Introduction

On March 17, 2002, we had a new bulletin format. Our son Andy “took over” the bulletin. He had some art work, and he had a theme, “A small church with a big heart.”

Obviously, there are two thoughts in that statement: A small church, and a big heart. Being small is not necessarily a virtue, but being small actually has some advantages. When we are small, (1) It is easier to get involved in the work. (2) It is easier to be more accountable, (3) It is easier to know everyone. I wish I could remember the statistics, but most congregations of the churches of Christ today have a Sunday morning attendance of less than 100. Having said all of that, I’d still like to see us grow bigger, but let’s think about how we grow bigger. I’d like to see us grow bigger because that means we are touching more lives.

But we also want to look at the second part of that theme that Andy started for our congregation, “A big heart.” What does it mean to have a big heart? The American Heritage Dictionary, defines: big-heart·ed as Generous or kind..

That gives us a start, but even without help from the dictionary, I think most of us know what we mean when we speak of a big heart. I’d like to expand that idea to include something that Jesus said when He was here on earth.

Body

I. He spoke of the first and great commandment.

(Mat 22:35-38 NKJV) "Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, {36} "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" {37} Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' {38} "This is the first and great commandment."

A. We must change from thinking of the church with a big heart to each of us individually as having a big heart for God.

1. The church is made up of individuals, and each of will give account to God.

2. Our love for God must be a very personal thing.

B. Our love for God is to involve our all.

1. With all your heart.

a. The heart involves our emotions – things that make our heart beat faster.

b. It’s where your heart is—it’s what you want to do.

2. With all your soul. – this one gets misunderstood. It is what animates you.

a. It is your getting up and doing something.

b. It is going to church, going to visit someone, doing things that need to be done.

3. With all your mind.

a. Involve your mind in study.

b. Involve your mind in prayer.

c. Involve your mind in worship.

C. Jesus stated it a different way:

(Mat 6:31-33 NKJV) ""Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' {32} "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. {33} "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

1. So what are we seeking?

2. Paul put it a little differently:

(Col 3:2 KJV) "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

(Col 3:2 NKJV) "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

D. In effect, Christ is saying that we are to love God with our all.

Matt 22:37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' {38} "This is the first and great commandment."

II. But Jesus continued with the Second Commandment.

(Mat 22:39-40 NKJV) ""And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' {40} "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.""

A. This is not what the lawyer asked for, he asked only for one.

B. Jesus says the second is like it. How does that work?

1. Look how Jesus used it.

(John 21:15 NKJV) "So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs.""

a. Every time, the answer was the same.

b. “Tend my sheep,” -- v. 16, “Feed my sheep,” – v. 17

c. Look at how Jesus tied the two together.

d. No wonder He said, “The second is like it.”

III. But what happens to love?

A. In the case of Ephesus, they left their first love.

(Rev 2:4-5 NKJV) ""Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. {5} "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent."

1. What is the cure:

2. "Remember therefore from where you have fallen” -- Remember how it used to be.

3. “repent and do the first works,”

B. Then there is Laodicea

(Rev 3:14-17 NKJV) ""And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: {15} "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. {16} "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. {17} "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;"

Conclusion

How do we put it all together?

We need to love God, and show our love by our lives.

We have opportunity to worship Him, and to study His word and pray.

We have the opportunity to put His love into practice by “Feeding His sheep.” Caring for the lost and nurturing them. Ask for God’s guidance what He would have us do

Bible Study with Harley Sermons I have Preached

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