It's STILL All About Love

I have never done such a long sermon series, but the LORD isn't letting me move on!
At the rate we're going, this series may just last my entire pastorate in Bayard!
But, that's not a problem since the entire Bible is summed up with this one word: LOVE!
I can't believe it's already been 8 weeks?!
Here's a quick overview of the last few weeks:

Psalm 119
1. Fall in Love with God's Word
Cry with the psalmist: OH HOW I LOVE YOUR WORDS
2. Meditate on it day and night
John Ortberg gives some great suggestions for the practice of meditating on the scriptures:
*Ask God to meet you in scripture
*Read the Bible in a repentant spirit
*Meditate on a fairly brief passage or narrative
*Take one thought or verse with you through the day
*Allow this thought to become part of your memory
3. Don't just read it, LIVE IT
1 John 3:18...Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth...

1 Peter 4
1. Love is armed with long suffering
verse 8...above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a mulitude of sins...
2. Love is all about "one-anothering"
verse 9,10,11 preach WE not me...everyone is a minister, everyone needs a ministry, what is God call you to do? what is your gift in the body of Christ?
Don't despise small things...ultimate goal: to God be the glory!
Not building church on one personality...Not 10% doing all the work...
3. Love minds its own business
verse 15 lumps the busybody in with the murderer and thief...
James 3

John 17
We have the amazing privilege of ANSWERING GOD'S PRAYER!
1. It's all about Relationship (vs 3)
The creator of all things wants an intimate relationship with worms like us!
(Michael Yaconelli: Dangerous Wonder, the adventure of child-like faith)
2. It's all about Unity (vs 11, 21)
I'm sure our Lord looks down on His earth with a broken heart because we are not One!
There is a limit to Unity: John 14:6!
welcome differences, agree to disagree, let go of pride, embrace ordinariness...
3. It's all about LOVE (vs 26)
My Bible says they will know we are Christians by our LOVE!
If you were to take a survey on the street asking people what words come to mind regarding church or Christian, would anyone say LOVE???
If we are to answer God's Prayer making it all about relationship, unity and love...how can we change the world's mind about the church?
I think one way is to get Christians to be less uptight and more PLAYFUL!