God's Love: Lesson 3 | Day 5

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35

We’re all known for something. Maybe it’s your athletic ability. Or your sense of humor. Or your sense of fashion.

What are you known for?

Are you known for your love?

If that sounds cheesy, you might want to slow down a little. See, that’s what Jesus said He’d like to see us known for. He wants to see you known for your love.

So, what if you made it a point to begin showing God’s love to others? What would that look like? How would it take shape in your life? Maybe it seems like too tall of a task. But, the deal is that Jesus made it a point to give this command to His disciples in what turned out to be some of His last moments on this earth.

If it was important enough for Him to pass it along, isn’t it important enough for you to try and live out?

God's Love: Lesson 3 | Day 4

For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:4-6

Read this quote and take a moment to think about what it’s saying:

“We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at his unspeakable love” John Owen

What would it take for you to discover “holy amazement” at God’s love?

(Why don’t you try and answer that question today.)

God's Love: Lesson 3 | Day 3

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6

One of greatest known Bible passages regarding love is found in 1 Corinthians 13. Paul is talking to the church in Corinth. He told them that no matter how many spiritual things they think they’re doing, if they aren’t showing love, what they are doing is pointless.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Below make a list of all of the characteristics of godly love that Paul describes.

Now, go back and read through the list you’ve just written. As you read it, circle the three that are most difficult for you.

Why do you think these are so difficult for you?

Write each of these in the space below. Next to each, write an idea or two of how you can intentionally choose to display this action in your life.

It won’t be easy, but if you trust God’s power in you and don’t give up, you may just find it gets easier to live these out!

God's Love: Lesson 3 | Day 2

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18

Express your creativity today.

Using the camera on your phone or tablet, take 5 pictures that remind you of God’s love for us. Edit them using your favorite photo editing app. Then, figure out a way to go the extra mile. Post them on your Tumblr page or on Facebook. Tweet them. Write a little message on them and send them to your friends.

Whatever you do, keep your eyes open for how God is showing His love to the world.

God's Love: Lesson 3 | Day 1

Have you ever heard a story about someone physically giving up his or her life for another person? How do you react when you hear these types of stories? What do you think drives someone to demonstrate that kind of love for another person?

When we think about how Christ loved us, we should stand amazed at what He did for us. There is nothing we did to deserve His love. In fact, we deserve quite the opposite. We deserve death.

Open your Bible and read the passages we talked about this week: John 13:34-35 and 1 John 3:16-18. Many times we determine if and how we will show love to others based on what we decide they may deserve from us. But God (thankfully) doesn’t work that way.

Something To Think About . . . 

• How should these verses shape the way you love others? How does loving others this way show you are a follower of Christ?
• Take a moment to reflect on these things and pray, asking God to empower you to love others as He loved you.

God's Love: Lesson 2 | Day 5

End this week by focusing on this verse as you go through your day:

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalms 100:5                  

How might this promise help you make it through the tough times? How might it give you a boost when things are going good?

God's Love: Lesson 2 | Day 4

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1

Soak this quote in:

“That God should pity the world I understand, because when I walk down a hospital and see a sick child, I pity the child … but that God should love the world — the more I think about it, the more staggered I am.” F. B. Meyer

Can you relate to what the author is saying here? What’s the difference between pity and love? What about the world is unlovable?

When was the last time you were “staggered” by God? Maybe you should spend more time really pondering how awesome God is. Being staggered is a good thing!

God's Love: Lesson 2 | Day 3

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35

Have you ever heard of Mount Chimborazo? It is Ecuador, in the Andes. While Mount Everest is the highest point above sea level, Mount Chimborazo is the highest point on earth when measured from the center of the earth. It stands 1.5 miles taller than Everest from this point!

The lowest known point on the earth is Challenger Deep, at the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. It is 35,797 feet below sea level and about 3,956 miles from the center of the earth!

The distance between the highest height and deepest depth is 7,923 miles! You would have to drive from San Francisco, California to New York, New York 2 ¾ times to cover this distance. It would take days to make this drive!

There may be times in your life when you feel like the distance between you and God is even further than this. But take a moment and read Romans 8:35-39.

According to these verses, is there anything that can remove us from God’s love? Absolutely not! God’s love is greater than any depth or height. It’s more dependable than the present or anything that may happen in the future.

When we’ve placed our faith in Christ, we’ve secured God’s love for all of our lives. We’re bound to God by Christ and nothing can change that. What an incredible thing! But not only are you secure, you are different. You have a new identity. You carry this love of Christ in you and can offer it to those around you who do not have it.

Something To Think About...

•  How well do you know the students you go to school with? Do you know if they’ve experienced the love God offers?
• Your challenge is to pray for them, and to pray that you might have the opportunity to talk with them about the love God has for them.
• Will you take this challenge this week?

Hey students, want a chance to win money for the snack shack at beach camp this summer? Then be one of the first five people to text Jim (817-771-8809) with this code BEACHBUCKS2016 and also be present tonight at our beach party! But shhhhh, keep it on the down low.

God's Love: Lesson 2 | Day 2

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Here’s something fun to do:

Without worrying about what it looks like, and without stopping to “self edit,” take 60 seconds to write how God’s amazing love makes you feel. Use the space below, use a Note app on your phone, or use a scrap piece of paper. Whatever you use, enjoy thinking about how great God’s love is.

Ready? Go!

God’s Love: Lesson 2 | Day 1

We determined last week that love isn’t just a characteristic of God, it’s His very character. While we know this because the Bible says it’s so, we also know this because God demonstrated this love to us by sending Christ.

Think about a time you received something because you earned it. Maybe you did a special job and earned some money. Maybe it was a special gift your parents bought for you because you earned certain grades. It could be a trophy you earned by performing well in a competition of some sort.

Now think about a time when you were surprised with a gift for no reason. It was not for your birthday, Christmas, or any holiday. You didn’t perform well to earn it. This was a gift given to you just because someone loved you and wanted to show it.

How are these two gifts different? Do you see them differently knowing you earned one in your own power and one had nothing to do with your performance?

Go back and read the following verses from this week’s Bible study: John 3:16-17 and Romans 5:6-8. Take a moment to think about how amazing this love is! God loved each of us so much that He made the greatest sacrifice to have a relationship with us!

Something To Think About . . .

• John 3:16 tells us that receiving the fullest expression of this love, eternity in heaven, happens when we believe in God and place our faith in Christ. Is this something you’ve done?
• If you have, take a moment to pray and thank God for this love.
• If you haven’t, you can pray right now asking God to forgive your sins and receive His gift of love! If you do, make sure you let someone know (your parents, small group leader, or youth minister). They can help you with any questions you may have.

God's Love: Day 5

Today, make it a point to notice moments where you see or experience evidence of God’s love.

Maybe it’s in a beautiful sunset. Or maybe it’s in the kindness of a friend toward another friend. Whatever the case, consider recording the moment.

Take a picture with your phone. Write a one or two sentence note in a journal or on a scrap of paper. Draw a picture or a symbol that reminds you of what you saw or experienced.

Remember that God’s love is all around you. There are constant reminders of His love practically surrounding you. But you have to be looking for them.

Don’t miss your chance to experience God’s love in the world around you. Open your eyes. Expect to see Him!

God's Love: Day 4

For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¾ Romans 5:10

Valentine’s Day. It’s a day set aside to express our love for those close to us. When you think about this holiday, what are some of the words that come to your mind? What are some ways people show their love to others on Valentine’s Day? Why do you think people are so quick to boldly and extravagantly express their love on February 14^th but maybe not so much on other days of the year?

It might be because, if we’re honest, there are some people who require some extra effort in order to show them love! Read the following verses and identify how God says we are to respond in love to these people: Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 10:27, and John 15:12-13.

It’s easy for us to justify why we don’t show love to certain people. After all, some people might do things so mean to us that we think they can’t be overlooked. The problem with this line of thinking is that if we look at Scripture, we see that we were once God’s enemies. And yet, He chose to overlook our sins to love us.

Romans 5:10 says, “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him by the death of His Son, shall we be saved through His life!” There was a time when God chose to look past the fact that we were His enemies and make a way for us to have a relationship with Him. If God, who is perfect and sinless, was able to show love to sinners, we should do the same for those whom we find hard to love.

This kind of love seems impossible. The truth is that it is impossible apart from the power of God. Recall 1 John 4:7-8. Because God IS love and He lives in us, we are able to demonstrate His love to those who are hard to love.

Something To Think About . . .

• Who do you need to make an extra effort to love today?
• How can you demonstrate God’s love to this person?

God's Love: Day 3

Today’s devotion is simple. But it requires you to think a little. Remember a time when you really felt God’s love, a time when you knew beyond all doubt that God 100% loved you.

Can you picture that time?

Read I John 4:19. Take a minute to think about God’s love for you and how that affects others. We really can’t love others until we have experienced God’s love ourselves.

Now, don’t DO anything. Just hold that time in your memory today as a reminder that God knows you and loves you. I mean, He really, really loves you. Now think of how you can show others through your words and actions how God really loves them.

Store that fact in your heart. Don’t forget it. Let it soften your heart and lead you to love God and others more.