This Week’s Theme
That We Might Live through Him
1 John 4.7-14
John exhorts the believers in 1 John 4.7-14 to experience together the power of God’s love, the fuel and end of the Gospel. He exhorts them to love one another because love comes from God, and the one who loves has been born of God, and actually knows God. Loves flows from one who has been reborn from above, born with God’s own DNA, given life through the Gospel to become one with the Lord (John 1.12-13; John 3.3, 6-8; 2 Cor. 5.17). Actually, the one who fails to love reveals clearly that they do not know God because God is love. One who is connected and intimate with God will certainly show, by whatever degree, God’s own nature in their relationships and actions.
The writer makes clear the nature of this love he exhorts them to share. Here is God’s love, he says, “made manifest among us”: God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. Because of this, the nature of this love was not in response to the love that people had for God. Rather, “in this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation [atoning sacrifice] for our sins.” The logic of this devotion is clear and compelling: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (v. 11).
John makes clear, now, how false theological claims about God are, given in regard to his nature and essence. No person has ever seen God, yet, if we in fact love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. The Spirit-filled community, experiencing love to each other, are a token of the true knowledge of the one, living God. “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world” (v. 14).
The Gospel, which was spawned in God’s love for the world, climaxes with his love being experienced together in the Christian community. God’s divine purpose, which began in love, will one day consummate in perfect communion with humankind and God, in forever-formed relationships of love. Let us “start the party early” by sharing the life of God – his divine love – in the midst of our Christian community, making the invisible God visible in our midst.
Preparing Our Hearts
Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
Eternal God, thank you that you are love. In this your great love was revealed, that you sent your Son into the world that we might live through him. The Gospel message summarizes this great love, not a love that we had for you, but your sovereign love given to us, making Jesus our atoning sacrifice. Let your love be seen in what we do and say, and so prove to be Jesus’s disciples. In his name, amen.
Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, Amen.
Praising Our God
Te Deum Laudamus
You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.
Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Listening to His Voice
Chronological Reading for the Day
Sunday: Heb. 4.14-7.28
Lectionary Readings for the Day
Psalm: Isa. 12*
OT: Isa. 65.17-25
Gospel: Luke 21.5-19
NT: 2 Thess. 3.6-13
*In a very few instances in the Lectionary, no Psalm reading is offered for reasons relating to the thematic nature of the day.
Reflection: Silence and/or Journaling
Responding in Faith
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).
Prayers of Confession
Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.
Assurance of Pardon
Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.
Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
~ Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)
Doxology (and/or closing song)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Departing to Serve
Benediction
Lord Jesus, teach us how to love one another as you love us, with the same love and grace you gave to us. By this will all people come to know that we are your disciples, if we love one another. Thank you for the Gospel truth, that has made us recipients and sharers of your divine love. In your name we pray, amen.
Affirmation for the Day
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4.7).
Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4.7).
Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
That We Might Live through Him
1 John 4.7-14
Book Reading
Olson, Bruchko
Our Corporate Disciplines
Book Discussion: Monday, November 18, 2019