When Will I be Loved?                      Pastor Rich Laskowski

The title of this message was taken from the old Everly Brothers song, When Will I be Loved.  It was a hit in 1962, but the question still rings true in many hearts, inside and outside the church. 

This message reflects the great love that Paul and the Phillippian Christians shared.  We talk about the great example that should be a part of every church's experience, but all too often, is not.  We give some suggestions of how to foster more intimate relationships within the church and underscore the fact that it is God's will that we have good and close friendships with other people.  My hope is that God will help you to find a friend as you consider the things that are taught in this message.

 

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Study Notes: When Will I Be Loved?
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When Will I be Loved?
Lesson 2 in the Philippians' Series

Released in 1960 by the Everly Brothers

Re-released by Linda Ronstant in 1974

The chorus:
I've been cheated, been mistreated
When will I be loved?
I've been put down.
I've been pushed 'round
When will I be loved?

 

I. Lesson Two in Our Series in the Letter to the Philippians

A. Last week we talked about
     
     - Paul writing the Philippians from a Roman jail around 62 AD
     -  As he writes he remembers:

  1. His call to Macedonia and into Philipi
  2. The first convert, Lydia by the river
  3. The little slave girl, delivered from demonic (Tyler at the Playground)
  4. His arrest and imprisonment
  5. The walls coming down, and chains falling off
  6. Jailer's entire family saved
  7. The church in Philipi was established
  8. Pauls warns them to trust in their citizenship in heaven, not Roman citizenship

II.  Philippians is a letter of love

Php 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:  2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  3 I thank my God every time I remember you.  4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.  8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

A. There is a whole lotta love going on here

B.  This is not church membership, this is relationship

C.  HOW MANY HERE WANT TO BE  LOVED?

D.  Some of us might be singing with the Everly Brothers:

I've been put down.
I've been pushed 'round
When will I be loved?

III.  Reasons People Come to Church

A. Want to draw closer to God
B.  Want help or wisdom from God during difficult time (Our cards: Get your hope back at CCC)

C.   They want to be loved, have friends, fit in

D.    We have Face book, cell phones hooked to the internet, email, Twitter

yet never have we felt so disconnected and isolated.  The screen can never replace a warm touch and true friendship

- people walk through our doors wondering:

  1. Will I fit in here?
  2. Will In be wanted here?
  3. Will I find any friends here?

        1.Preaching is important

        2.Music is important

        3..Kids ministry is important

        4. But at the top of the list is: Love  (Will I find love, acceptance, friends here?)

E.  We are going to the community - telling them to come here to get their hope back

- God will use you to grow hope in their hearts


IV. How are Bonds and Friendships Created?

A. Paul says of the Philippians: there was a bond created by partnership - Koinania

Php 1:4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

They had a history - experiences - memories

  1. Paul & Philippians shared a beginning
  2. Shared in a realization of the Gospel
  3. They shared ministry together
  4. They shared in his imprisonment (Gift)

-   CCC was without a pastor for 2 years
-   Some people left, you stayed because of people - a history together

B. BONDS ARE CREATED THROUGH WORKING TOGETHER

- You learn to trust when you work together
-  You see a person's heart

 C. BONDS ARE CREATED WHEN YOU PLAY TOGETRHER

- Laugh, eat, talk over coffee
- Learn that a person is real, flawed, and more  like you than what you thought

 

D. BONDS ARE CREATED WHEN YOU FIGHT TOGETHER

- Prayer together for a hurting brother/sister
- Stand against the enemy together arm to arm

1Jo 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.

Joh 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

 

V. Game Plan for Experiencing Love in Your Church

#1. Stretch your comfort zone

If you want to get what you've never got before, you've got to do what you've never done before

- Volunteer for camp kitchen duty
- Come out on Wednesday night
- Invite someone over for dinner that you don't know

#2. Give love instead of complaining about not receiving love

#3. Earnestly pray that god will help you to give love and find a true friend

#4. Submit yourself to Jesus and asked to be filled with God who is love