NO EXCUSES - Doers love God -
Scripture
James 1:22 | But do not just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
Mark 12:30-31 | 30And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. 31The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”
1 John 4:7-21 | 7Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
13And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19We love each other because he loved us first.
20If someone says, I love God, but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
Mark 12:30-31 | 30And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. 31The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”
1 John 4:7-21 | 7Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
13And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19We love each other because he loved us first.
20If someone says, I love God, but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
Discussion
- According to the Bible, what are some things followers of Jesus should be doing? Do you do these things? Why or why not?
- Today the Bible reading helps us focus on two of the most important commands for Jesus followers. What are they?
- How does (or does not) your life reflect a love for God? Looking at how you spend your time and money and what you talk about the most, what would you say others say you love the most?
- How does (or does not your life) reflect a love for others? Who is hard for you to love?
- How does hate or dislike for others get in the way of showing them Jesus? How does it keep you from being who God called you to be?
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2021
January
NAMES OF JESUS: Light of the worldNAMES OF JESUS: KingESSENTIALS: Salvation motivates growthESSENTIALS: Crave Spiritual Food Pt. 1ESSENTIALS: Crave Spiritual Food Pt. 2ESSENTIALS: To live GodlyESSENTIALS: One who loves wisdomESSENTIALS: Not worldly philosophiesESSENTIALS: So your ready to shareBIBLE: Inspired(Authored) by GodBIBLE: Is Inerrant (Free from Error)BIBLE: Is Infallible (will not fail)BIBLE: Helps me growBIBLE: Is Authoritative Pt 1BIBLE: Is Authoritative Pt. 2BIBLE: Obeyed through actionGOD: The trinity (3 in 1)GOD: Is perfectGOD: Is loveGOD: Is creatorGOD: Is all powerfulGOD: Is all knowingGOD: Always presentGOD: JESUS - is GodGOD: JESUS - Son of GodGOD: JESUS - Operates in unity with trinityGOD: JESUS - Is sinlessGOD: JESUS - Our advocateGOD: JESUS - SalvationGOD: JESUS - Our exampleGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Operates in unity with trinity
February
GOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Given to Jesus followersGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Our helperGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - ConvictsGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Guides righteousnessGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Helps us growGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Works through usHEAVEN & HELL - What is heaven like?HEAVEN & HELL - Who goes to heaven?HEAVEN & HELL - What is hell like?HEAVEN & HELL - What is hell like?HEAVEN & HELL - God is the judgeHEAVEN & HELL - Your choice!HEAVEN & HELL - God wants all to be saved!SATAN - His origin - Pt. 1SATAN - His origin - Pt. 2SATAN - Is craftySATAN - How he works (unbelievers)SATAN - How he works (believers)SATAN - Resisting himSATAN - The end of his storyMAN - Created in God's ImageMAN - Entrusted with God's creationMAN - Handcrafted by GodMAN - Loved by GodMAN - Created with a purposeMAN - Created to live for GodMAN - God's MessangersSIN - What is sin?
March
SIN - Where does sin come from?SIN - Everyone sinsSIN - Results in deathSIN - Points us to our need for JesusSIN - The desire for sin and right wars within usSIN - Your Desire > Satan's Temptation > Sin or Escape?SALVATION - God's giftSALVATION - Not deserved or earnedSALVATION - Through faithSALVATION - Only through JesusSALVATION - Through the crossSALVATION - Fully & forever forgivenSALVATION - Faith changes how you liveCHURCH - Is those who follow JesusCHURCH - Meets togetherCHURCH - Loves one anotherCHURCH - Supports one anotherCHURCH - Serves one anotherCHURCH - Proclaims JesusCHURCH - You are the churchLIFE - Foretold and Jesus follwedLIFE - Proclaimed good news to the poorLIFE - Taught in parablesLIFE - Jesus' teaching fell on deaf earsLIFE - MiraclesLIFE - Hated and RejectedLIFE - The only saviorDEATH - The promised savior on a donkeyDEATH - The promised savior\'s betrayalDEATH - The promised savior\'s silenceDEATH - The Savior mocked
April
DEATH - Crucified with sinnersDEATH - Pierced but not brokenDEATH - Buried with the richRESURRECTION - He is alive!RESURRECTION - Bore our sinRESURRECTION - AscendedRESURRECTION - Sits at the right hand of GodRESURRECTION - Gave his SpiritRESURRECTION - Left his followers giftsRESURRECTION - Will Return