Categories: Preparing for Sunday

Simplicity-Week 12

Dear Friends,

There is a lot of pressure to be great in this world. We are told to follow your dreams and pursue our passions. We are encouraged to be your greatest you? What does this even mean?

Does it mean wealth, power, fame?

Sometimes greatness is confused with being famous.

The bible does tell us what greatness is.

The greatest thing in the world is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

This Sunday I will teach on the simplicity of love.

Love is simple, love only gets complicated when we try to find ways around it. We try to get out of loving people that we are angry our hurt by. When we seek to punish and exclude loving becomes complicated. Our minds fill up with rationalizations and our mouths with pious sounding justifications.

Fear can set in and energy is wasted avoiding and excusing a lack of love.

Sunday we will try to bring it back to the basics. I hope you come and listen carefully.

 

Blessings,

Joe

STEPS TO PREPARE

PRAY FOR THE SERVICES AND FOR YOURSELF
AND ME AND THE OTHER TEACHERS.

PRAYERFULLY READ THE SCRIPTURES
AND CONSIDER THE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND A PREACHING SERVICE AND A SMALL GROUP.

INVITE SOMEONE TO COME WITH YOU.

PREPARING FOR SUNDAY: SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Please read and consider the following questions.

 

  1. What is love according to the bible?

agapē

ag-ah’-pay

From G25; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.

 

 

 

  1. Why do we change the definition so much?

 

 

 

 

  1. What can hinder or block love in our hearts?

 

 

 

  1. How can you increase your love so you can love anyone?

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

 

 

 

  1. Why does your ability to love matter?

Matthew 22:36-28 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”37 And He said to him, ” ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38  “This is the great and foremost commandment.

Matthew 22:39-40 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 

Joe Martin

Senior Pastor - Click Here for full profile