The Church is wherever God’s people are loving.
Love, a topic probably most discussed, preached in churches. Fundamental to God’s relation to us, it’s how he created, formed and established relationship with us. And on that too he saved us, to repair the relationship so that we can be near to him just like to another person, except he is God.
To know what love means is something, and that takes a lifetime. Love gives you good, positive, and uplifting feeling plus an optimistic energy. Love that has been tested gives you even more good, positive, and uplifting feeling with that added optimistic energy of life.
To know God is far fetched. Except that our God is not only not remote (double negative there), he is in fact so close to us that when you reach out to him, you get a reply. The whole of the Bible speaks about God wanting our response because he is calling us. Ring, ring. There are portions of the Bible where we call out to God. But consistently throughout, God is the one initiating, to the point he keeps making it easier for us to access him, reach out, call him.
To know God who is love, that is superlatively amazing. Well, we can’t understand it fully. It’s so consuming you that you want to keep wanting to know what it means.
Here are some discussion questions for your group. You can also do these on your own, and then share your thoughts with others at a later time so the several of you can benefit.
| What evidence in your church that says that love is central to its life? |
| Look back at homilies / sermons / discussions your church has had in the past year, how much are they about love, and how you as a church act out love to those around you? |
| Recall what you have learned from the Bible about love. This might be a verse, or story etc. Try to write down at least 3 very different examples. |
| Recall a real-life story about love that has strongly impressed you. Write a short summary of it as if a letter to a friend. If you are discussing this in a group, share your summary to one or two. If you are doing this questions on your own, consider sending this summary on to someone who might find it helpful and encouraging, |
| Is love selfless? |
| Do you think your church is one where everyone is loving? |
| It is a common question to ask how do we love those we simply cannot get on with. They are either too chatty, always round up any topic to talk about their hobby, can be over enthusiastic as becoming not genuine etc. Perhaps it’s better use of our time to plan how do we engage and show love to those in church we don’t really know. The “plan” should mean we spend less time with those we know very well, and also spare the effort on those we know we cannot get on with, but identify those ‘potential’ and strike up friendship and see how our love can further be challenged to show care to and support them. Collectively as a church, we might then be more loving to each other. |
| Is love costly? |
| We love because God loves us first. In human terms, the fact somebody loves us does not always mean we love them back. How is God’s love different to love between individuals like you and me? |
| Is love fair? |
| Love heals and conquers fears and all. You are calm, your mind stops racing, you are not hurried in your speech, you sleep well, or you sleep. If you relate to this description, share your personal account with others in your group (if you are discussing this in a group). If you are on your own, how about record a short account, on video or audio, about “love conquers all” that relates to you. Then send this on to someone close to you to share your story with them. |
