Havasu Christian Church
February 16, 2025
“A month of Love”
“I Love you man! But, uh, well, you know what I mean!”
Hebrews 13:1-3, Acts 16:14-15, Acts 6:1-3, James 1:27, and II Peter 1:3-8
Intro: Love: You always have to decipher what is meant whenever you hear the word. “I love bacon” hopefully isn’t meant quite the same way as “I love my wife.” “I love you man!” was a saying awhile back, but I haven’t heard it used lately. With the way that our world has the word “Love” all mixed up, it’s no wonder that we seldom say the word to someone who isn’t part of our “Blood” family. “I love you” is reserved for a spouse, our kids, or our parents. Sometimes, even in families, “I love you” isn’t spoken too much.
“Honey, why don’t you tell me you love me?” “I told you on our wedding day and I haven’t changed my mind yet!”
We’ve talked about Family love. We’ve talked about Sexual love. Today we talk about Brotherly love. What is Brotherly love = Phileo. From this we get the word Philanthropist; someone who gives to further the common good. 2,509 Carnegie Libraries.
This word for love in Greek is Phileo.
From Strongs concordance:
Usage: In the New Testament, "philos" is used to denote a friend or someone who is loved dearly. It implies a close, personal relationship characterized by mutual affection and care. Unlike other Greek words for love, such as "agape," which denotes unconditional love, "philos" emphasizes a bond of friendship and companionship.
Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek culture, friendship was highly valued and considered a vital part of social life. Philosophers like Aristotle discussed friendship as a key component of a virtuous and fulfilling life. In the context of the New Testament, "philos" reflects the close-knit communities and personal relationships that were essential in the early Christian church. Friendships were not only social but also spiritual, as believers supported and encouraged one another in their faith.
As we just read, this kind of love was and is especially important to Christians. In the infancy of the church, and at various times and places, Christianity has divided families. Some people stayed true to Judaism, or to their pagan “gods” and literally “kicked out” family members who became Christians.
With that connection gone, brotherly love of the Church became all the more important.
As we look at the idea of this kind of love, there are some things that we need to understand.
- Brotherly Love must continue! (abide)
Hebrews 13:1-3 Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
- How do we live out this kind of love?
- Make it a normal part of your life.
- Brotherly love = tender affection, it’s not a part time thing!
- This is not something we can dabble in, this is to be something we do all our lives.
- We either have it and live it, or we don’t! No in between!
- Show hospitality to strangers
- Christians
- In Bible times, Missionaries would travel and Christian brothers and sisters would help them on their way.
Acts 16:14–15 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
- Lydia is a brand new Christian, and she already understands this.
- Down through the centuries, Christians have hosted Bible studies and even “house churches” in their own homes.
- Christians are also called to look out for one another.
- Widows
Acts 6:1–3 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. “Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
- Widows & orphans.
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
- We are also called to show brotherly love to those who aren’t Christians.
- Not false teachers, but those in need.
- Philoxinos… Philios + Xenos
- Brotherly Love of the stranger.
- It’s fun to think about our hospitality being given to angels.
- Remember the prisoners and ill-treated
- Prisoners
- Those who are imprisoned for their faith.
- That one isn’t so much of a thing in our time and country.
- Those who are imprisoned for their crimes.
- How do we treat them?
- What can we do for them?
- Ill treated
- Those who are being treated badly because of Jesus
- Those who are simply “down on their luck”
- You are also in the body.
- The emphasis here is on caring for the “body” that we are a part of.
- When you are Christians, one hurting makes all hurt
- We can still hurt with those who need Jesus
- We are expected to grow in many ways, but especially in brotherly kindness and love!
II Peter 1:3-8 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2PE 1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
2PE 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge;
2PE 1:6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness;
2PE 1:7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
2PE 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- God has done so much for us.
- He’s “granted to us everything.
- For life
- For godliness
- By giving us the true knowledge of Him.
- He has granted us all His precious and magnificent promises.
- We become partakers of God’s divine nature.
- We have escaped corruption in the world by lust.
- Because God has given us all that, we have something to do about it.
- There’s a whole list of things for us to do, but we will focus on brotherly kindness and love.
- This is a good starting point for love
- But don’t think you’ve somehow become “SUPER CHRISTIAN” because you help someone.
- Even Heathens do this!
Luke 10:33–34 “But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
Acts 28:1–2 When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.
- This kind of brotherly love is good practice to lead us to Godly love!
- A love that is given in spite of the other’s “worthiness,” not because of it.
- A love that depends on the giver, not the recipient.
- A love we’ll talk more about next week!
Conclusion: Brotherly Love is a great place to start!
- How can I practice Brotherly Love in my life?
- We can make people welcome.
- In our homes.
- In our Church.
- In the place where we live.
- We live in one of the “snowbird capitols” of the world.
- They disrupt our traffic.
- They fill up our hospital and Doctor’s offices.
- They make it hard to get groceries.
- But they need Jesus!
- They may even be a brother or sister that we haven’t met yet.
- Maybe they are an Angel???
- You just don’t know!
- We can give support to help those we can’t personally reach out to.
- IDES
- Going to disasters all over the world
- Even if this kind of Brotherly love is out of your “comfort zone,” Just think of what God has done for us!
- That should make you willing to follow His directions!
- We also should want to share the wonderful gifts we’ve been given with others.
