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Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 21: LOVE”

WATCH Full Sunday message

(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”

You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)

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LOVE…Where does it come from?

Who invented love?

I’m not referring to the term, but the concept, the expression, the reality that we call “love.”

We don’t take courses to discover love, we somehow inherently sense and know what love is.  We certainly can sense and express what hate is and we speak against it and seek to get rid of it.  Why?  Why do we value love over hate?  Why is it inherent in a society to seek and desire love as an individual or as a culture?

Philosophers opine about it.  Scientists study it.  Psychologists reflect on it.  Individuals seek it.

So for such a concept, wouldn’t it be great if we knew where it came from so we might better understand it, receive it, and put it into practice?

I’m glad you asked.  What always amazes me is what secular society can observe and study and dissect and understand, but yet fail to put the last and most important piece in the puzzle…in this case, “Where does love come from?”

Here’s the answer:

1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

There could be no clearer answer to the question: “Love comes from God.”

This truth unlocks a ton of truth.  No longer do I seek to understand love from merely human understanding or expression, but when I understand the origin of love, I can ask or seek to understand love from the one who created it, gave it, and originated it.

So what truly is love?

…10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

At the heart of love is God’s love for us.  Reflect on these three ways:

1. He sent Jesus

• John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

2. He sacrificed for our sins.

• Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

3. He claimed me as his own.

• 1 John 3:1-2 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Only with the impact of God’s love rolling in our hearts are we poised to love others…more on that tomorrow.

Apply: Which aspect of God’s love for you impacts you the most?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me even when I was unlovable.  Thank you for sacrificing all for me so I could have all with you.  Thank you for calling me your child and welcoming me into your  family of grace.  This is true love!  AMEN

Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 21: LOVE”

WATCH Full Sunday message

(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”

You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)

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What could be so important that you would have to talk about it every day…perhaps a few times a day?  So significant that you would have reminder wall hangings posted in various traffic points of your house?   So impactful that you would want every generation after you to have it?  So significant that it would consume all of your very being from your heart to your mind to your actions?

Here’s the answer:

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

The commands of the Lord.

But it wasn’t just to be a set of rules that you memorize, post or pass on.  That was secondary to the condition of the heart:

“LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Jesus was asked about the commandments and which were the most important…as if to discover if I run out of time to think about them, or have minimal wall space to hang them, or my kids grow up before I have a chance to share all of them…which was the most important?

Here’s the answer: (Mark 12:28-33)

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

But what if even TWO are more than I can remember or post or pass on?

Here’s the answer: Romans 13:8-10

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

LOVE is the fulfillment of the law.

One word: Love.

That’s what God wants us to understand, to post, to pass on…to live.  Take time to listen to Sunday’s message (Link in the header above)…read the rest of this week’s devotions to reflect on God’s love for us and the power to love others.

Apply: What makes it hard for you to love others?  Easy?  Identify the joys and challenges of loving God fully and loving others regularly.  Pray for God’s Spirit to open your heart more fully to God’s love and your hands to more fully share that love.

Prayer: Spirit of God, fill our hearts and minds with the love of God to motivate, empower and equip us to live, post, and pass on the love of God to others.  AMEN.

 

 

 

Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 20: Sharing My Faith”

WATCH Full Sunday message

(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”

You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)

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“I don’t know what to say.”

“They may ask a question I don’t know.”

“I haven’t studied my Bible enough.”

These can all be objections to sharing one’s faith.  Certainly being prepared to answer, being comfortable saying something, and growing in your Bible knowledge are all important to become better at sharing your faith.

But don’t let them be a deterrent.

When Jesus left this earth he had one plan to bring the message of grace and the kingdom of God to people…his disciples.  While he could have had a different plan, he chose people.  But not just any person.  People who saw him and heard him…i.e. had a first-hand experience with him.

It is interesting in one of the last conversations, the disciples wanted the details on when the kingdom of Israel would be restored.  They wanted the precise answer for themselves and perhaps also for others.  It is also possible they didn’t even have a correct understanding of what the kingdom of Israel was going to be.  Many expected the kingdom of Israel to be a physical, earthly kingdom with Jesus at the center of that.

So, Jesus could have said, “Disciples, you need more training before I send you out.”  Or, “Disciples, you need to get clarity on all your doubts and questions before I send you out.”

But he didn’t.

He wasn’t sending out theologians.  He wasn’t sending out master apologists.  He wasn’t sending out individuals who had no doubts or questions.

He was sending out witnesses.

People who had seen and heard Jesus and had a first-hand, personal experience with him.

^{Acts 1:7} He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

So what had they seen and heard?  Luke records:

Acts 1:3 After his suffering, [Jesus] presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 

He assured them he was alive and taught them about reality and power of the Gospel…his kingdom.

The point for us?

Jesus calls us to simply testify/share what we have seen, heard and experienced with the Lord.  We don’t have to know all the passages or even know all the answers.  We just need to realize the impact and difference Jesus has made in our heart.

What promises of God are real for you?

How has the forgiveness and grace of God changed your life?

What does it mean to you to have peace, hope, and love that only God can give?

What difference does it make to you that Jesus has lived, died and rose again for you?

Perhaps you have never thought about your “story” or your “testimony.”  But the power of your story is simply the witness Jesus calls us to be.  Be ready to share your experience with the life and teaching of Jesus and his word of truth.

God will use your witness to bring Jesus to another soul.

Apply:  Think through your story.  1) What was it like before Jesus in your life (or what would it be like with out Jesus in your life)? 2) What changed?  How did God work a change in life, a deeper understanding, or a realization of the impact of having forgiveness in Jesus?  3) What impact does Jesus have for you today?  What difference does he make for you?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for show yourself to us through the power of your Word.  Give us boldness to be your witnesses, ready to share what we have seen and heard and the difference it makes.  AMEN.

Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 20: Sharing My Faith”

WATCH Full Sunday message

(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”

You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)

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Sharing Your Faith –

“I live for my God to teach unbelievers, if I am worthy, even if some people hate me.” St. Patrick.

Today green is the color of the day; shamrock lapels, dreams of rainbows, pots of gold and Irish luck permeate thoughts.

Much of St. Patrick’s Day is a secular celebration of Irish lore and tradition.  But perhaps it’s a good day to let St. Patrick teach or model ways to share our faith.

History has it that Patrick (born Maewyn Succat, but took the name Patrick when he became a priest) was taken as a slave to Ireland when he was 14.  For 6 years he worked as a herdsman until he escaped and convinced merchants sailing to England to let him pass with them and returned to his family.  Shortly after he is to have had a dream of people in Ireland requesting that he would come and bring Christianity to them.

Ireland was a country of druids and pagans.  But Patrick studied for the priesthood and ended up spending nearly 4 centuries bringing Christianity to the Irish.

1. Never underestimate the power of the Gospel. Admittedly I don’t know all of St. Patrick’s theology, but the fact that Christianity took hold in a pagan country is credit to the power of God’s Spirit working through St. Patrick and others.  At times we may be prompted by God’s Spirit to engage a non-believer in a spiritual conversation.  We may resist the engagement.  But remember it is the power of God that works – even in the hearts of pagans and druids!

 ^{Romans 1:16} For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

2. Find simple illustrations to explain the truths of God.

St. Patrick is said to have used the three leaf clover to explain the reality but mystery of the Trinity.  The clover leaf may not have been a perfect example, but obviously it worked to explain the three persons of God, yet the unity of one plant, one person.   Jesus loved to tell stories, or parables, based on life events to explain and help people understand the truths about his love and his kingdom.  Perhaps you can find a story or two of your own or of Jesus that communicates the love, mercy and grace of God to another person.

Perhaps today you will wear green, put a four-leave clover in your hair, and dream about pots of gold at the end of the rainbow…but perhaps take time to thank God for the work of St. Patrick to bring Jesus to the Irish people and to encourage us from a distance to be sharers of our faith.  May God use us to bring Christ to the nations!

Apply: Choose a Bible story or example that you can use to communicate Jesus to people.  Sometimes just one or two key stories or examples can help you better share the love of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all the people of the centuries that you have used to boldly proclaim your love and grace to individuals and to nations.  AMEN.

Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 20: Sharing My Faith”

WATCH Full Sunday message

(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”

You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)

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Everybody has a story.

Years ago there was a program on CBS news entitled, “Everybody has a story.”  Steve Hartman, the reporter, set out to prove that anybody, anywhere, had a story worth knowing and telling.  He would have participants at the end of each episode throw a dart at a map of the United States.  Wherever the dart would land, would be where he would travel to find his next story.  He would find a telephone booth (remember those?) with a telephone book (did we used to use those?) and open it up to a random page and point at a random person and call them up…and he had a story.

I couldn’t wait for the next episode because the story of ordinary people were intriguing and interesting.  The premise has stuck with me for years…”Everybody has a story.”

This premise is a great place to start in thinking about sharing your faith.  Before I get to God’s Story, I need to know what the other person’s story is.

The outline for this way of sharing your faith is this, “Your story; My story; His story.”

YOUR STORY:

This part of the witness method is simply taking an interest (genuine interest) in the other person.  Naturally it starts with the questions about family, kids, life, career, or dreams.  Eventually though, a great question to lob into the middle of the discussion is this, “Would you mind telling me about your spiritual journey?  What has formed the beliefs about faith and God you have today?”

Then listen.  Ask more questions.  You will see a theme arise.  Perhaps that theme centers on feeling alone and God wasn’t there when they thought he should be.  Perhaps it’s a theme that centers on a bad experience with the church and vowing never to set foot back in one.  Perhaps it’s a theme that questions a lot about the Bible, Jesus as Savior and more.  Listen for the theme – each person will be unique, but often have similarities in their underlying themes or stories.

MY STORY:

As you listen to their story, you may hear a thing or two to which you can connect your story.  “I hear you when you mentioned you felt all alone when life was really hard.  To be honest I have felt in a similar way.”

A point of empathetic connection is a powerful way to build creditability and trust.

But you don’t want to end on your story, you want to tell God’s Story.

GOD’S STORY:

Perhaps a transition sounds like this, “When I have felt alone I’m reminded that God has always promised to be with me.  ‘I am with you always to the very end of the age.’  What is so amazing about this is God can and does say, ‘Depart from me!’ to people who turn away from him.  But to those that turn to Jesus and trust him, he says, ‘Never will I leave you.  Never will I forsake you.’”

“God is not a God of abandonment, but a God of love and presence.

“So when I feel alone, I remember this promise and while I want other human connections, I always know that God’s love and presence are real.”

I know this is a bit choppy, but I pray you get the gyst of it:

1. Your story: Get to know the person and their spiritual story.
2. My story: Connect your story to their story and build the bridge to God’s story.
3. His story: Address the theme of their spiritual story with a connection to God’s story and promises.

Have fun experimenting with this.  The great thing about other’s stories is they are real and fascinating.  When you take time to listen, you can hear a connection with your story.  Once you have that trust, you can share a part of your story AND God-willing make the connection to HIS story!

Apply:  What is YOUR story?  We will look at this tomorrow, but in your own words tell your story.  How can you use this to connect that person to HIS story, or invite them to a place that will connect them to God’s story.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the journey of faith we are in.  Please use us and the story we are living to connect people to YOUR story!  AMEN.