Colossians 2:2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
LOVE ONE ANOTHER, Jan 21, 2011
Lesson: Love One Another so that Others May Know that We are His Disciples
We, people naturally take pride of owning expensive brand items like Penguin, Hermes, Lacoste, Steffano Ricci, Armani, etc. We take pride in our favorite sports team, universities or even hometowns. We make these things "known" to others by wearing or using stuffs that carry the names of these faves of ours, to the extent, at times, of looking like "walking advertisements."
As Christians, do we ever take pride of being so? How do we let others know that we are faithful followers of Christ?
John 13:34-35 say: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
What makes us different from non-believers? LOVE is the answer.It is the ability to love by the grace we have received through the Christ & by the power of the Holy Spirit. Others will know we are Christians because we are able to LOVE even the unlikable ones.
Ephesians 5:22-32 tells of how husbands ought to love their wives. It is likened to how Christ loves His Church (us).
Sacrificial Love (v25) Christ gave himself up for the church.
Purifying love (v26) He made the church holy, cleansing her with water through the word
Caring love (v29) Christ feeds and cares for His Church.
Love that unites (v 31-32) Christ unites himself with the church.
DISCUSSION/APPLICATION:
1. How can we, as Church/cell group members show sacrificial love? Come on time, prepared. Set aside this special time to meet with God. Pray and spend time alone with God before coming to the cell meeting and ask God that you will be used to bless and minister to others during the group study.
2. What can we do to keep ourselves clean and holy? Do regular devotions. Refrain from activities that may lead you astray. Be accountable to one another. Communicate regularly with your accountability/prayer partner.
3. How can we show that we care for others? Reach out. Minister to others. Become a blessing.
Praise God for the line-up of ministries planned by Sienna for 2011:
Water Baptism and membership processing of new members of our daughter cells
Visit to at least 2 ECC house churches
Visit to a group of cancer patients (kids)
sponsor a student from Villa Corazon
Visit/share a "specialty" (pang-kabuhayan) to the kababaihan of Villa Corazon.
join a medical mission (c/o Chic)
*** May the Good Lord allow us to go through these activities according to His Will. His plan and will still prevail
4. How do we keep ourselves united? LOVE with the love of the Lord. God's love is the only way to keep us together. If we love and see through God's eyes, we will be able to overlook at others' weaknesses. We will have compassion on everyone, knowing that we, ourselves, are nothing without Christ, and it is only by grace that we have been saved.
LET US THEN LOVE ONE ANOTHER WITH THE LOVE OF THE LORD!
(Bible Study facilitated by Elmer- Jan 21, 2011)
Glory be to God!
We, people naturally take pride of owning expensive brand items like Penguin, Hermes, Lacoste, Steffano Ricci, Armani, etc. We take pride in our favorite sports team, universities or even hometowns. We make these things "known" to others by wearing or using stuffs that carry the names of these faves of ours, to the extent, at times, of looking like "walking advertisements."
As Christians, do we ever take pride of being so? How do we let others know that we are faithful followers of Christ?
John 13:34-35 say: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
What makes us different from non-believers? LOVE is the answer.It is the ability to love by the grace we have received through the Christ & by the power of the Holy Spirit. Others will know we are Christians because we are able to LOVE even the unlikable ones.
Ephesians 5:22-32 tells of how husbands ought to love their wives. It is likened to how Christ loves His Church (us).
Sacrificial Love (v25) Christ gave himself up for the church.
Purifying love (v26) He made the church holy, cleansing her with water through the word
Caring love (v29) Christ feeds and cares for His Church.
Love that unites (v 31-32) Christ unites himself with the church.
DISCUSSION/APPLICATION:
1. How can we, as Church/cell group members show sacrificial love? Come on time, prepared. Set aside this special time to meet with God. Pray and spend time alone with God before coming to the cell meeting and ask God that you will be used to bless and minister to others during the group study.
2. What can we do to keep ourselves clean and holy? Do regular devotions. Refrain from activities that may lead you astray. Be accountable to one another. Communicate regularly with your accountability/prayer partner.
3. How can we show that we care for others? Reach out. Minister to others. Become a blessing.
Praise God for the line-up of ministries planned by Sienna for 2011:
Water Baptism and membership processing of new members of our daughter cells
Visit to at least 2 ECC house churches
Visit to a group of cancer patients (kids)
sponsor a student from Villa Corazon
Visit/share a "specialty" (pang-kabuhayan) to the kababaihan of Villa Corazon.
join a medical mission (c/o Chic)
*** May the Good Lord allow us to go through these activities according to His Will. His plan and will still prevail
4. How do we keep ourselves united? LOVE with the love of the Lord. God's love is the only way to keep us together. If we love and see through God's eyes, we will be able to overlook at others' weaknesses. We will have compassion on everyone, knowing that we, ourselves, are nothing without Christ, and it is only by grace that we have been saved.
LET US THEN LOVE ONE ANOTHER WITH THE LOVE OF THE LORD!
(Bible Study facilitated by Elmer- Jan 21, 2011)
Glory be to God!
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