Love
Key Takeaways
Love begins with God's work in you.
The fruit of the Spirit is organic and produced by God, not manufactured by us.
Love is a consequence of being in relationship with Jesus Christ, not just a feeling.
We cannot produce genuine love through behavior modification alone.
Love moves towards the needs of others.
Study Questions
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How does understanding that 'fruit is the organic result of God's grace' rather than something we manufacture change the way you approach spiritual growth and holiness?
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John uses 'to will the good of another' as a definition for love and emphasizes it as an action rather than a feeling. How does this definition challenge or expand your current understanding of what it means to love?
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Considering the three ways people seek love—to be hugged, heard, or helped—how well do you discern which response is needed when someone shares their heart with you, and how might you grow in this area?
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John states a real test of love begins with how we treat those nearest to us—our family and household. How would those closest to you describe the quality and consistency of your love toward them?
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If your life exists to give God joy rather than prove your worth, how does that change what you're striving for this week?
Seeking God’s Face Devotional
In addition to using the devotional Seeking God’s Face for our personal daily discipleship, we invite you to watch a brief video message from Stewart Swain, Pastor of Discipleship, offering encouragement and guidance for this winter week.
This Week’s Liturgy
Call to worship
Psalm 63:3-4
Leader: Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
All: I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
Confession of FAITH | the new city catechism question of the week
New City Catechism Q & A #4
Q: How and why did God create us?
A: God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.
Confession of sin
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Psalm 103:8-12
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
This Week’s Playlist
Looking Ahead
Join us next week as we continue to explore Fruit of the Spirit.