by Admin on September 2, 2010
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:24-32
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26″In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com
Reflection Questions
In our text for today the Apostle Paul is illustrating the types of behaviors that should be reflected in the new Christian community at Ephesus. In each of these areas we find Paul mirroring what God had said to the Israelites thousands of years ago and what Jesus also shared in his teaching. Treat others as God has treated you. As you grow in your love for God, your love for others should grow as well.
- In these seven verses Paul provides instructions to the believers at Ephesus which were meant to restrict their behaviors as well as prescribe certain behaviors for them. Take a few minutes to write down all of these instructions. In which of these areas do you find yourself struggling today?
- According to what you have just written down, in what area do you need to grow in your ability to love others?
Weekly Prayer
God, we confess to you that we sometimes find it easier to love you than we do our neighbor. We struggle with forgiveness. We wrestle with letting go. We forget that grace received should always lead to grace shared. Forgive us, God, for this sin and inspire us to see our neighbor through your eyes. Thank you, God, for loving each of us in spite of these, our sins. Help us to love like you love. AMEN.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
by Admin on September 1, 2010
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:43-47
43″You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com
Reflection Questions
By the time we reach these short verses in Jesus’ sermon, we may be tempted to believe that Jesus has not only lost touch with reality but is directing us to live in a foolish and dangerous way. When we remember that Jesus himself not only had enemies but that they ultimately condemned him to his death, we are reminded that he took these words very seriously in his own life.
- Is there someone in your life with whom you find yourself in some sort of conflict?
- If anyone with whom you are in conflict with now or in your past comes to your mind, Jesus provides a specific prescription for addressing what may be a nagging concern for you. He says to pray for those who persecute you. What do you think would happen if you took Jesus’ words to heart today?
Weekly Prayer
God, we confess to you that we sometimes find it easier to love you than we do our neighbor. We struggle with forgiveness. We wrestle with letting go. We forget that grace received should always lead to grace shared. Forgive us, God, for this sin and inspire us to see our neighbor through your eyes. Thank you, God, for loving each of us in spite of these, our sins. Help us to love like you love. AMEN.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
by Admin on August 31, 2010
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:21-24
21″You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother[b]will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,[c]‘ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23″Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com
Reflection Questions
Matthew chapter five is the first of three chapters dedicated to what is commonly referred to as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In this section we find Jesus reinterpreting the law originally given to the Israelite people. Consistently, Jesus teaches that our outward expression is a reflection of our inward intention.
- In these verses Jesus addresses our inward intention by talking about anger. Do you think anger is always bad? Do you think we can make a distinction between anger that seeks to protect others and anger that seeks to cause harm to others?
- Jesus says to leave your offering at the altar if there is a brother who has something against you. How do you think God feels about our conflict with others? Why would Jesus recommend that reconciliation with a brother needs to precede reconciliation with God?
Weekly Prayer
God, we confess to you that we sometimes find it easier to love you than we do our neighbor. We struggle with forgiveness. We wrestle with letting go. We forget that grace received should always lead to grace shared. Forgive us, God, for this sin and inspire us to see our neighbor through your eyes. Thank you, God, for loving each of us in spite of these, our sins. Help us to love like you love. AMEN.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
by Admin on August 30, 2010
Scripture Reading: Leviticus 19:33-34; 25:35-42
33 ” ‘When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
35 ” ‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. 36 Do not take interest of any kind [a] from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. 37 You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit. 38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.
39 ” ‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. 40 He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then he and his children are to be released, and he will go back to his own clan and to the property of his forefathers. 42 Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. 43 Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.
Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com
Reflection Questions
The first five books of the Bible, also known as the Torah, record the origin of the Israelite people. Leviticus contains the law given to the descendants of Abraham following their rescue from Egypt and during their resettlement into the Promised Land. These detailed instructions were meant to shape the life of Israel around their relationship with God and their calling to be a witness to other nations.
- Why do you think God directed the Israelites to care for outsiders and the poor among them in this way? In what way do acts of compassion connect with our respect for God?
- Throughout Leviticus we find God reminding Israel that they had been rescued from slavery. In this section God essentially says “treat others as I have treated you.” Do you believe that remembering who you once were helps you in learning to love others? In what way?
Weekly Prayer
God, we confess to you that we sometimes find it easier to love you than we do our neighbor. We struggle with forgiveness. We wrestle with letting go. We forget that grace received should always lead to grace shared. Forgive us, God, for this sin and inspire us to see our neighbor through your eyes. Thank you, God, for loving each of us in spite of these, our sins. Help us to love like you love. AMEN.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
by Admin on August 29, 2010
Introduction to this Week’s Reading
Our church exists to “make disciples of Jesus Christ who will love God, love others and serve the world.” The first two words of that phrase really define for us what the church is all about, making disciples. The second part paints for us a picture of what a disciple looks like. A disciple is someone who loves God, loves others and serves the world. In our GPS readings last week we looked at five scriptures which focused on loving God. This week we are looking at what the Bible says about loving others.
When Jesus was asked to identify the single greatest commandment, he actually provided two answers — loving God and loving others. As you read through these scriptures this week, wrestle with the deep connection that exists between these two commandments. According to the Bible, we cannot do one without the other. If you want to grow in your love for God, it will always require you to grow in your love for your neighbor.
God, we confess to you that we sometimes find it easier to love you than we do our neighbor. We struggle with forgiveness. We wrestle with letting go. We forget that grace received should always lead to grace shared. Forgive us, God, for this sin and inspire us to see our neighbor through your eyes. Thank you, God, for loving each of us in spite of these, our sins. Help us to love like you love. AMEN.
Scripture Reading: I John 4:7-12
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[b] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[c] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com
Reflection Questions
In our GPS readings last week we looked at the core value of our faith which is defined by Jesus in the 22nd chapter of Matthew. When asked to identify the greatest commandment, Jesus pointed towards love as the primary practice of our faith. In John’s first letter he contends that our knowledge of God is directly connected to our practice of loving God and others.
- John goes beyond simply saying that God thinks love is a good idea. He says that God is love. Love is not God’s recommendation; it’s central to God’s character. Why might John think it’s important for us to see God in this way?
- According to verse 12, how does our practice of loving others affect our own heart and life? How would you describe the benefit that love has created in your life?
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.