SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE part2

-truth is the nature of God
    -if we resist truth, we are resisting God

love is also nature of God.. Jesus is full of love

truth and love are best friend

-Jesus spoke the truth to the Samaritan women
-love covers, love protects

speaking in truth in life, Jesus changed their life

-God hates adulterous
    -Jesus told the truth, the women is a sinner and what she did is wrong.. Jesus didn't shame her in public

-Jesus always speak the truth but always with great compassion

-when we sin, God didn't hate us but felt sorrow for us
-speaking in truth is very impt for us cos God is truth
-this is the 2nd time Jesus wept
-even in rebuke, Jesus still speaks with love

-we are created in the image of God.. Therefore, truth is very impt
-if something is pondering us or making us concern, we must have the freedom discuss it to find out the truth, not accepting or believing blindly
    -faith have to be reasonable
-faith = reasoned trust
-God is not afraid to reason with us
-communication line have to be open in a relationship!
-when we speak in truth without love, everything breaks down

-the purpose of the church is to build us up
-so full of Jesus, having Christ likeness in us
-we know what is our faith concerning the gospel

-scripture = Bible! God is all source of truth.. Those truth tt are impt in our salvation and daily living, He has written down in the bible for us
-Gospel = 4 Gospels.. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
-gospel = 27 books in the New Testament
-theology = the study of God
-biblical theology = study of God from the Bible
-doctrine = sets of believe from the scriptures which may different from churches

truth determines our growth
maturity is not how much we know but how we can balance love and truth (speak the truth in love)

speaking in truth without love cancels out everything..even no matter how truthful you speak
only when we use our words with love tt would open up ppl's heart

we don't want to confrontation.. we want a conversation

-we must learn to be kind with our words even if we are defending the truth
-there is so much anger and hatred in the world!

-headstrong = very strong view in our heads and want to impose it to others..
   -ppl who are headstrong are loveless!
-even if judgment, God rmbs mercy
-if we fail to love ppl, we lose our love for God

-don't be afraid to express what we wants to say... but say it in a correct way
   -we don't have to sacrifice the truth

-speak directly in private.. don't expose 
   -don't shame in the public
-goal is not to win argument, but to win ppl!
-as much as possible, settle issues directly and privately
   -love covers, love protects, love doesn't gossip or shame

-there is a time to speak and a time to be silent
-there are times where its better for us to be silent.. saying may do more harm than good, or the other party is not ready to hear the truth

speaking in truth with love is the evidence of our spiritual maturity

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE part 1

we cannot cover sin

Jesus knows our thoughts, but He didn't broadcast it to the whole world

truth without love is harsh
love and truth must be tgt in balance

-sword must be used carefully.. it can hurt and wound!
-our words can speak life or death
   -either build ppl up or bring ppl down

-love is not pretentious
-true love builds up
-only true love is can keep the family, church, ppl tgt
-love is the hallmark that Jesus is alive in us

the purpose of love is to make us truthful, and purpose of truth is to love

john was the youngest among the disciples

-john is very committed to the truth
-he was in pursue of the truth

-John deals with truth clearly in opposites
   -theres no grey areas

truth is John's passion

-John was angered cos other ppl ministered in Jesus name
   -in his pride and competitiveness

-Jesus corrected them 3 times... cos they have no love!
-truth without love is nothing

-liking = see the best side of the person and be attracted
-loving = see the worse side of the person and still wanted to bless
   -Jesus loved us as sinners
-we don't need to like our enemies, but we need to love them enough to pray for them

John was so changed that he was known for his love and gentleness and devotion to Christ

John is still very passionate abt truth, balanced with love

John is not asking the lady to be unbalanced.. but to not allow those false teachers

we must grow up with the balance of truth and love

-as we began to increase in knowledge, we may be arrogant
-love doesn't means we cant question why.. questions will brings clarity
-how to speak in truth with love.. tone of voice, choice of words

4Ps of speaking
1. plan
2. proof
   -real objective proof
3. purpose
   -what is the goal...
4. preparation
   -be prepared to face the outcome

whenever theres something serious / uncomfortable to talk abt... use the oreo cookie approach
   -this will keep the door open for the conversation to be continued