“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35
- Displaying our embrace of the Kingdom
- How do your time, money, and relationships reflect your priorities?
- What is our life oriented toward? What is the conviction that makes sense of everything in your life? What’s the goal from which all your decisions are based on?
- What are you immersed in? The community of believers (church) is at the heart of God’s Kingdom mission. We don’t embrace the Kingdom without being part of a community that is embracing the mission.
- How do your relationships with your brothers and sisters in Christ display God’s Kingdom?
- The vast majority of verses dealing with “love” in the New Testament express it in terms of love within the Kingdom community. Why do you think that is the primary focus in Scripture?
- John 13:34-35
- 1 Peter 2:17 – Everyone gets our honor, but love is a special resource.
- How should Jesus’ example of love for us shape our definition of love?
- Ephesians 5:1-2
- Philippians 2:1-8
- Romans 5:8
- How does a community who genuinely loves each other attract outsiders to God’s Kingdom?
- Matthew 5:13-16
- 1 Peter 2:9-12
- The vast majority of verses dealing with “love” in the New Testament express it in terms of love within the Kingdom community. Why do you think that is the primary focus in Scripture?
- What do you think of the saying “Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words”?
- What is something you have always found easy to talk about? Why do you think that particular topic is easy to share?
- Luke 6:45
- How does the New Testament talk about proclaiming the good news? Is verbal proclamation the world important? (Click here for the referenced Scriptures.)
- 3 passages call us to do good to all.
- 6 passages call us to live separately (in the sense of morality).
- 6 passages call us to convert unbelievers.
- 15 passages call us to live righteously among unbelievers.
- 46 passages call us to verbally proclaim the good news of the King and his Kingdom.
- How does our outward witness provide opportunities to verbally share what our lives are centered on?
- 1 Peter 3:15
- “People will not know what God has accomplished in our lives and for the world unless we tell them.” – J. Nugent
- Practical handles for becoming more faithful and confident displayers and proclaimers:
- Display our love for one another publicly to generate outside interactions.
- Eating meals, celebrating birthdays/accomplishments, family events at a park or in a restaurant
- Anything to bring the life of the body into public (public Bible studies, outreach projects, etc.)
- Be intentional about interacting with people in places you frequent (coffee shops, library, school, etc.)
- Strike up conversations with the regular customers and employees and build those casual relationships.
- You may be God’s chosen instrument to shine the light to a particular person at a particular time.
- Use everyday opportunities to give a testimony of how God is working.
- Formulate answers to common questions like “How are you doing?” or “How was your weekend?” to point them to what God is doing in your life.
- Be aware of how God is working and be excited to share!
- Display our love for one another publicly to generate outside interactions.