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Christlife Posture: Loving Like Jesus

Topic: Looking to God for help in loving others

 

Suggested Approach: Choose 1 thing from each of the three boxes

OR Choose 1 from Media or Reflection + 1 from Scripture 

Media Excursions       (Watch/read/listen and be ready to discuss Q's)

Photographs

  • The 8 images of Tilting with Giants (Dayton Castleman) shows different views of this art installation in a Presbyterian church in Philadelphia. You can read about the symbolism here. How are these images representative of our need to rely on the Spirit as we love in His name?

  • Look beyond the horizon (Gor Chahal) Use this image to meditate on how God turns the little or poor love we may have for others into something greater for the sake of His Kingdom.

Song

  • Give Me Your Eyes (Brandon Heath)  How does looking at others through God's eyes happen? What could help you see in this way as you seek to love others?

Article

  • God Calls, We Respond (David Fleming)  What insights from this article can apply to the way we choose to care for others?

Reflection Options  

Journal​   (Reflect on one or more of these questions)

  • Reflect on a time when God seemed to energize the care you had for another person.  Sometimes it’s hard to know if it was God--or something else.  One way to tell is by the spiritual fruit that is borne from the encounter.  What fruit did you see from the encounter you are thinking of?

  • On a scale of 1-10, rate your consistency in looking to God for the love, energy or insight it takes to love others.  A “1” would be “I most always love others in my own strength.”  What do you think of the number you chose? What would you like to know or do in order to improve that number?

Quote Interaction  (Agree, disagree or otherwise engage with the quote/quotes) 

  • “Charity is the sweet and holy bond which links the soul with its Creator: it binds God with man and man with  God.”  Catherine of Siena

  • “Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger or higher or wider; nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller,  and nothing better in heaven or on earth, for love is born of God and cannot rest except in God, Who is above  all created things.”  Thomas Aquinas

  • “To love someone means to see them as God intended them.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Reading & Reflection from the book, Shaping The Journey of Emerging Adults:

  • Read the discussion between Rick and Jana on being led by the Spirit (p. 248).  What questions do you relate to? What do you think of “getting some flies” in the process of trying to follow the Spirit in loving others?

  • Mentor: Look at the comparison chart on Telling vs. Pacing (p. 83).  Compare the two sides in regard to where reliance on the Spirit in engaging with another is important in disciple making.

 Explore Scripture

Meditate on one or more of the following passages. Always look them up in context.  Take some time to really explore the verse in relation to this topic.  How do these scripture passages encourage you to depend on God as you love others? What does it mean to "look to Him" as you love?  Make a note of what you discover to share later.  See "Learn More About Ways to Study Scripture" below for help in getting the most out of the verse.

  • Numbers 22:7-8 (check out the whole story for a fascinating look at listening to the Lord)

  • Habakkuk 2:1

  • John 13:34-35

  • I Corinthians 4:12

  • Ephesians 4:16 & 5:15-17

  • I John 3:7, 4:7-8

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