WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY "GOD'S LOVE" - PART 1

With the beginning of the new school year, we thought it would be a good time to amp up this on-line Bible study.  Not all of you can get to BURN each Wednesday, but we thought this would be a way to help you grow as a Christian (or even understand how to become one) that you could access on your computer when you have time - or at night when you are bored, homework done, and need something valuable to do.

You are invited to be a part of this Bible study. There is no pressure, just a great opportunity.  You can join the Bible study by what the blogging world calls SUBSCRIBE.  You can do this by signing on with a Google account, or by an email subscription.  Or very shortly, you can subscribe through FACEBOOK (Watch the BURN page or the CHURCH OF GOD OF LANDISVILLE PAGE).  Or you can simply bookmark it on your computer.  On the Facebook pages, you would be brought to this page and just click FOLLOW THIS BLOG ON NETWORKED BLOGS (Facebook)

Each time we post, you receive a notification.  You can read it and reflect personally(and privately) or you can join the discussion/ask questions/share thoughts by using the comment button and post a comment. Sometimes other people in the group. Sometimes I will answer you and we can go from there.  Give it a try. No pressure. Just give it a try. My email is sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org. 

If you ever have a very private question you can email me or send me a message of FACEBOOK.

At BURN we talk a lot about love and many kids come to BURN hoping to experience God's love. Let's get started with a brief question and an important Bible verse:

1. When we say we hope to experience God's love, what do we mean? What would that look like? How would we be different if we found that love?
2. Here's our first verse: Romans 12:9 ....    Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  What does it mean to be sincere?
3. Why is sincerity an important ingredient to love?
4. Why do you think the apostle Paul (who is writing this verse) finished it with the comments on evil and good? 

Next time I will share some thoughts on this verse and we will look at the words the Bible uses for LOVE (we have one in English. The Bible which was written in Greek has at least four.)

Watch this video about a Father's love from THE SKIT guys:

LIVING SACRIFICES

Last week at BURN Stacie used the text from Romans 12:1-2. Many years ago a Bible translator wrote this powerful and memorable translation from the Greek into English.

"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the Plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity."

1. What is the biggest sacrifice you ever made?
2. Why did you make it?
3. What was the result of your sacrifice?

In this passage there six key words - MERCIES ... WORSHIP ... BODIES... CONSECRATED ... MOLD ... MATURITY

4. What do you think he means by MERCIES OF GOD?

5. How is sacrifice or serving an act of WORSHIP?

6. BODIES here is a descriptor of "every part of our life."  What does this tell us about God's expectation of our sacrificial life?

7. What does CONSECRATED mean?  How is this involved in being a living sacrfice?

8. What is meant by the world's MOLD?

9. How does being a living sacrifice lead to MATURITY?

Post your answers and in a few days we'll talk about them.

YOU ARE GOD'S MASTERPIECE

We all know people who think they're special but they're just kidding themselves.  People who think they are special often feel that way because they think they're privileged.  People are supposed to let them have their own way.  People are supposed to give them first choice in everything. To be something special does not mean that you think you are better than anyone else. That's not special. That's just conceited.

Then there are people who are just the opposite. They think they are nobody, basically worthless.  They don't feel like they can do anything and that nobody would want to be their friend.

1. Can you think of people who think they're special, as in privileged or more important than anyone else? What's wrong with thinking that about yourself?

2. How about the other kind of people? What's wrong with thinking you are a nobody, not as valuable as other people?

What if I were to tell you that God has a very different opinion of you?
 
3. In your Bible read Ephesians 2:8-10.  The word "saved" here means that God has forgiven your sins and given you the power to be a person of God's love. He calls this a gift.  What is someone saying about us when they give us a gift?

4. What's the best gift you've ever gotten? Who gave it to you and why?

5. How did you feel when you got that gift?

6.What do you think it means you are God's handiwork?

7. Why did create you and give you a relationship with Jesus?

8. What are the good works you think God is creating us to do?

9. What is God saying about you when he says "I created you to share in my work?"

Share your answers by using the comment tab. After people have had a chance to share their thoughts, we'll share with you some ideas of how God wants to do His work through you and your life, including stories of some kids who have done this.

A New Bible Study

A person who wants to love God more deeply spends time with Him.  Not just crying out to Him or praising Him but listening to Him as He speaks.  God most often speaks to us through the Bible, what some of us call God's Word.  When we spend time reading the Bible and seeking to understand it, we find that God has all sorts of things to tell us.  They are things if we will take seriously, God will use to shape us into truly incredible people. People who love others in infectious ways that help other people learn to love.  People who rock their world and then change their world because God's power and love are at work.

You are invited to be a part of this Bible study. There is no pressure, just a great opportunity.  You can join the Bible study by what the blogging world calls SUBSCRIBE.  You can do this by signing on with a Google account, or by an email subscription.  Or very shortly, you can subscribe through FACEBOOK (Watch the BURN page or the CHURCH OF GOD OF LANDISVILLE PAGE).  Or you can simply bookmark it on your computer.

Each time we post, you receive a notification.  You can read it and reflect personally(and privately) or you can join the discussion/ask questions/share thoughts by using the comment button and post a comment. Sometimes other people in the group. Sometimes I will answer you and we can go from there.  Give it a try. No pressure. Just give it a try.

If you ever have a very private question you can email me or send me a message of FACEBOOK.  I am really excited about what God wants to do as we study together.  The next post, in a few days, will be looking at Joshua 1, which Jeff Hamill prompted by one of His Facebook posts.

I love you kids. I pray for you. You are become incredible people with God's help.  I hope this helps you believe in the God who believes in you and trust in the God who loves you more than anyone else can ever do and will never love you any less.  - Pastor Steve