Many people in church today are way more hung up on earning God’s love than they realize. There was a family who adopted a little girl. The first Sunday at church the little girl was checked into kids church. She acted terrified as she began to realize her mom was going to leave her there. In tears, she asked her new mom if she could please wear her necklace to help her feel better. The mom was reluctant, but realized it would calm the little girl.
Later that day she asked her why the little girl wanted the necklace. She told her she knew that her mom loved the necklace and believed if she could keep it she could know her mom would come back for it. The little girl wasn’t convinced of her mom’s love for her and it drove her to find her confidence in something else. Our works are like that necklace. We feel it is earning something for us simply because we don’t understand our value.
God doesn’t love us because we’re valuable. We are valuable because God loves us.
Even though we grow in our love for the Lord, The Kingdom of God is built on something much stronger than your ability to love God.
The Kingdom of God is built on the King’s love for you!
2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself. NAS
Thanksgiving is coming soon. Many people will celebrate with a meal eating turkey. Afterward the bones will be thrown away.
2 Kings 13:20-21 Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. NIV
We see something of the nature of God here. God uses the things that the world just throws away!
We see the same principle in the feeding the 5,000 with only five loaves and two fish.
Jesus is the Master at doing more than we thought He could with less than we thought He needed.
Something interesting happened after this miracle took place. If you’re not careful, you’ll miss it.
John 6:12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." (NIV)
Barley was poor man’s bread. It really wasn’t desired bread in the first place. Now pieces are left over that were probably stepped on, in the dirt and thrown aside.
Jesus says, “Let nothing be wasted.”
God never wastes a single hurt or disappointment.
On the night before Jesus gives His life for us, He prays this prayer asking that the very love that God loved Jesus with would actually be in us.
John 17:26 I have made Your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them [overwhelming their heart], and I [may be] in them.” Amplified
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
God’s love in you by searching for ways to offer random acts of kindness to others every day this week.
Discussion Guide for Community Leaders
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: We are growing in the understanding that our weakness is not what keeps us from the purposes of God. Our weakness is what drives us into deeper reliance upon Him.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. NIV
We want to start our group meetings making room for conversation that brings confirmation that God is speaking to us all as we discuss what we are hearing from the Lord as a family:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
2. Does a baby love a parent? As you grow older and have your own children what happens in your heart toward your parents?
3. In what ways has your relationship with God grown over the past few years?
Even though we grow in our love for the Lord, The Kingdom of God is built on something much stronger than your ability to love God.
The Kingdom of God is built on the King’s love for you!
2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself. NAS
Jesus death on the cross is God’s unbreakable covenant with himself. We are invited into God’s covenant of love where we discover complete and total acceptance because of Jesus Christ.
John 6:12-13 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the barley loaves left over... (NIV)
Barley bread was poor man’s bread. It really wasn’t desired bread in the first place. Now pieces are left over, prob stepped on, in the dirt and thrown aside.
Jesus says, “Let nothing be wasted.”
God never wastes a single hurt as his love shows up in our hearts and our lives.
On the night before Jesus gives His life for us, He prays this prayer asking that the very love that God loved Jesus with would be in us.
John 17:26 I have made Your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them [overwhelming their heart], and I [may be] in them.” Amplified
Our action point this week is how we bring GOD’S PRESENCE TO REAL LIFE.
It’s never what we don’t have that holds us back. It’s not using well what we do have.
Changing someone else’s life begins by changing yours. What lifestyle change can you make this week to free up margin to make some kind of difference with your time, money, kindness, etc?
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
4. Share the names of people you expect to encounter this week that will be those you will bring these random acts of kindness to and then pray for these people by name.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Discover God’s love in you by searching for ways to offer random acts of kindness to others every day this week