Notes
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Ephesians 1:4
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) … For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:4-5, 10
Tragedies are an opportunity for God to step in through His people. God doesn’t want you to only experience God’s love, but also to express His love. And if you don’t know that love, you can’t express it - you can’t give out of an empty cup. God’s love is powerful, and it also empowers us to step into dark spaces. And His love is inclusive; no person is too far of a reach for God.
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.
Ephesians 2:19-21
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
Ephesians 3:12
We can come into God’s presence at any time and anywhere. His love is always available; in our valleys and our mountaintops alike. You don’t have to be sitting in a church service to receive the love of God. The light of Christ steps into darkness to shine. God’s love is greater than the tragedies and darkest spaces in this world.
God wants you tofill your cup with His love every day and then pour it out. God has called His Church to shine His light in the darkness. It is the Church stepping up and showing the love of Christ that will make a difference. In crisis situations, the Church needs to be there to help.
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Ephesians 4:1-2
Respect each other. Show honor to all people. When love steps in, it is respectful. It is always ready for the prodigal to come home. God created all people: men and women, young and old, those who look like you and those who don't, those who sound like you and those who don’t. We have to love and respect each other despite our differences.
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.
Ephesians 4:3-7
And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
Ephesians 4:10
It is through our acts of kindness that others will come to know Jesus. Step in and be a part of what God has called the Church to do. Though the global Church may be divided by time and place, our mission remains the same: to express God’s love to the world. Showing His love means doing your part. Don’t let not being able to do everything keep you from doing anything.
Expect God to do magnificent things. Love in action is God’s people coming together for one common cause: expressing the love of Christ to the world around us. We’re left here to make a difference, empowering each other in our individual gifts to do incredible things. Earth isfilled with hurting people; God is calling us to be a church in action.
Group Questions
- How have you experienced the "width, length, height, and depth" of God's love in your life?
- How can you ensure that your cup is "full" with God's love so you can pour it out to others?
- In what ways can we remain united and focus on our common mission, despite our differences?
- How can you take small, practical steps to express God’s love to the people in your community this week?
Prayer
Thank you for your love that surpasses our understanding. Fill our cup with your love every day so we can express it to others. Empower us to step into dark spaces with your light.