Title: Expressing Love
Purpose: To inspire Christians to express their Love through Hospitality



Intro:	1.  Love is such a trite word these days
	2.  Last couple of chapters have expounded on faith
	3.  Faith always has practical application and implications
	4.  The first of these is love
	5.  Text:  Heb 13:1-3
	6.  Love in this passage is commanded.  To whom?

I.  To the brethren (v.1)
	A.  Text says to let the love of the brethren continue
	B.  Explanation
		1.  There are people you feel warm and nice about, others you do not - am I wrong?
			a.  Words for love in Greek - Agape, Philia, Storge, Eros
			b.  Agape love is not an emotion (KJV translates it “charity”)
			c.  Agape love is Christian love -- unconditional
			d.  Bottom line, Agape love is a decision
		2.  I discovered something very interesting in this verse
			a.  Agape is not what is being instructed here
			b.  Word is from philia (compound word - Philadelphia - Brotherly love)
			c.  The idea behind philia is affection
		3.  With that in mind, we learn several things from this text
			a.  Our love to one another must grow
				-Can’t remain an emotionless love
				-How grow?  Encourage, show kindness, sensitivity, thoughtfulness
				-How grow?  Avoid negative hurtful behavior, comments, habits
			b.  Our love to each other must endure
				-Text says it must “continue”  (meno - “to remain, to endure”)
				-Same word used in 12:27 for unshakable Kingdom that “remains”
				-Our love must be unshakable
		4.  But wait, I just don’t FEEL very warm and loving to some of my brethren
	C.  In His Needs Her Needs seminars
		1.  We use a "Love Bank Model"
			a.  When you do something nice that meets a need in your spouse,
			    you make a deposits into their love bank.  When it is full,
			    you are "in love"
			b.  When you do something irritating, hurtful, etc., you make a
			    withdrawal from their love bank.
			c.  The goal was to stop making withdrawals and to make deposits
		2.  We talked about how this applies to relationships in the church
		3.  Agape moves you to make decision to make deposits & avoid withdrawals
		4.  This makes love (philia) grow and endure
	D.  Remember, loving your brethren is not an option
		1.  Jesus understood the needs of people and met them
		2.  We need to try and understand one another and grow in our love to each other
		3.  Question is, who is going to take first step.  I will


But it is not limited to those you are well aquainted with


II.  To strangers
	A.  Text says “do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers”
	B.  Explanation
		1.  In Grk, first word in this sentence is “hospitality”
			a.  Emphasis
			b.  Lit:  “Hospitality, do not neglect to strangers”
		2.  Interesting observation on word for “Hospitality”
			a.  Etymology  (compound word) - Philo - xenos
			b.  Philia (love)  xenos (stranger)
			c.  Still emphasizing a warm friendly compassionate love here
		3.  So this hospitality (love) is not limited to those we know well, but to strangers
			a.  Human nature to gravitate to those we are closest to & forget all else
			b.  Do NOT NEGLECT strangers
		4.  So what is Hospitality?
			a.  Some speak of "Southern Hospitality"
			b.  Is that what is meant?
			c.  Next statement gives an example
		5.  Some have entertained Angels unaware
			a.  Likely talking about Abraham and Lot
			b.  Now, we could talk about how much more necessary hospitality was then
				-Many more itenerant preachers dependent on brethren
				-Public Inns, when available were filled with gross immorality
				-Travelers customarily dependent on hospitality of the brethren
			c.  Gen. 18:1-8 
				-Went to a lot of trouble for these strangers (not just 
			         necessary things)
			d.  Gen 19:1-3 - Lot insisted they stay with him
		6.  This doesn’t mean you entertain with hopes of doing it for an angel
			a.  This merely hows there can be unexpected benefits in being hospitable
			b.  Better to assume they are angels rather than risk treating someone 
			      worthy unworthily
		7.  But wait, that was then.  YOU CAN’T TRUST JUST ANYONE NOW DAYS
	C.  ILL:  My Dad used to say, when traveling & ever in trouble , call local church of Christ
		1.  Never had to do it until last winter in Syracuse  (they called church number)
		2.  Bill Perkins, and Elder, came out personally and took us to Diner & offered
		    his home
		3.  He wanted us to stay (never the hint we were imposing - we felt bad when left)
		4.   Good Samaritan (Lk 10:29), talk about love of strangers!  Put self at risk
	D.  Phil 4:9-10 - Be hospitable to one another without complaint
		1.  The passage in Hebrews tells us need to also be hospitable to strangers
		2.  We are not talking about Southern Hospitality, but Christian Hospitality
		3.  Christian Hospitality should outshine all else.


III.  To those in Prison and Ill treated
	A.  Text says to specifically “remember them”
	B.  Explanation
		1.  So that means I remember them in my prayer at the table tonight (my duty
		    is done)
			a.  That is not what the text says
			b.  Reasons it says “remember” - Out of sight out of mind
			c.  It is easy to forget about brethren in prison or ill treated ones
		2.  Supposed to remember them as if we were in prison with them
			a.  We are to identity with them as if we were right along there with them
			b.  Requires a deep heart felt sympathy 
			c.  Just like Jesus when we are told he felt COMPASSION for the people
		3.  Notice what they used to do (Heb. 10:32-36)
			a.  Became sharers/fellowshippers of those who were ill treated
			b.  Showed sympathy to the prisoners (means they did more than pray)
			c.  Imagine what others might have thought of them
		4.  Do you know anyone brethren in prison?
	C.  I knew a prisoner in Arkansas
		1.  Man in Arkansas (in Thida).  Elbert Chamblis or “Cowboy”
		2.  His wife was in prison.  I went to visit here very week while she was there	
		3.  We always had a good visit talking about here WBS students
		4.  She wasn’t behind bars, but she was bedridden due to back problems
			-Many eventually forgot about her
			-Too easy to forget the out of sight brethren
	D.  You may not know any brethren behind bars, but you might know of those out of sight
		1.  Don’t let them become out of mind.  Remember them as if your were out of 
		    sight
		2.  May not know any ill treated, but might know someone that is ill
		3.  Confession:  I’m stepping on my own feet.


Concl:
1.  This is not an option. Love is commanded
	a.  To the brethren - Brotherly must endure
	b.  To strangers - Do not neglect Hospitality 
	c.  To those forgotten - Those out of sight

2.  According to church historians several reasons church grew
	a.  Strong conviction of their faith
	b.  Persecutions
	c.  GREATEST:  THEIR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER

3.  This is what Christ intended for us to be