COMMANDMENT: Love God and Neighbour

Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the third sermon in our series on the Priorities of Jesus. This sermon is ‘COMMANDMENT: Love God and Neighbour’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: Mark 12:28-34

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: Mark 12:28-34

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: In 2022, what is one way in which you need to bring the use of your time, talents, and treasures more into line with the priorities of Jesus?

WARM-UP

1. What do you think the people on your frontlines think Christianity is all about?

2. How is the Christian story different to these possible misconceptions?

Read Mark 12:28-31

1. Why were the Pharisees and teachers of the law trying to have Jesus arrested? How were they attempting to do this?

2. What was the motivation of this teacher who approaches Jesus in V28? Why was his question to intriguing for the Rabbis of the day?

3. What was the first part of Jesus’ answer? Why is this statement foundational for all the other commandments?

4. In what ways are we commanded to love God? How does this look for you practically?

5. Read 1 John 2:15. What then are we not to love? Where is it tempting to love the world rather than God? What could help you avoid these temptations?

6. Who are are neighbours? To what extent are we to love our neighbours?

7. How could you share your love to your neighbours on your frontlines this year?

Read Mark 12:32-33

1. Why will attempting perfection not work in attempting to follow the commandments? If we have been saved by grace, why then are we to obey God?

2. What is at the heart of us following God’s commandments? What attitude should we have towards God in obeying him?

3. If the teacher wasn’t far from the kingdom, how do we gain entrance into the kingdom?

APPLY: How could you grow in your love for God and neighbour in 2022?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you that you are the creator, that you are the only God, and that you have revealed yourself and the way you want us to live in your word. We are sorry for when we haven’t loved you as we ought, when we haven’t loved our neighbours as ourselves. Please help us this year to grow in our love for you and our obedience to you as we grow in our knowledge of you and your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: What does it look like to prioritise Jesus on your frontline? What might you adopt, stop, or focus on this year?

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• AUDIO: “The Greatest Commandment” by Chase Kuhn

• AUDIO: “First Commandment, First Sin” by Don Carson

• AUDIO: “Four Questions for Obeying the First Commandment” by Kevin DeYoung

• BOOK: “Holiness” by J C Ryle

SERIES Resources:

• Series overview

• BOOK: “Resilient Disciples” by Rick Hill

• BOOK: “Need to Know” by Gary Millar

• ARTICLE: “What is a Whole-Life Disciple” by LICC (London Institute of Contemporary Christianity)

Grow as Families

Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.

Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray

High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions

Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk

eBook: Watch the eBook