Introduction: What is "love?" The word carries a multitude of meanings, depending on who is doing the loving, who is being loved, and how the word has come to be used in the culture. The rap artist who sings "I love ya, baby," means something different from the mother who says to her baby "I love you." As Christians, we know we should love everyone. But the love a husband has for her wife must be different than the love he has for his secretary. I love ice-cream, and I love my cat, but I have no desire to eat my cat. I am supposed love Timothy McVeigh, but I don't love him as I do my own children.

Today we are discussing "Brotherly Love." This term is used about 700 times in the Bible, so often that a few denominations have even included "Brethren" in their names. The word is often used interchangeably for believers. All in Christ are truly brothers and sisters. What is brotherly love?

I. It imitates Jesus' love for His disciples (John 13:34).

A. He loved them patiently and faithfully (John 13:1 "to the end).
B. He served them with humility (John 13:14-15). Paul told the Romans to be devoted to one another, and put one another first (Romans 12:9-12).
C. He suffered and died for them.

II. Brotherly love covers a lot of territory (Hebrews 13:1-7).

A. Get to know the brethren you don't know very well.
B. Care for your suffering brethren.
C. Love your spouse with brotherly love.
D. Don't let greed make your love grow cold.
E. Love your church leaders.

III. Brotherly love comes from God (I Thessalonians 4:9-10). It is supernatural. You can't do it unless and until you have really been born again.

Conclusion:

Psalm 133

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

I John 3:16-18.

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

May God fill our hearts and lives with brotherly love. Amen.