SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 SERMON NOTES

A Disciple…Loves

Matthew 22:34-40

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

What Does the Bible Say about Love? 

• God's Love is Redemptive (John 3:16; Romans 5:8)

• God's Love is Secure (Romans 8:39)

• Our Love is Personal (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

• Our Love is Noticeable (John 13:35)   

I. Asking Questions is Appropriate (Matthew 22:34-36)

Jesus...
1. Do I Really Know You?
2. Am I Growing in You? 
3. Are You Pleased with My Walk with You? 
4. Is Our Church on the Right Path? 
5. Are We Living by Faith or by Sight? 

II. Loving God is Personal (Matthew 22:37-38)
1. Loving God is Based on a Relationship
2. Loving God is about Obedience
3. Loving God is Deepened by Repentance 

III. Loving People is Commanded (Matthew 22:39-40) 
1. I Love You
2. I Was Wrong
3. I Am Sorry
4. Please Forgive Me
5. Pray For Me
6. I Need Help 

Questions to Students: Do you love yourself? How can you embrace sacrificial love and resist selfish love?  

How Do You and I Love Other People as Jesus Commands and Models? 

1. Pray
2. Know
3. Build
4. Share
5. Disciple

SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 STUDY GUIDE

A Disciple…Loves

Matthew 22:36-40

The word "love" is used in many different ways. We love sports, chocolate, animals, people, and Jesus. In English, we use one word for love. In biblical times, God's people used several Greek words for love: agape (sacrificial love), phileo (brotherly love), and eros (romantic love). 

Here's the challenge: Our love for Jesus and other people must be different from our love for food, sports, or animals. 

Open your Bibles and read the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40). These two sections of Scripture teach disciples what to believe and how to behave. As you study God's Word this week, here are two questions for you to consider. 

• Do I love the Lord as He expects?

• Do I love other people as He commands? 

What does the Bible say about love? Take the time to read and discuss the following Bible verses about love: John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:39; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; and John 13:35. What words would you use to describe love from those verses? 

What biblical insights do we receive from the Great Commandment? 

1. Asking Questions is Appropriate (Matthew 22:34-36). Asking questions is necessary in life. A lawyer asked Jesus a direct question. He wanted to know what was the greatest commandment in the Law. The question aimed to back Jesus into a corner. As we'd expect, Jesus gave a profound answer. His answer was about love. What questions are you asking Jesus? Share your answers.             

2. Loving God is Personal (Matthew 22:37-38). What do you know about God? God's not distant; He's personal. Jesus talked about "your God." As God loves you, you're to love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Loving God that way causes your life to look vastly different from most people. How are you loving God as Jesus described? Allow God to use your testimony.        

3. Loving People is Commanded (Matthew 22:39-40). Is it easy or hard to love people? Jesus talked about loving your neighbor as yourself. We must embrace sacrificial love and resist selfish love. Loving people requires toughness, truth, and tenacity. Take a few minutes and answer the following two questions: (1) Do you love yourself? (2) How are you loving other people? Take off any masks.  

How do we love other people as Jesus commands and models? In your group, discuss the following five words. How do these behaviors help us love other people?               

1. Pray

2. Know

3. Build

4. Share

5. Disciple

One way that we can love people is to pray for them. Here are five ways we can pray for other people. Pray these five requests in your group. 

• Lost people

• Family members

• Church leaders

• Wayward believers

• Troubled people

As we end this week's study, please rejoice in this truth. God loves you! He loves you so much that He gave His only Begotten Son for you. Jesus died on an old rugged cross for your sins. He was buried in a tomb. However, on the third day, the tomb was empty. Jesus defeated death and the grave. He is alive! 

He wants a personal relationship with you. If you don't know Him personally, please talk with someone in your group or contact us at info@fbct.org. We'd love to help you know the Lord and His forgiveness. 

We're praying for you! 

Grace and Peace!  

View all of the "Disciple" Sermon Series Study Guides at fbct.org/disciple.

FALL GROWTH GROUPS

WEDNESDAY NIGHT GROWTH GROUPS

6:00-7:15pm  |  Cost: $10

GROWTH GROUPS

• Daring Joy (Women’s Study): Tabitha Dowdy Original Fellowship Hall (Mark Briggs’ Classroom)

  In this 7-session Bible study, Nicole Zasowski draws from her experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist to point you to the enduring joy Jesus promises. Through the examples of six women in the Bible who model both the vulnerability of joy and the power of celebration, you’ll see that God longs for you to embrace abundant joy! Don’t miss out on your beautiful, God-given life because you’re busy preparing for the worst.

• Full Circle Parenting: Travis and Licia Massa - Room 2230 FH

  Parenting isn’t for wimps. It’s not just the routines, schedules, discipline, and heartaches—it’s the hard conversations. Using the 3 Circles gospel tool (God’s design; brokenness; gospel), Jimmy and Kristin Scroggins will give you a “conversation map” to work through any tough conversations you have with your children, and will show you how it works with topics such as gender, sexuality, and marriage, technology, alcohol and substance abuse, bitterness, forgiveness, and restoration, and friendship and mean kids.

• Character Still Counts: Mike Madewell - Room 2234 FH

  In a world of social media snapshots and cable news sound bites, we’re often more concerned with our outer image than we are with our inner make up. But in the end, integrity trumps image. You can look good on the outside without being good on the inside. If you long to commit yourself to what matters most—the content of your character—join bestselling author James Merritt as he explores 13 overlooked traits that form the bedrock of a godly life and a good society. Along the way, you’ll encounter surprising role models—flawed people who failed spectacularly, overcame adversity, and went on to live lives worth imitating. In a world that has abandoned the virtues and values that matter, this book offers a clarion call to return to a simple message: Character still counts. It always has, and it always will.

• The Man Journey (ReUp Men’s Study): Ron Pendergrass - The Loft

  The Man Journey is a 12-week focus on discovering the answer to the vital questions… What Is A Biblical Man? The Man Journey will take you on a discovery of the three truths of a Biblical man and gain a clear definition of biblical masculinity. The Man Journey is a weekly experience where you discover the essentials of biblical manhood taught through video teaching, digital or printed content, and grow discussions that build authentic community.

Learn more at fbct.org/growthgroups.

NIGHT OF PRAYER AND PRAISE

OCTOBER 5 | 5-7PM

Join us on Sunday, October 5 from 5-7pm in the Grace Worship Center for a Night of Prayer and Praise!

2025-26 MOM LIFE

TUESDAY GROUP

Mom Life FBCT meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:00-8:00pm through May in the Fellowship Hall, 2nd Floor Hope Building. Registration/Tuition is $50.00.  Please note that there is no childcare available for the Tuesday Group. Learn more and register at fbct.org/momlife.

MOM LIFE (FRIDAY GROUP) REGISTRATION 2025-26

MomLife FBCT will meet one Friday a month from 9:00am-11:30am. We will begin on Friday, August 29th and meet through May in the Student Space, 3rd Floor Hope Building.  Registration/Tuition is $90.00.  Please note that childcare availability is limited for the Friday Group. Learn more and register at fbct.org/momlife.

FIRST STEPS CLASS

UPCOMING CLASS: SEPTEMBER 21, 2025, 12-2pm

LOCATION: hope BUILDING, original fellowship hall

Our First Steps class is designed for new members and guests. We invite you to join our Senior Pastor, Dr. Ronny Raines, and our ministry team for our next membership class. We'll treat you to a delicious lunch and then help you discover how God wants to use you at First Baptist Church. As you attend the class, we'll cover the following subjects:

• A personal relationship with Jesus Christ

• Meaning of church membership

• Biblical baptism

• The Lord's Supper

• The church's beliefs and vision

• Opportunities to give

• Ways to serve in the church

• Ministries at First Baptist Church 

• Meet our ministry team

• Time for Q&A

• Tour our church facilities

We hope you'll join us for our next First Steps class. You can register by filling out the online form HERE or contacting Dana in the pastor's office at 931.245.0000 or dana.abee@fbct.org.

FIRST BAPTIST MUSIC

Check out all of the First Baptist Worship Team videos from our online worship services at fbct.org/music.

THE VOICE - MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Stay up to date with all that is going with our monthly newsletter, the Voice! Visit fbct.org/voice!

MEMBERSHIP AND GIVING TOOLS

Fellowship, Worship and Discipleship are fundamental to an obedient life in Christ. First Baptist Church maintains several tools to help us stay connected, share and offer the sacrifice of praise, and grow together. Scroll to the bottom of the home page at fbct.org and click on "app" to see options for adding these tools to your phone or other device. You can use these tools to stay connected to your discipleship group, contact the church, watch past worship services and sermons, as well as support the FBC financially as the Lord directs for you and your family. There are even instructions for how to access these tools using your web browser.

Using these apps, updating your profile information to share with the church is easy. When changes occur in your family life such as a move to a new home, change in email address, etc. you can update your information to be sure that our communication with you is efficient. You can even add a picture to make it easier for your church family to put a name with a face!

Information about any groups that might be of interest to you, such as Connect Groups, teams, committees, etc will be available as well.  Group Leaders can use the tools to take attendance online and access other features.  You can contact the church through the app, read messages from group members/leaders and browse the church directory.

Check out fbct.org/app  for instructions on how to get the app and reach the membership and giving website.

LOVE the time of worship through song today? You can follow us on Spotify and listen to our playlist each week! Follow us on Spotify “First Clarksville” and sing along!