Mercy Culture East Fort Worth
Radical Love: Nothing Without Love
Pastor Chris Cheema
Locations & Times
Mercy Culture East Fort Worth
2000 E Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX 76112, USA
Sunday 11:12 AM
❤️ MC Connect
If you would like to learn more about our culture, how you connect with God, get plugged into community and begin your journey to encountering God daily, MC Connect is your next step!
Text CONNECT to 59090 or visit mercyculture.com/connect
Text CONNECT to 59090 or visit mercyculture.com/connect
👋 First Time Guest? Click Here!
Welcome to Mercy Culture Church!
We are so excited you're here.
Text NEW to 59090 so we can connect with you.
For everyone that texts NEW, we will donate $10 to The Justice Reform, an organization that is answering the cry for justice by bringing reformation from city to city.
We are so excited you're here.
Text NEW to 59090 so we can connect with you.
For everyone that texts NEW, we will donate $10 to The Justice Reform, an organization that is answering the cry for justice by bringing reformation from city to city.
🔥🏠 Join an MC Group!
MC Groups launch February 2! 🥳
📲 Text GROUPS to 59090 to find a group that’s right for you. 🔥🏠
YOU SHOULD KNOW:
- Groups are for EVERYONE, whether you began attending last week or last year!
- Groups are one of the primary ways we find + build community here at Mercy Culture.
- You do not have to be a member to join any MC Group (aka, invite your friends! This is a GREAT way to introduce someone to Mercy Culture)!
- Anyone can attend any group, anywhere (ie; if you attend our East Fort Worth campus, you are welcome to join a Online/Fort Worth/Waco/etc group).
- It’s not too late to sign up to lead a group! If you’re feeling led to start a group, text GROUPS to 59090 and fill out the application form.
📲 Text GROUPS to 59090 to find a group that’s right for you. 🔥🏠
YOU SHOULD KNOW:
- Groups are for EVERYONE, whether you began attending last week or last year!
- Groups are one of the primary ways we find + build community here at Mercy Culture.
- You do not have to be a member to join any MC Group (aka, invite your friends! This is a GREAT way to introduce someone to Mercy Culture)!
- Anyone can attend any group, anywhere (ie; if you attend our East Fort Worth campus, you are welcome to join a Online/Fort Worth/Waco/etc group).
- It’s not too late to sign up to lead a group! If you’re feeling led to start a group, text GROUPS to 59090 and fill out the application form.
🤗 Join our East Fort Worth Serve Team!
Interested in serving? 🤔
Text SERVE to 59090 or
Visit https://mercyculture.cls.co/hrgz
Text SERVE to 59090 or
Visit https://mercyculture.cls.co/hrgz
🎓 SLS Applications Now Open!
Mercy Culture Spiritual Leadership School exists to develop spiritual leaders. We do this by taking students for corporate encounters with God to daily personal encounters with God.
If you want to be developed as a spiritual leader, ask the Lord about SLS!
Text ”SLS” to 59090 to apply today!
If you want to be developed as a spiritual leader, ask the Lord about SLS!
Text ”SLS” to 59090 to apply today!
🍽️ Food Bank every Saturday
Mercy Culture food bank is at the East Fort Worth campus every Saturday from 10am-2pm.
Text “FOOD” to 59090 for more information.
Text “FOOD” to 59090 for more information.
💦 Baptisms Next Sunday (4/6)!
Water baptism is the public declaration that we are a new creation in Jesus Christ!
Baptisms will be happening on April 6th during our 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM services. You can choose to come during any service time to get baptized. To register visit https://mercyculture.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2859552
Baptisms will be happening on April 6th during our 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM services. You can choose to come during any service time to get baptized. To register visit https://mercyculture.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2859552
With love you have everything, and without love you have nothing.
YEAR OF RADICAL LOVE:
A Year We: Love God, His Word, His People and His House.
Radical Love: “When you love God for no reason and no reason can take that love”.
A Year We: Love God, His Word, His People and His House.
Radical Love: “When you love God for no reason and no reason can take that love”.
FOUR FORMS OF LOVE:
Philia (φιλία) - love between friend; a brotherly love
Storge (στοργή) - familial love
Eros (ἔρως) - romantic or passionate love
Agape (ἀγάπη) - selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love.
Agape is the sost common used Greek word for “love” in the New Testament.
The defining characteristic:
(1) of God’s love for humanity
(2) the love Christians are called to have for one another.
It is self-sacrificial and not dependent on mutual affection or personal gain.
Philia (φιλία) - love between friend; a brotherly love
Storge (στοργή) - familial love
Eros (ἔρως) - romantic or passionate love
Agape (ἀγάπη) - selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love.
Agape is the sost common used Greek word for “love” in the New Testament.
The defining characteristic:
(1) of God’s love for humanity
(2) the love Christians are called to have for one another.
It is self-sacrificial and not dependent on mutual affection or personal gain.
CAUTION: Love is not God. God is love.
NEWS FLASH: The world has been trying to define love by removing God. But it has only created perversion. Until God is put back in the equation, you can never identify what love truly is.
CAUTION: Anything separate from God is not TRUE LOVE
THE WORLD IS LOOKING FOR LOVE:
1. The world is looking for love.
2. The world is trying to define love.
3. The world is trying to create love.
4. The world is trying to find love.
5. But they do not realize they are trying to find God.
6. And in God, they will find love.
1. The world is looking for love.
2. The world is trying to define love.
3. The world is trying to create love.
4. The world is trying to find love.
5. But they do not realize they are trying to find God.
6. And in God, they will find love.
LOVE IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT!
PURSUE LOVE!
LOVE HAS A MEASURE...
Your love can decrease.
Your love can decrease.
Your love can increase.
SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF A LIFE WITH LOVE
1. You spend time with God.
2. You carry the Word of God.
3. You obey God.
4. You love others.
5. You Hate what God hates.
1. You spend time with God.
2. You carry the Word of God.
3. You obey God.
4. You love others.
5. You Hate what God hates.
1. Spend time with God.
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
Leadership Standard: Daily Encounters
There is only one way to God, and it’s through Jesus — but in Jesus, there are many ways to connect with God. We disciple people by helping them discover how they best connect with God and by teaching them to access the presence of God on a daily basis.
Matthew 6:7-15, Proverbs 8:34, John 15:4, 1 Samuel 3:10
There is only one way to God, and it’s through Jesus — but in Jesus, there are many ways to connect with God. We disciple people by helping them discover how they best connect with God and by teaching them to access the presence of God on a daily basis.
Matthew 6:7-15, Proverbs 8:34, John 15:4, 1 Samuel 3:10
Radical Love Prophetic Word: This year you will love God greater than you ever have in your entire life.
2. You carry the Word of God.
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
Keep —> tereo (tay-reh-o)—> to keep, guard, oversee, watch over; preserve
QUESTION: What does it look like to carry the Word of God?
Connect with God Way: Meditation
Meditation is when you intentionally focus on His Word, digest it, and allow it to become alive in you.
Meditation is when you intentionally focus on His Word, digest it, and allow it to become alive in you.
The Bible is a Sword!
It is not about how much of the Word you read, but how much you have let the Word read you.
PRACTICAL ADVICE: Don’t just read the word of God, meditate on it!
3. You obey God.
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
Obedience is love.
Obedience is sacrifice.
4. You love others.
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
You can’t love God and hate people.
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
You can’t love God and hate people.
Love people like God loved you.
Love people like they are you.
QUESTION: What does it look like to love people?
Loving people is operating in the fruit of the Spirit.
Loving others is evidence to the world.
Loving others is evidence to the world.
5) You Hate what God hates.
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
QUESTION: Do you hate what God hates?
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
QUESTION: Do you hate what God hates?
Seven Abominations
1. Prideful Eye
2. A Lying Tongue (Deception)
3. Hands that Shed Innocent Blood
4. A Heart that Plans Wickedness
5. Feet that Run to Evil
6. A False Witness Who Lies
7. One Who Sows Discord Among Brothers
1. Prideful Eye
2. A Lying Tongue (Deception)
3. Hands that Shed Innocent Blood
4. A Heart that Plans Wickedness
5. Feet that Run to Evil
6. A False Witness Who Lies
7. One Who Sows Discord Among Brothers
Do not love the world or things of the world.
Do not befriend the world.
Enmity —> echthra —> enmity, hostility, hostile
Enemy —> echthros —> enemy, hostile, hated
Enemy —> echthros —> enemy, hostile, hated
CAUTION: You cannot be a friend of God and a friend of the world.
6. You love what God loves.
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
Seven Things God Loves
1. God Loves the Humble
2. God Loves Truth
3. God Loves Justice
4. God Loves Righteousness
5. God Loves Those Who Obey
6. God Loves Truth Tellers
7. God Loves Unity
(Six Characteristics of a Life With Love)
Seven Things God Loves
1. God Loves the Humble
2. God Loves Truth
3. God Loves Justice
4. God Loves Righteousness
5. God Loves Those Who Obey
6. God Loves Truth Tellers
7. God Loves Unity
God loves righteousness.
God loves justice.
God loves the humble.
God loves those who obey.
God loves truth tellers.
God loves unity.
DISCLAIMER: You can hate what is ungodly, while still loving people.
ULTIMATELY: God Loves Those Who Love Him
Love what God Loves and Hate what God Hates:
1. Hate wicked plans, love righteousness.
2. Hate the shedding of innocent blood, love justice.
3. Hate pride, love humility.
4. Hate running to evil, love obeying God.
5. Hate lying, love truth.
6. Hate being a false witness, love telling the truth.
7. Hate sowing discord, love fighting for unity.
8. Hate being away from God, love being with God.
1. Hate wicked plans, love righteousness.
2. Hate the shedding of innocent blood, love justice.
3. Hate pride, love humility.
4. Hate running to evil, love obeying God.
5. Hate lying, love truth.
6. Hate being a false witness, love telling the truth.
7. Hate sowing discord, love fighting for unity.
8. Hate being away from God, love being with God.
FOUR WORTHLESS THINGS
1. Worthless Words
2. Worthless Knowledge
3. Worthless Faith
4. Worthless Religion
1. Worthless Words
2. Worthless Knowledge
3. Worthless Faith
4. Worthless Religion
1. Worthless Words
(Four Worthless Things)
Words - Love = Worthless Words
(Four Worthless Things)
Words - Love = Worthless Words
WARNING: Do not exchange authority for persuasion.
Value: Authenticity
WE DON’T DO FAKE
We disciple through real relationships. We create an atmosphere for people to be open and honest by leading in vulnerability and transparency.
2 Corinthians 11:27-30, 2 Corinthians 12:9
WE DON’T DO FAKE
We disciple through real relationships. We create an atmosphere for people to be open and honest by leading in vulnerability and transparency.
2 Corinthians 11:27-30, 2 Corinthians 12:9
2. Worthless Knowledge
(Four Worthless Things)
Knowledge - Love = Worthless Knowledge
(Four Worthless Things)
Knowledge - Love = Worthless Knowledge
Knowledge without relationship is void of life.
WARNING: Do not exchange intimacy for knowledge.
3. Worthless Faith
(Four Worthless Things)
Faith - Love = Worthless Faith
(Four Worthless Things)
Faith - Love = Worthless Faith
WARNING: Do not exchange God for works.
4. Worthless Religion
(Four Worthless Religion)
Religion - Love = Worthless Religion
(Four Worthless Religion)
Religion - Love = Worthless Religion
Religion without knowing God is restricted from access to Heaven.
Fasting without love is silent to God.
WARNING: Do not exchange giving your heart for giving stuff.
QUESTION: WHAT MAKES THESE FOUR THINGS WORTHLESS?
Common Denominator = NO LOVE
Common Denominator = NO LOVE
Without the (AGAPE) love of God you have nothing.
Bruce Marshall, Scottish and Catholic, 20th Century Writer: “I still prefer to believe that sex is a substitute for religion and that the young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God."
WARNING: If you pursue love from anywhere other than God, you will still be empty.
QUESTION: DO YOU HAVE LOVE?
To have love is to HAVE HIS HEART.
Love People + Hate What He Hates + Love What He Loves
Love People + Hate What He Hates + Love What He Loves
To have love is to HAVE HIS SPIRIT.
Daily Encounter + Spend time with God
Daily Encounter + Spend time with God
To have love is to HAVE HIS MIND
Carry His Word + Obey God + Want What He Wants
Carry His Word + Obey God + Want What He Wants
THIS IS HOW YOU LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR: HEART + SOUL + MIND + STRENGTH
You get His heart.
You surrender your soul.
You get His mind.
You receive the strength of His Spirit.
You get His heart.
You surrender your soul.
You get His mind.
You receive the strength of His Spirit.
Simon Had No Part and No Share in the Ministry:
Part —> meris —> part, portion, share
(inheritance, alottment, role, responsibility)
Share —> kleros —> lot, portion, inheritance, share
(assigned or inherited portion; distribution of responsibilities)
Simon Practiced Witchcraft
“Magic” or “Sorcery” —> mageuó (mag-yoo-o)
Part —> meris —> part, portion, share
(inheritance, alottment, role, responsibility)
Share —> kleros —> lot, portion, inheritance, share
(assigned or inherited portion; distribution of responsibilities)
Simon Practiced Witchcraft
“Magic” or “Sorcery” —> mageuó (mag-yoo-o)