A Good Word Strives for Perfect Love

INTRODUCTION
                   (Use 1-minute “Advice from Children: Embrace Love” Video)
Caucasian boy:  There’s a lot of violence in the world right now.
African American boy:  I just see people shooting and car wrecks that sometimes were                     done on purpose.
Off-screen adult male:  What do you think the power of God could do in our world?
African American boy:  Change some of the people’s minds and how they act.
Caucasian girl 1:  We need to love our neighbors and love our enemies.
Caucasian boy:  We’ve been talking about Martin Luther King, Jr., and he inspired me to stand up for other people and to stand up for peace.
African American boy:  You should be kind, like, always.
Caucasian boy:  If we try and work together and make everyone’s rights equal, then maybe life will be fair.
Caucasian girl 2:  What would a Christian be without love, and what would you do with that love?  I think you should share it with others.
African American boy:  Make peace in the world and love each other.  That’s what I think.
Ending caption:  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. –Romans 12:211
 
                All through this month of August, we’ve been exploring Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, chapter 5.  We’ve been looking to Jesus’ famous speech for wisdom about what a good word is and does.  So far, we’ve heard that a good word begins with a blessing, a good word glorifies God, and a good word avoids anger, insults, and oaths.  Each week, Jesus’ expectations of a good word have gotten a little harder, and, after church last Sunday, some of you told me that you were feeling it.  But Jesus isn’t done with us yet.  In today’s verses, Jesus challenges us even more.  So, I invite you to consider how a good word strives for perfect love.

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