Matthew 13:24–30 24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’…

Matthew 13:24–30 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

John 12:4–6

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

Psalm 41:9

Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

Heaven without Jesus?

The critical question for our generation – and for every generation – is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?heaven, if Christ was not there?

John Piper, God is the Gospel; Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005, 15

We respond to an invitation to join Him in the work He is doing, not an obligation to do His work for Him.

John 17:22–23

22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given the glory which You gave Me I have given themthem, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.them as You have loved Me.

1 John 4:7–12

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of let us love one another, for love is of GodGod; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of the love of God was manifested toward usGod was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him…

1 John 4:7–12

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so if God so loved us, we also ought to love one anotherloved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in usone another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

Love that preaches

John 13:35 By this all all will knowwill know that you are My disciples, if if you have you have love love for one another.”

John 17:23 …the world the world may know may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

1 John 4:12 NoNo one has one has seen God at seen God at any timeany time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

World-based Relationships

SelfSelf

World is no

different

World pursued only to the degree that my needs are satisfied.

Gospel-based Relationships

LOVE

God’sLove

God’sLove

God’s Love Extended

God’s LoveReciprocated

God’s LoveReciprocated

World is Watchin

g

God’s Love Extended