding a third way that is neither fight nor flight but the careful arduous pursuit of reconciliation and justice. It is about a revolution of love that is big enough to set both the oppressed and the oppressors free.”-COMMON PRAYER: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

Romans 12:20-21If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

THINKING CAPS, ENGAGE!

Is there someone in your life you’ve considered, or consider, an enemy? Have you ever wished harm upon that person, or perhaps rejoiced at their misfortune? Are these feelings helpful or harmful? What would change if we could live out Jesus’ call to “love our enemies”? What’s something you could do this week to demonstrate a “radical commitment to love”?

PRAY: God of Radical Love, through Christ you proclaimed your love for me even when I was hostile to you and your ways. Your love is greater than even the hurt I have caused you, others, and myself. As one who has been saved by such radical love, you call me to live out that love in the world today. Help me to let go of the impulse to harm those who harm me. Give me creative insight into how I might respond to my “enemy” with wisdom and love.

put me on your bathroom mirror [I'm too pretty to be trash]

pray

with

me

toda

y

ask God to help you live in love