Tina Turner’s successful song, What’s Love Got To Do With It? debuted in 1993. Jesus answers that question as He washes the Disciples’ feet and shares the Passover meal with them as recorded in John 13. His demonstration of love that night shows that when it comes to fully following after Him...love has everything to do with it! Jesus demonstrated a type of love that evening that would identify His followers and impact the world. Then He said, Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." John 13:34-35 (The Message). Such a command is intimidating to me! I know I cannot love like He loves without His love continually filling my life!
As I reflect on yesterday morning’s message, a few questions come to mind that I believe will be helpful as we seek to live out the command to meet needs with love.
1. We learned yesterday that loving sincerely or loving without hypocrisy matters when it comes to serving like Jesus in ministry. Jesus goes to great lengths to demonstrate the importance of tangibly loving each other through acts of service. What are some wrong motives for serving God and others in ministry? What are some right reasons to serve? Why do you think Jesus put such an emphasis on this?
2. Jesus is an amazing example of humbly serving God and others. His humility was born out of a secure identity...He knew His origin, His purpose, and His destiny. What are some things that will keep us from developing a secure identity as a child of God and follower of Christ? What are some ways to grow more secure in who we are in Christ? ...Some helpful Scriptures to ponder & discuss...Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 10:3-6; 2 Tim. 1:5-7
3. The word sacrifice in our culture is about as popular as the word submission! Yet, Jesus is clear that to love like He loves will require sacrifice. But Jesus is quick to point out that “blessing” accompanies the one who is willing to demonstrate sacrificial love (Jn. 13:17). Describe a time in your life when you sacrificed something in order to loving serve God and others (e.g., could have been money, time, possessions, energy, your rights, convenience etc). What did God do in your life as a result of your sacrificial love?
As we march toward Easter, we are given an opportunity to sacrifice in prayer and financially here at Albany First Assembly. Our One Day To Feed The World (ODTFTW) offering we will receive during our three Easter outreach services (see our website for details, http://www.albanyfirstassembly.org/) is an opportunity to partner with Convoy of Hope by setting aside one day’s wage to give away to feed needy and forgotten people in places like El Salvador, Haiti, the Philippines, and Japan. Such an offering will require sacrifice. Also, I am asking that we as a church family fast and pray this week for family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors and those in our community to experience the radical love of Jesus. This too, requires sacrifice; however, I can’t help but think how deeply rewarding our sacrifice will be. I believe these are sacrifices worth making because people’s temporary and eternal needs are near to God’s heart.
Have a great Monday!
Pastor Frank
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