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The Golden Rule
October 1, 2023
1h 06m

The Golden Rule

by Dennis Rouse
Do you want to be more attractive? Most of us don't hesitate to say, "YES!" But even the people we perceive as beautiful can quickly become unattractive through their actions. So, how do we reflect the beauty of Jesus and do what it takes to be spiritually attractive? Pastor Dennis Rouse shares a powerful word based on one of the most familiar but difficult to practice teachings of Jesus, The Golden Rule. Join us as we lean into what it means to be the salt and the light—to treat others as we want to be treated.
Sermon Notes

MATTHEW 5:13-16 NLT
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.”

A TRUE FOLLOWER OF JESUS CANNOT HIDE, THEY CANNOT ESCAPE NOTICE. A PERSON TRULY FUNCTIONING AS A CHRISTIAN WILL STAND OUT!

TO CONCEAL THE LIGHT IS CONTRARY TO WHO GOD CREATED YOU TO BE!

MATTHEW 7:12 NLT
“DO TO OTHERS WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO TO YOU. THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF ALL THAT IS TAUGHT IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”

MATTHEW 7:12 MSG
“HERE IS A SIMPLE, RULE-OF-THUMB GUIDE FOR BEHAVIOR: ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO DO FOR YOU, THEN GRAB THE INITIATIVE AND DO IT FOR THEM. ADD UP GOD’S LAW AND PROPHETS AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.”

WAYS YOU WANT OTHERS TO TREAT YOU

  1. You want others to VALUE you!

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-5 NIV
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility VALUE OTHERS ABOVE YOURSELVES, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

COMPASSION: WILLINGNESS TO FEEL THE PAIN OF OTHERS AND TO SUFFER WITH THEM.

WAYS YOU WANT OTHERS TO TREAT YOU

  1. You want others to VALUE you!
  2. You want others to have MERCY towards you

MATTHEW 5:7 NLT
“GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY.”

LUKE 6:36-37 NKJV
“THEREFORE BE MERCIFUL, JUST AS YOU FATHER ALSO IS MERCIFUL.  JUDGE NOT, AND YOU SHALL NOT BE JUDGED.  CONDEMN NOT, AND YOU SHALL NOT BE CONDEMNED. FORGIVE, AND YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN.”

WAYS YOU WANT OTHERS TO TREAT YOU

  1. You want others to VALUE you!
  2. You want others to have MERCY towards you
  3. You want others to SERVE you

MARK 10:43-45 NKJV
“YET IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU; BUT WHOEVER DESIRES TO BECOME GREAT AMONG YOU SHALL BE YOUR SERVANT. AND WHOEVER OF YOU DESIRES TO BE FIRST SHALL BE SLAVE OF ALL. 

FOR EVEN THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.”

WAYS YOU WANT OTHERS TO TREAT YOU

  1. You want others to VALUE you!
  2. You want others to have MERCY towards you
  3. You want others to SERVE you
  4. You want others to UNDERSTAND YOU

“Love seeks to UNDERSTAND rather than be UNDERSTOOD.” – Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

WAYS YOU WANT OTHERS TO TREAT YOU

  1. You want others to VALUE you!
  2. You want others to have MERCY towards you
  3. You want others to SERVE you
  4. You want others to UNDERSTAND YOU
  5. You want others to FORGIVE YOU

LUKE 23:34 NKJV
“…Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

MATTHEW 6:14-15 NLT
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

MATTHEW 7:12 MSG
“HERE IS A SIMPLE RULE-OF-THUMB GUIDE FOR BEHAVIOR: ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO DO FOR YOU, THEN GRAB THE INITIATIVE AND DO IT FOR THEM.  ADD UP GOD’S LAW AND PROPHETS AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.”

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