Do a quick study of Luke 10:25-36 and I will see you in the next video:
Journal Time
5. What did you learn from the good Samaritan? Your Challenge for the week: Go and do likewise. |
Worship Element: True Love from Adam Kring on Vimeo.
You are passionately loved by a Father who loves you unconditionally. You do not need to do anything to receive His love and you can not do anything that will change His love for you.
The greatest act of love found in the Bible is that we were created in His image.
The greatest act of love found in the Bible is that we were created in His image.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. ~ Genesis 1:27
As I have been studying about love, the image of fear keeps showing up. I believe that fear gets in the way of us knowing and accepting God's love for us.
We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:16-19
Journal Time
Spend a few minutes wrapped in the warmth of God's love, quiet your heart and listen for the sound of that still small voice.
Spend time writing in your journal about whatever comes to mind from what you learned today.
Spend time writing in your journal about whatever comes to mind from what you learned today.
I would like to introduce Kristy Floyd.
The video is hard to hear for only the first minute, enjoy.
The video is hard to hear for only the first minute, enjoy.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep," if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine" in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep," if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine" in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Journal Time
Take a few minutes to write about your thoughts after watching Kristy's video.
This week we finish the Fruit of Love, which doesn't seem right because I feel like there is so much more to learn!
Over the last three lessons we have learned that God loves us where we are and for who we are. We read in Esther about being created for such a time as this. This is true for each one of us. You need to believe that - down to the very core of your being.
The greatest act of love is that God chose to created us in His image. We are the pinnacle of His creation.
The first mention of love in the Bible is in Genesis 22 when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Issac - the one whom he loves. What an example of love that sets for us to follow. The choice that Abraham had to make, the commitment of his choice.
It has been interesting to see things happening in my life over the past month. Are you noticing it as well? All the opportunities to show love, to have love tested and to learn more about love. Last week at my church we even had a sermon on 1 Corinthians 13- the love chapter of the Bible (I shared it below if you would like to listen). It has been such a God thing to be bathed in His message of love.
Over the last three lessons we have learned that God loves us where we are and for who we are. We read in Esther about being created for such a time as this. This is true for each one of us. You need to believe that - down to the very core of your being.
The greatest act of love is that God chose to created us in His image. We are the pinnacle of His creation.
The first mention of love in the Bible is in Genesis 22 when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Issac - the one whom he loves. What an example of love that sets for us to follow. The choice that Abraham had to make, the commitment of his choice.
It has been interesting to see things happening in my life over the past month. Are you noticing it as well? All the opportunities to show love, to have love tested and to learn more about love. Last week at my church we even had a sermon on 1 Corinthians 13- the love chapter of the Bible (I shared it below if you would like to listen). It has been such a God thing to be bathed in His message of love.
Like we saw in the example of Abraham, there has to be a commitment. We need to be committed to be God's love to those around us, even when it is hard. We need to get past the "nice Christian" mentality and be REAL! Let's be more honest, consistent and expressive with our love.
I don't know about you but I am tried of being scared that I might get hurt, which has happened. But it all leads me to a better place, to be a better person because I have grown. My roots are now deeper because of those experiences.
I don't know about you but I am tried of being scared that I might get hurt, which has happened. But it all leads me to a better place, to be a better person because I have grown. My roots are now deeper because of those experiences.
Through all of my experiences the one thing that stands out is choice. Love is a choice and we actively have to choose it. Throughout the Bible the majority of the verses on Love refer to our choice to love God. It is our choice to love God with our heart, mind and soul. It is a commitment from our whole being to love God.
On my wedding day, my father-in-law shared a few suggestions to the new bride and groom. In his speech he said something that I have never forgotten and that I have shared with many newly married couples and during pre-marital counselling sessions. He said that you may not always like each other but you will always love it other. My analytical mind has enjoyed pondering that statement many times. I have taken it a step further - there are days when it is difficult for me to find something to like in my husband or my children or myself - but each morning I actively choose to love.
On my wedding day, my father-in-law shared a few suggestions to the new bride and groom. In his speech he said something that I have never forgotten and that I have shared with many newly married couples and during pre-marital counselling sessions. He said that you may not always like each other but you will always love it other. My analytical mind has enjoyed pondering that statement many times. I have taken it a step further - there are days when it is difficult for me to find something to like in my husband or my children or myself - but each morning I actively choose to love.
Let's choose to be reckless with our LOVE!
Journal Time
- During the last three weeks how has God shown or demonstrated love to you?
- What might be holding you back from both receiving and giving love?
- Name someone who is hard for you to love. Why is it hard? How do you think God sees this person? What do you need to do to change the way you think?
- During the next week before your feet touch the floor in the morning say a quick prayer that you will choose to love with all your heart, mind and soul each day. - I believe that your life will become richer and fuller. Choose to be reckless.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8