O Holy Night: “Truly He Taught Us to Love One Another”, John 13.34-35
We are called to love one another just as Jesus has loved us, and by doing so all will know that we are his disciples.
Our Focus Today
True love is not rooted in our love for God, but his love for us, and the sending of his Son for us as our atoning sacrifice (1 John 4.10).
Invocation
The nature of true love is not displayed in our love for God. True love is anchored in God’s love for us, demonstrated in Jesus’ death as an atoning sacrifice. Thank you for your deep, lasting, and defining love for all people, shown in Christ. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Saturday: Jer. 39.11-18; 40.1-6; 52.12-27; 2 Kings 25.8-21; 2 Chron. 36.15-21
True love is not rooted in our love for God, but his love for us, and the sending of his Son for us as our atoning sacrifice (1 John 4.10).
Reflection
How do we best describe the true nature of the love of God? Is it rooted in our love and commitment to God, our willingness to pursue and know him? No. True love is not our love for God but revealed in his love for us in making Jesus the atoning sacrifice for our sins. The Father’s love through Christ is the truest revelation of the deepest meaning of real love.
Benediction
Dear Father, the gift of sending your Son for the salvation of the world is the final and sufficient proof of what true love really means. Thank you for that revelation; now, in light of it, show us what it means to have a thriving, full relationship with you, one informed and empowered by that love. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Scripture Memory
Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Book Reading and Reflection
“One day, worshipper, you and I will be a part of that great multitude, that choir from all the nations. No one really knows what kind of choir it will be—contemporary, classical, traditional, or gospel—but it won’t matter. And even if you couldn’t carry a tune on earth, or didn’t have a lick of musical talent, it won’t matter. You and I and all who love Christ will be qualified to join the eternal chorus, and together our voices will sound across the universe, in one unified statement: “We love Jesus; He is worthy to be praised!” Then, with Him, we will celebrate the consummation of the plan of the ages—Christ’s eternal plan to dwell with those He loves. And he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Rev. 7.15-17, NIV)
~ Vernon Whaley, Called to Worship: The Biblical Foundations of Our Response to God’s Call. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2009.
Let God Arise! Focus
Amazing Grace: “Grace Will Lead Me Home”, Revelation 21.1-8
Our Church Calendar (link to Connect App coming soon)