Rooted: A Portrait of Love 14 Feb 21

(Message 4) On this Valentine’s Day, what is the greatest act of love we can think of? The greatest act of love was wrapped in unimaginable sacrifice. It was an act so great that it took the enemies of God and made them His children – for all who would accept it. Join us as we look at this great portrait of love and what it means to be reconciled to God through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. #GCRooted

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Start reading.

Colossians 1:21 – 23

21This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.

Romans 3:24-26

24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

1 Peter 5:8-9

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.

Clay talked about a game he played as a child called “Jump the Creek”. What childhood games do you remember playing?

Start thinking. Ask a question to get your group thinking.

How does it make you feel to be labeled an “enemy of God” apart from a relationship with Him? Does God love and accept everyone?
Read Colossians 1:21. “Our sin separates us from a holy God.” Let that statement sink in. What are some thoughts that come to mind? What would you say to someone who believes they can get to heaven by being a good person?
Read 1 Peter 5:8-9. What are some ways that you can “stay alert” and “stand firm”?
Read Romans 3:24-26. What does it mean to “believe in Jesus”? Is there anything that you put your faith and trust in above Jesus?

Start sharing. Choose a question to create openness.

God wants to use you to make a difference just like he used Paul. Does this make you nervous, excited, hesitant, or something else?
How do you stay committed to Jesus and live your day-to-day life for Him? It can be easy to let your relationship with God get stale. What tools do you use to keep that from happening?
Jesus chose to sacrifice His life so that everyone can be forgiven by God if they believe in Him. Does this change your definition of love? Why? How?
If you have a relationship with Jesus, how are you demonstrating His sacrificial love to those in your home, neighborhood, town?
If you don’t yet have that faith in Jesus, how do you think believing in Him might change your life? Your relationships? Does it change anything to understand that God’s love for you is not defined by what you’ve done or are currently doing, that His biggest concern is having a relationship with you through Jesus? Does it help to know that you can have that relationship simply by going to Him in prayer, confessing, believing, and surrendering to Him? If you have any questions or would like to pray, please speak with your small group leader.

Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.

Commit to not let your relationship with Jesus get stale. Do this by daily reading your Bible and praying. A great tool is the Our Daily Bread devotional. You can pick one up on Sundays or during the week at the church or access it online.

Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.

Jesus, thank you for your gift of the Cross and how you demonstrate Your love for me. Help me to live my life with true passion to have a deeper relationship with You and to share what I have found with others. – Amen

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