Sermon Outline: How To Love Those You Do Not Like
Here is the outline from the sermon I presented Sunday evening, straight from the pulpit with very little editing. Hopefully most of it will make sense. I've been on T-blog for about a year, and I think I've only passed along one other sermon outline. Maybe this will benefit you- I know it is a very practical subject. A lady came up to me after the service and said, "I didn't like the sermon you preached tonight." I asked why, and she said, "Because I have someone at my job that I very much do not like. I've not been speaking to her. But, now that you've presented this me...
HOW TO LOVE THOSE YOU DO NOT LIKE
INTRO:
Tell personal story of finding a raccoon in the trash dumpster of the church. He could not get out. When he saw me he rushed toward me, hissed, bared his fangs, etc. He was being agressive and scary and ugly toward me because, if truth be told, he was scared of me!
This is the reason many people behave similarly toward you and I. It is not because they hate you, but because you scare them.
SCRIPTURE:
Luke 6:27-31 (NIV)
27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Verse 31 gives us our instructions in how to treat another, including our "enemies"
LOVE DEFINED:
Love - the Greek word is not the one used for "passionate love", nor the one used for "family love"
Agapan - "No matter what that person does to us we will never allow ourselves to desire anything but his highest good; and we will deliberately and of set purpose go out of our way to be good and kind to him." - Barclay
"By the grace of Christ, it is something we may will ourselves to do." - Barclay
PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR LOVING THOSE WE DISLIKE:
(1) DO GOOD TO THEM, (v. 27)
Beyond feelings, is a matter of action
Not attractive?
Not likable?
Not appreciative?
Must be an ongoing sense of integrity that how your emotions connect/disconnect with this person will not determine how you treat him
Does not necessarily mean doing what they want or what they like
(2) BLESS THEM, (v. 28)
I think it at least means responding in a kind and non-hurtful way
Question to ask self: "How can I be a blessing to this person?"
(3) PRAY FOR THEM, (v. 28)
How does a person despitefully use you?
Somehow prosper from your pain
Going to have to do something that goes contrary to what you want to do
Presumes a discipline of prayer
What do you pray for?
Change of heart
God's blessings
Needs to be met
God's help to love this person
(4) SUBMIT TO THEM, (v. 29)
Cloak - outer garment, Great Coat
(5) GIVE TO THEM, (v. 30)
Don't worry about tic-for-tac
Give of your time and resources and vulnerability
Perhaps, refers to how tax collectors and Roman soldiers would take from the people - encouragement to suffer the injury quietly, as opposed to:
Becoming angry
Speaking bad words
Resorting to physical violence
Perhaps reference to requiring a thing speedily that had been lent, while the reason for borrowing it still continues.
CONCLUSION:
STORY OF FATHER DAMIAN...Joseph Damian, Belgian Catholic Priest...missionary to Island of Molokai (Leper Colony)...for 12 years sought to effectively minister, but failed...Decided to leave...On the dock awaiting the ship...Noticed white spots on hands and fingers numb (had leprosy)...No other choice, forced to return to ministry...Hundreds gathered outside hut...The following Sunday, hundreds attended his worship service
Why? Because now he understood, now he could truly empathize, now he was one of them
Such connection is the essence of true Christian love.
