Balancing Life’s Priorities Which statement comes closest to describing you and your love for God? a. I am madly in love with God b. I love God half-heartedly c. I don’t love God at all and I don’t feel like He loves me

Balancing Life’s Priorities :34-40 34But when the heard that he had silenced the , they gathered together. 35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.36“Teacher, which is the in the Law?” 37And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the .”

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 Discover Life in Christ Dare to Live in Community Dream of Changing the World

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. “kardia” - very center or core of our being, where decisions are made

23 heart Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Soul - Basis of a person’s traits and qualities or his personality 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is heart very sorrowful, even to death; remain soul here, and watch with me.” :38

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. mind Mind – Intent or will of man

heart soul

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 30You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all mind your strength. Mark 12:30 Strength – Physical capabilities

heart soul

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. mind

Intellectually Emotionally heart soul Volitionally

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. mind

heart soul

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. mind

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his heart commandments are not soul burdensome. 1 John 5:3

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. mind

15“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15 heart soul

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul “That liftsand love with out all ofyour the mind.realm of mind pious thoughts and warm, fuzzy feelings about15“If ouryou loveHeavenly me, you Father. will keep my Love is knowingcommandments. what He expectsJohn 14:15 us heart soul to do and doing it.”

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. mind

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his heart commandments are not soul burdensome. 1 John 5:3

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. mind

15“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were heart either cold or hot! 16So, because you soul are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 3:15-16 Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 1. Attend church fairly regularly And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, Isaiah 29:13

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 1. Attend church fairly regularly 2. Give money to charity/church

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 1. Attend church fairly regularly 2. Give money to charity/church 3. Tend to choose what is popular over what is right And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. :18

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 1. Attend church fairly regularly 2. Give money to charity/church 3. Tend to choose what is popular over what is right 4. Don’t want to be saved from sin, but only from Hell 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, Psalm 51:4 Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 1. Attend church fairly regularly 2. Give money to charity/church 3. Tend to choose what is popular over what is right 4. Don’t want to be saved from sin, but only from Hell 5. Are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet find it difficult themselves

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 1. Attend church fairly regularly 2. Give money to charity/church 3. Tend to choose what is popular over what is right 4. Don’t want to be saved from sin, but only from Hell 5. Are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet find it difficult 24Then told his disciples,themselves“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever would save his lifeBalancing will lose it,Life’s but Prioritieswhoever loses his life for my sake will find it. MatthewMatthew 16:24-25 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 6. Rarely share Christ with others

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33 Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 6. Rarely share Christ with others 7. Gauge their morality by comparing themselves with the secular world 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ Luke 18:11Balancing-12 Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 6. Rarely share Christ with others 7. Gauge their morality by comparing with the secular worlds 8. Do not love Jesus with all their heart, soul & mind

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. Matthew 22:37-38 Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 6. Rarely share Christ with others 7. Gauge their morality by comparing with the secular worlds 8. Do not love Jesus with all their heart, soul & mind 9. Do not seek to love others as themselves

39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 6. Rarely share Christ with others 7. Gauge their morality by comparing with the secular worlds 8. Do not love Jesus with all their heart, soul & mind 9. Do not seek to love others as themselves 10. Serve God, but with limits to their time, money & energy

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 6. Rarely share Christ with others 7. Gauge their morality by comparing with the secular worlds 8. Do not love Jesus with all their heart, soul & mind 34 He went to him and bound9. Do upnot hisseek wounds, to love others pouring as themselves on oil and 10. We serve God, but with limits to their time, wine. Then he set him on hismoney own & animal energy and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend,Balancing I will repay Life’s you Priorities when I come back.’ Matthew 22:34-35 Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 11. Think about life on earth, more than eternity in Heaven

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2 Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 11. Think about life on earth, more than eternity in Heaven 12. Are thankful for their luxuries & comforts, but rarely consider ministering to the poor

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 35 For I was hungry and you11. Think gave about me food,life on earth,I was morethirsty than and you gave me drink, I was a strangereternity in Heavenand you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed12. Are me, thankfulI was forsick their and luxuries you visited & comforts, me, I but rarely consider37 ministering to the was in prison and you camepoor to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of theseBalancingmy brothers, Life’s you Priorities did it to me.’ :34-40 Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 11. Think about life on earth, more than eternity in Heaven 12. Are thankful for their luxuries & comforts, but rarely consider ministering to the poor 13. Do whatever necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 11. Think about life on earth, more than eternity in Heaven 12. Are thankful for their luxuries & comforts, but rarely consider ministering to the poor 13. Do whatever necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty 14. Continually concerned with playing it safe

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 11. Think about life on earth, more than eternity in Heaven 12. Are thankful for their luxuries & comforts, but rarely consider ministering to the poor 13. Do whatever necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty 17 As for the rich in this present14. Continually age, charge concerned them with notplaying to itbe safe haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works,Balancing to be Life’sgenerous Priorities and ready to share, 1 Timothy 6:17-18 Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 15. Feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, live in America and vote Republican.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. :21

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 15. Feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, etc. 16. Do not live by faith

17. Probably drink & swear less than average, but really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever.

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 15. Feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, etc. 16. Do not live by faith

17. Probably drink & swear less than average, but really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full Balancing Life’s Priorities of greed and self-indulgence. :25Matthew 22:34-40 THE PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Revelation 3:17

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Revelation 3:18

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his . Revelation 3:5

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Balancing Life’s Priorities Matthew 22:34-40