CFC Singles for Christ Module 2:

Christian Life Program The Authentic Christian Life

 

TALK NO. 5:
THE CHRISTIAN IDEAL: LOVING GOD

GOAL
To explain the meaning of the first and greatest commandment, and to teach people how they
can start to live out this Christian ideal.

SPEAKER’S PROFILE
1. Can be brother or sister, who have been in the community long enough to attest to
loving God through the community.
2. Preferably a Chapter Head or with higher service

SHARER’S PROFILE
Someone who used to live and pursue ideals set by the world and how does these all
compared nothing against the ideal of pursuing and loving God.

SUGGESTED CREATIVE
Reflection video: end with a prayer followed by showing a video that shows concrete ways of
loving God. Suggested background song for the avp is With all that I am by The Afters

EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. Introduction

A. In the first module of our CLP, we talked about: God's plan for the human race, the
centrality of Jesus in salvation history, our place in it, and God's call for us to repent
and believe in the good news.

B. We have already learned about the basics of our Christian life, we are now to focus
on how to live successfully as Christians in this modern world. Second, how can we
apply God’s plan in order for us to experience His power and peace.

II. The Christian Ideal of Loving God

A. Ideals are important in our lives, they move us on. We know that we need to set
goals for us to have a direction and plan for life (ex. Money, position, fame). Our goal
drives us and motivates us and eventually they become our ideals in life. They
influence and direct our lives.

As Christians what should be our ideal?

B. Loving God must be our highest ideal; he made it clear and even made it into a
commandment with the highest priority. In Mark 12:28-30, it is said, “One of the
teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given
them a good answer, he asked Him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most
important?’ ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The

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Talk No. 5: THE CHRISTIAN IDEAL: LOVING GOD

Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”

C. We can give our lives pursuing good goals (ex. Better society), but if loving God is not
our ideal, then this falls short. Some people try to express love for God in different
ways (ex. Humanist or philanthropic endeavors, acts of piety). These are not wrong
actions, but they are not also adequate expressions of loving God.

III. What It Means to Love God with All Our Heart

A. First understand what Jesus meant by heart.

1. Modern day understanding = feeling or emotion.

2. Biblical understanding of heart: the seat of intelligence and decision. In English,

we would use "mind" or "will". The heart is the symbol of the core of man, who the
man is. It includes intelligent thought and will, along with feeling.

3. The Biblical understanding makes more sense, because the kind of love God
requires cannot depend on feelings, which are changeable, but rather based on
a commitment, a decision to love.

a. To love God with all our heart is to be totally committed to Him.

i. It is a commitment to seek the Lord first and foremost. It is a decision to

put God first, to be loyal to Him, to place His will and interest above our
own.

ii. It is similar to the commitment made in marriage.

b. How do we put the Lord first in our life?

i. It requires a decision to obey Him. John 14:15.

ii. We need to develop a personal relationship with Him. A realationship

that is alive and dyanamic, not legalistic.

IV. What It Means to Love God with All Our Mind

A. When God created us, He enabled us to think. He did this so we can figure out how
to love and serve Him. A good mind is not necessarily an intelligent mind. The
question is not so much how best to develop our mind, but rather how our mind can
fulfill its main purpose, to love God.

B. To love God with all our mind means to serve Him with use of our mind, or simply to
make available our minds His purposes. Using our minds can have incredible
consequences for society.

1. It can be applied to contribute to world progress (e.g., science, neurosurgery,

etc.,).

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Talk No. 5: THE CHRISTIAN IDEAL: LOVING GOD

2. Or it can become an instrument for destruction (e.g., nuclear bomb, biological

warfare, etc.,).

C. We must keep or mind clean and holy. Free from evil and uncharitable thoughts.

D. We use our mind according to God's truths and not according to the world's way.

• The way we think and act must reflect the fact that we are not just living for
this temporal world but for God’s eternal kingdom. Our decisions and choices
must be guided by God and His word.

E. We preoccupy our mind with the things of God.

• We strive to be holy and not just rich materially. We strive to give glory to God
and not glory for ourselves.

F. We protect and preserve our mind from unholy influences.

• Be very discerning in the use of TV and other media, which can expose our
minds to input not consistent with Christian living. Fill your mind with thoughts
of God. Read the Bible and other helpful Christian literature which can help
form your Christian mind

V. What It Means to Love God with All Our Strength

Loving God with all our strength means giving God all our resources (time, money,
energy, possessions, abilities and gifts). We are God's creation. He owns us. What we
call "ours" is not really ours but His. We must not set limits in our giving.

We are stewards not owners. We have a responsibility to manage and use well the
resources given to us. We must act according to God's interests.

VI. Jesus is Our Model in Loving God

A. He was dedicated to accomplishing his mission. (Refer to John 4:34)
B. He was obedient unto death. (Refer to Luke 22:42)
C. He was constantly seeking the Father's will. (Refer to Mark 1:35 and Matthew
14:23)

VII. Conclusion

Loving God is not as vague and impractical as you might think. Rather, it involves
specific, practical actions, decisions and commitments. But you cannot do it merely by
deciding to do it. What will make it possible is the power of the Holy Spirit

END WITH A TEASER FOR TALK 6

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