GOD: OUR FIRST LOVE



Sermon Notes, January 7, 2018
Rev. Garry McGlinchy

            Pastor Garry's sermon was titled "God: Our First Love."  His text was Exodus 20:1-17 and Matthew 22:36-40.  He talked about firsts: this was our first meeting in our new facility at 2002 Orange Road.  This was the first Sunday in a new year.  We all remember our first love, our first car, our first date.  He talked about pastors remembering their first church.  And the importance of making God our first love.  Love God, love the world, love the church.  If God isn't first in the church, how do we make Him first?  If God hooked us up to a heart monitor machine, would our heartbeat be steady, fluttering, or flatline?
            Exodus 20 tells us how to make God first.   The Ten Commandments tell us to love God and love each other.  Jesus summarized it in Matthew 22:36-40 when He said "All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments."
            To make God first, we must remember who He is.  Exodus 20:2 says "I am the Lord your God."  Verse 3 says to have no other gods before Him.  God should be first in our lives.  Verses 4-6 tell us there are to be no images, no bowing down; He is a jealous God.  For our church to grow, we need to put God first.
            We need to realize how we talk about God.  We need to watch how we use His name.  Express our love for Him with words of affirmation.  We show our love for God by the things we do, but we also need to say it.
            We put God first when we rest on the Sabbath.  Verses 8-11 tell us why.  We are to shut down the shop.  Take time to focus on God.  Share with the family.  When we take the Sabbath rest, we get more done the rest of the week.
            We put God first when we trust Him.  When we trust, we're showing love.  Let's remember who He is.  Rest and focus on Him.  And trust Him.

No comments:

Post a Comment