The New Commandment John 13: 1-15; 35-36 #1 Today’s Message The New Commandment John 13: 1-15; 35-36 Series The Proof is in the Church Recovering the Lost Tools of Loving #2 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 35-36) #3 We know Jesus love for us primarily through sacrifice and service #4 “I have come to feel that the primary reality of which we have to take account in seeking for a Christian impact on public life is the Christian congregation. How is it possible that the gospel should be credible, that people should come to believe that the power which has the last word in human affairs is represented by a man hanging on a cross? I am suggesting that the only answer, the only hermeneutic of the gospel, is a congregation of men and women who believe it and live by it.”(Lesslie Newbigin. The Gospel in a Pluralist Societ.) #5 Surprisingly, the church's success in this endeavor depends on only one thing: not great wealth, political power, sophisticated technology, superior organization, great preaching, public rallies, big buildings or creative programs, grams, but the mutual love shared within the community of faith. The quality of relationships among Christians makes the church an effective witness for the gospel, for it creates the kind of community into which others are naturally drawn. (Gerald L. Sittser. Love One Another: Becoming the Church Jesus Longs For) #6 “Recover the Lost tools of Loving.” #7 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (John 13:1 #8 Jesus in washing their feet is saying: there is no sacrifice I will not make for you, there is no service I will not do for you. #9 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 35-36) #10 I. The Charge “…that the world may know.” #11 I. The Charge “…that the world may know.” II. The Plan “….love each other just like I loved you” #12 To get the drift of how astonishing this let me read this: Surprisingly, the church's success in this endeavor depends on only one thing: not great wealth, political power, sophisticated technology, superior organization, great preaching, public rallies, big buildings or creative programs, grams, but the mutual love shared within the community of faith. The quality of relationships among Christians makes the church an effective witness for the gospel, for it creates the kind of community into which others are naturally drawn. (Gerald L. Sittser. Love One Another: Becoming the Church Jesus Longs For) #13 "Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ." There can be no other basis of unity, for any other basis-ethnic, political, ideological, educational, economic-always ends up giving an advantage to one group over another. "Now Christians can live with one another in peace; they can love and serve one another; they can become one. But they can continue to do so only by way of Jesus Christ. Only in Jesus Christ are we one, only through him are we bound together. To eternity he remains the one Mediator." (Gerald L. Sittser. Love One Another: Becoming the Church Jesus Longs For) #14 I. The Charge “…that the world may know.” II. The Plan “….love each other just like I loved you” III. The Process “…recovering the lost tools of loving” .