Lenten Journey of Love – Bears & Believes (04.06.2)

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Dear St. Paul Family,
 

Sermon - Lenten Journey of Love - Love Bears and Believes

Cornerstone - Cornerstone - Communion of Love - The Passion of Christ in our Life

Kids Sermon - Kids Sermon - Synergy

The gospel lesson was from Jn. 9:1-41, the healing of the blind man.

This year’s theme for lent is, “The Lenten Journey of Love”, covering how love is described in (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

Love … bears all things, believes all things (1 Cor. 13:7)
 

• Bears all things

  • regardless of what comes (AMP)

  • puts up with all things (CEB)

• Believes all things

  • looking for the best in each one (AMP)

  • trusts in all things (CEB)

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1. Love Believes all Things

   • Jesus initiates (saw & anointed)

   • Blind Man obeyed (believed) "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam." (John 9:7)

   • Belief requires action

   • Belief can happen in phases as we see the progression of the blind man as he see Jesus as:

     • "a man." (John 9:11)

     • "a prophet." (John 9:17)

     • “man of God” If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." (John 9:33)

     • “Son of God” “Do you believe in the Son of God?” (v38)

   • “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.” (Jn. 9:39)

2. Love Bears all Things

   • After healing (belief)

     • opposition “Then they reviled him” (Jn. 9:28)

     • interrogation “How were your eyes opened?” (Jn. 9:10)

     • insult  “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?”

     • rejection “And they cast him out.” (v34)

   • our world is full of difficulties, disappointments, distress

3. Love Bears all things, Believes all things

   • Love does not crumble under trials but bears it and holds fast in faith. It believes in God’s goodness even in suffering

   • Loves trusts that God’s plan is greater than our pain

   • The blind man’s journey teaches us that our journey is similar and because love bears and believes – the journey of faith increases and consequently our love increases.

We see through the blind man’s action and response that his love bears all things (the opposition, interrogation, insult and rejection) and his belief progressed for Jesus being some man, to the Son of God. Love that bears and then believes grows in faith and then in love.

Fr. James

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