~
This is the audio from the July 26, 2026 sermon, “Summer With the Son: Being Perfect!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.
Matthew 5:43-48
“Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)
Being Perfect sounds like an impossible goal, and in fact it is impossible in our own strength. It is only through abiding in God’s love that we can be perfect just as He is perfect. To do that, we need God’s help to become perfect through . . .
-
Learning: Matthew 5:43-44
- Being perfect through learning involves us understanding more accurately what God actually has said through His Word. There are many times in life we “have heard it said”, but that doesn’t mean what we have heard is always accurate or complete. Perfect love is found in Christ and we grow in perfection when we learn how to live with that kind of love.
-
Opportunity: Matthew 5:44-45
- Being perfect involves our being aware of the perfect opportunities to share the love of Jesus with everyone. It can be easy to miss good opportunities simply because we believe incorrectly about who and how we ought to love. The perfect love of Christ in us will always look for and make the most of every opportunity to love others.
-
Value: Matthew 5:46-47
- Being perfect requires that we value all people with the same value that God has created them with. The Bible makes it clear that it was while we were enemies of God in our own mind that Christ died for us because of the great value He considers us to have. Our value to God is not dependent on our goodness or lack of goodness, therefore the value that we credit others with having should always come from who they are as one created by God rather than from how we perceive them. The perfect love of Christ in us will value our self and others with the same value that is derived from God.
-
Example: Matthew 5:48
- Being perfect is made visible to us through the perfect example of God as we seek to “be perfect just as our heavenly Father is perfect.” With the Father exalted as our primary example, we also understand perfect love as we grow in our knowledge of Christ’s love for us. Jesus sets the perfect example, and calls for us to follow His example, as He love without partiality, favoritism, or prejudice. The perfect love of Christ in us will not only follow His example, but will become an example in us to others.
Today, how will you live with perfection that is all about LOVE?
Tom's Treasure 