Thursday, January 29, 2015

Sunday Circles - Love

Sunday Circles
        Building Your Family With Friends
Church On The Rock
Gtcotr/sc020115

Prayer
Hymn: Down at the Cross
Memory Verse: Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Lesson: Love

Pastor remarks and intro of first principle

First Principle: Love has a Purpose
Scripture Reference: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
God had a well-stated purpose for sending His Son.
We are the Focus of His Love.
God is looking for a Majority, not a Minority.
Question: Who is Love? (1 John 4:8)
Follow up Question: What is Love’s focus in this verse? The World.
Conclusion: God is Love.  The focus of His love was wholly established on humanity.  This shows us that we are the object of His Love seen in the act of Jesus.

Pastor remarks and intro of second principle

Second Principle: Love has a Price
Scripture Reference: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Once we understand that God is love and that love has a focus, we then come to the conclusion that there’s a price to pay for the object of His Love.
God expressed His love by paying the full price.  Jesus is that price.
Question: Find the part of John 3:16 that shows the price God paid for the object of His Love.
Follow Up Question: How does this make you feel knowing what God paid for you?
Conclusion: Consider the parable of the Jewel found in the field. In this parable the man sells everything to buy the field just for the chance at the treasure. This shows us that God paid for a chance at our heart (Matthew 13:44).  God bought the whole world with the blood of Jesus for a chance at your heart.

Pastor remarks and intro of third principle

Third Principle: Love has a Response and Responsibility
Scripture Reference: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
We have an obligation to respond to the message of God’s Love.
We have a responsibility to others to share God’s message.
Question: What is the proper response to God’s focus and price?
Follow Up Question: What is our responsibility to others?     
Conclusion: God is Love and because of that He loved us enough to pay the price for us to have eternal life in Him.  This is the Gospel.  We only need to respond to it for ourselves, and be responsible by sharing it freely with others.

Pastor closing remarks

    Connect Cards; Offering and Prayer
    Memory Verse

    Pre-Praise & Worship Prayer will be in the Sanctuary Studio. Worship will begin in just a few minutes.