Welcome to the Mighty Men Training Institute

This was our first online bible study. We had two people attend and it went great. Here are the notes. ----------------------------------



Verse References:

Matthew 5:43-47
Luke 6:27-36

I have two main points for this study. God wants us to love in two ways

1. Universally

More direct, to me it means loving without prejudice. From the shortest person to the tallest, black, white, asian, female, male, gay, straight, murderer, thieves, priests, choir leaders. Universally. Loving man without exception. God's not telling us, love everyone EXCEPT that guy over there. Or love everyone EXCEPT people who have crossed eyes. Or love everyone EXCEPT people who sin. He tells us the opposite. Love ALL. Especially love those who work against us.

God tells us to love those who strike us, who work against us. He tells us that if someone comes in your house and steals your computer and almost everything you have, as that person runs away you should literally shout at them "Hey, you want the tv too" And MEAN it. I mean, I'm not kidding here. It's right there in the word. We get to tied up with material things sometimes to take this with all seriousness. If God loved us enough to sacrifice his own son to save us, thinking about that, loving someone who steals your stuff isn't that big of a deal. Loving in such a way is the second way he wants us to love.

2. Profoundly

Loving profoundly basically means loving in an awesome, powerful way. Loving in a way that those who don't truly embrace the Word can't. Loving in ways that WILL change the world. Loving profoundly will change lives, gather lost sheep and save souls. Verse References:

1 John 2: Verse 9
1 John 3: Verse 15

So this is something I deal with personally sometimes and it's a challenge and a mission I wanted to pass to other young Christians. We need to remove the word hate from all aspects of our vocabulary. Even in the most joking tones, we have to surgically and precisely take it from our mouths. Why? Because if we let it linger, if we let it have a place in our world at all then we give ourselves the chance to turn to it later on. Words catch in our brains. People who are around others that curse are so much more likely to find themselves cursing, even if it's every now and then. If we find ourselves using the word hate, even jokingly, it'll be that much easier to go back to it when later on we get angry at someone, or get frustrated, or get upset.

So the challenge is, whenever you would say that word hate, serious or joking, replace it with love. Not a sarcastic "I LOVE when people cut me off while I drive.....errrrrr" but mean it. Mean the words that come out. Love that person for cutting you off. Love that person for making you upset. Mean it. Why? Because those people are giving you a chance to use your Christian muscles. Those instances are giving you an opportunity to practice your faith, your love and your walk with Christ. And of course, you get better with practice. The more you do it, the better you get at it. So the more times you have to find yourself REALLY loving someone or something that has really just made you upset or angry or sad, you're growing in your walk, you're becoming a STRONGER Christian.

The two main points of the study were:
- God wants us to love in two ways, Universally and Profoundly
- Replace the word hate in your life with love and MEAN IT.