“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep." John 21:15-17
Jesus asks us to feed and care for His Church, His Bride.
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
This is how we are to love Jesus's Bride -- the Church we are part of.
"25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body." Ephesians 5:25-30
"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19
HOW TO CARE FOR THE CHURCH:
1. Spend Time with Her:
We need to be there. We need to be there on Sunday mornings. We need to be present with the church.
"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”" Matthew 18:20
Get together and encourage each other.
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7
2. Offer Words of Comfort:
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
Our speech has power. Gossip and grumbling will destroy a church. Gather together in love. Don't take offense. Don't leave just because someone hurts your feelings. Work it out. We're family.
"If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthian 13:1-3
Love each other! Show patience and kindness always.
3. Invest ourselves in this relationship:
Participate. Ask what is needed. Take initiative. Show interest. Give your time, effort labor. Be there. It is Your church. Three times Jesus asked Peter -- do you love Me? If so, take care of my people.
"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:14
Be involved now. Jesus asks us too to take care of His church.
4. Make sure it grows:
What do sheep give? Wool and more sheep. Grow the flock. Draw more people with the church.
"44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Act 2:44-47
When we take care of each other and those in need we will grow. Constant sharing, constant giving; Trace the word LOVE in other people's hands.
"23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." John 14:23
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34
Jesus loved without expectation. Jesus loves everyone. We love by taking care of each other. Jesus asks us to take care of His Bride. Please feed His sheep.