Hinckley EFC

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Sermons preached at the Hinckley Evangelical Free Church (Hinckley, MN)

Episodes

Monday Oct 16, 2017

Monday Oct 16, 2017

Loving Well: Physical Touch

Various Texts

Acts of Service

Doing something for your someone that you know they would like
- “Actions speak louder than words.”

Physical Touch

An expression of love that is felt physically by the beloved
- Though this does not always necessitate physical contact

God as the Lover

In the Bible, God’s presence is described as being spirit (John 4:24)
- Thus, indicating that He does not have a physical form
- And yet, God is speaking of touching people (1 Sam. 10:26)
In His incarnation, Jesus often touched people as a means of expressing love
- Healing the sick (Matt. 8:2-3)
- Blessing the children (Mark 10:14-16)
Feeling the Holy Spirit’s presence
- The physical and/or emotional sensation of God touching you
  - Like a warm embrace

Our Love for God

How do we reciprocate this kind of love to God?
Engaging our bodies as we worship
- Raising hands, kneeling, laying prostrate
Engaging our emotions as we worship
- Crying tears of joy or contrition
This is not a call to disengage our minds (1 Cor. 14:15)
- But rather to give God all of us (Luke 10:27a)

Loving One Another

We can show each other love through physical touch in ways that are appropriate, as determined by our relationships
With our friends: handshakes, hugs, high-fives
With our kids: hugs, kisses, cuddles, wrestling, etc.
Within marriage: hugs, handle-holding, back rubs, sexual intimacy
In the Church
- Greeting with handshakes and hugs (2 Cor. 13:12; see also Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 1 Pet. 5:14)
- Praying with the laying on of hands & anointing with oil (Jas. 5:14)

Loving Our Community

Boundaries of Love

Physical touch, like all expressions of love, must be delivered in ways that are relationally appropriate
And in ways with which the beloved is comfortable
- Respecting their boundaries