Loving God and Others
Introduction
In worship we testify how the Father saved us through Christ. Together we love Him. “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:12-16).
Program Ideas
Activities
Decorate Mugs
Provide white mug available from most dollar stores. While worship songs play in the background, invite the women to decorate their mugs with word of affirmation. For directions check the website: http//unifury.com>blogs>how-to-decorate-mugs. Fill the mugs with mugs with candy, wrap and seal them in a cellophane bag. Invite the women to take the mugs home and during the week give it to someone who looks like they need some encouragement.
Valentine Party
Invite women from the community to a Valentine’s party. This could be women who come for social services or the mothers of children that attend youth activities at the corps. Ask the women in the group to invite their neighbors and friends who don’t normally attend women’s ministries. Play Valentine’s games and award prizes. Set up a photo booth using crazy props. Serve Valentine treats dash heart-shaped cupcakes cookies and candy.
Women’s Shelter
Visit your local women’s shelter and spend time loving them by providing simple manicures and DIY face masks.
Supplies:
- Recipe for Mask: Mash a whole pitted avocado with 4 teaspoons each of honey and olive oil (or other natural oil you have on hand). Spread evenly over face and leave for 15 to 20 minutes. (Nail polish could be applied during this time). Rinse with warm water. (Makes enough for 4-5 faces) -or- Amazon also sells bulk facemask sheets for different skin types which are also fun.
- The Dollar Tree (or similar store) generally has fun nail polish colors, and design kits. Be sure to pick up a basecoat, topcoat, cotton balls, nail polish remover, and nail files. Lotions or scented oils are great for hand massages.
Have You Seen God?
If scripture tells us, “No one has ever seen God,” then how can we ever know Him? Afterall, how can you get to know someone you’ve never seen? What if I told you, that you have seen God, but just not in the way you might be thinking. Would you think me silly? Would you brush off my words as just “talk.” While we might not have seen God with our physical eyes, we have seen God through people, and He has been made known to us.
John tells us in John 1:18, “The one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known.” God has been revealed to us through Jesus, who is the complete expression of God in human form. When we love others or are loved by others, the invisible God reveals Himself through us or to us. His love is made complete.
By living in love, we experience God dwelling within us. The key to knowing and experiencing God’s love is through actively loving others, demonstrating that we truly believe in and abide by His love. If we are honest, it is not easy to love everyone we encounter, especially if we are having a bad day, or worse yet, a bad week. The truth is, we are probably not the most lovable in those moments either, but God still loves us.
The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. When we become Christians, we receive the Holy Spirit. His presence in our lives is proof that we really belong to God. We don’t have to scream our love for God on the rooftops or mountain tops. Those we encounter will know we love Him because we will have a sound and hearty desire to do His will by love others unconditionally.
Examine your love life: Reflect on how you are expressing love towards others; are you actively seeking to show love to those around you, even when it is difficult?
Seek deeper intimacy with God: By practicing love towards others, you can experience a deeper connection with God. Be intentional by choosing three or more activities to do each week for a month and watch how your connection to God grows as your love for others bloom. This list is not exhaustive, just some things to get the ideas flowing:
- Volunteer your time at a place that is new to you.
- Perform small thoughtful gestures or random acts of kindness.
- Practice active listening and not just listening to give a response.
- Offer emotional support or practical assistance to a friend or family member.
- Engage with your neighbors or community by organizing an event to address local needs.
- Let go of resentment and choose to forgive others, even when it is difficult.
- Donate financially to a cause you believe in.
Things such as regular prayer, Bible study, worship, meditation, and fasting help open our eyes and heart to the love that God has for us. When we truly understand the depth of that love for us, fear of loving others is replaced by confidence and assurance. We are not called to judge or to condemn, but to love. Are you willing to show God that you’re ready to love as He loves?
Closing Song (Pick one or use some in a worship set):
Matt Maher- “Abide with Me” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIuC9-4aB7Q
Cory Asbury- “Reckless Love” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsoV-oEkFcY
Crowder- “How He Loves” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plngh8SkkA4
Prayer: “Dear God, help me to fully grasp the depth of your love for me. Help me to see others how you see them. Guide me to live a life that reflects your love through my actions towards others. May I be a witness to your love in the world, and may your presence be evident in my life through the way I love others. Amen.”
