RETALIATE WITH LOVE

Date: 9.08.09 Speaker: Kristian Martens Texts: Luke 6:27-36, Acts 7:54-60 Title: RETALIATE WITH LOVE Summary: Todays question is What is love? In Jesus sermon on the plain he answered this question in a way that was completely unexpected by his hearers. Jesus changed the rules and showed us a different way to live than our natural, retaliating, vengeful selves would choose. When someone offends us and hurts us, we are called by God to respond with love. This is not a call to allow injustice to happen to the poor, marginalized and those weaker than ourselves, but to not demand our own individual rights be met. Jesus says Give to everyone who asks. If someone asks for your jacket, give him your shirt as well. Be generous. How do we live this out? How do we overcome our desire to retaliate? Does this mean we are supposed to be allow ourselves to be taken advantage of? Lets look at the example of Stephen, and see how a true Jesus follower lives and dies this truth.