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Scripture Readings:
Luke 6

Notes:

1. What is Love?
popular misconceptions
Love is a matter of Choice
Love is a matter of Conduct

2. How to Love Someone You Don’t Like
Experience God’s Love
Forgive Others
Think Loving Thoughts
Act in a Loving Way
Expect the Best

3. How to Rekindle a Lost Love
remember how far you’ve fallen
repent
do the things you did first

“Jesus said, ‘love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you’.”
Luke 6:27-28

Scripture Readings:
Psalm 111
James 3:13-18
Matthew 7

Notes:

Wisdom is a lifestyle
Lack of wisdom causes problems

How to Relate Wisely to Others:

1. If I’m Wise, I Won’t Compromise My Integrity

2. If I’m Wise, I Won’t Antagonize Your Anger

• comparing and contrasting
• condemning
• contradicting

3. If I’m Wise, I Won’t Minimize Other’s Feelings

4. If I’m Wise, I Won’t Criticize Your Suggestions

• If True: Listen and Learn
• If False: Ignore
• Realize God is the ultimate judge of you life

5. If I’m Wise, I Won’t Emphasize Your Mistakes

6. If I’m Wise, I Won’t Disguise My Weaknesses

“And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.”
James 3:18 (LB)

Scripture Readings:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
John 15:9-17

Notes:

Six Marks of a Real Friend

To develop lasting friendships I must be:

1. Committed
2. Considerate
3. Confidential
4. Candid
5. Constructive
6. Consistent

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Scripture Readings:
James 1:19-2
Matthew 17:1-13

Notes:

I. What Hinders Our Hearing?

1. Blockage #1: Presumption
2. Blockage #2: Impatience
3. Blockage #3: Pride

II. Three Hearing Aids

1. listen with your eyes
2. listen with your heart
3. make time to listen

III. How Well Do You Listen to God?

“Take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”
James 1:19

Scripture Readings:
Philippians 1:1-8

Notes:

I. Why Express Appreciation?

• Because it increases value

II. What Should I Appreciate?

1. appreciate people’s loyalty
2. appreciate people’s differences
3. appreciate people’s efforts (regardless of results)

III. How Should I Show Appreciation?

1. it needs to be real
2. it needs to be recognizable
3. it needs to be regular

Who can you say thanks to this week?
How have you said thanks to God?

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”
Philippians 1:3

Scripture Readings:
2 Samuel 12:15-25
Philipians 3:12-14

Notes:

I cannot cling to the present if I am still holding on to my past.

3 Types of Emotional Garbage:
- We reheare our resentments
- We remember our regrets
- We reinforce our remorse

I. First, I must give up my Grudges
Ephesians 4:31-32
Job 5:2, 18:4

II. Second, I must give up my Grief
2 Samuel 12:16+18

1. Accept what cannot be changed
   2 Samuel 12:22-23
2. Play it down and Pray it up
   2 Samuel 12:20b
3. Focus on what is left, not what is lost
   2 Samuel 12:24

III. Third, I must give up my Guilt (Proverbs 16:32)
The Wrong way: Matthew 27:3+5
The Right way: Matthew 26:75

“God is far more willing to forgive our sins than we are to confess our sins.”
Rev. Paul J. Cutler