Tuesday June 30, 2015

Read Romans 13:8-10

There are many people and families who have debts, and these debts help them purchase things connected with their life and lifestyle. For a few, these debts become a great burden. When they entered into the agreement for the debt they felt they could manage the repayments and be free of the debt with the time allocated.

Being human, we are not able to see the future. We don’t know when circumstances will change and catch us unawares – for example, being unexpectedly made redundant in our work, or health issues, mean we are unable to work. If we are loaded down with debt at such a time, then we can feel like a slave to that debt.

Paul urges us to, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8) Paul is urging that we honour our debts (financially). The only ongoing debt we are to have is the debt of love to one another.

This does not mean that we are to be mean and withhold our love from others – thereby having a debt, but to always be loving and never to tire of giving our love to one another.

All the commandments are based on love because as John wrote: “love comes from God.” (1 John 4:7)  God is the author and perfect example of love. Jesus summed up the commandments with: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind, and… love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-40) Laws such as, “Do not commit adultery”, “Do not murder”, “Do not steal” and “Do not covet” are all demonstrated in this kind of love. Love will protect, honour, overlook wrongs, persevere with patience and build up the other person in truth, purity and dignity.

In loving others like this, we are reflecting the nature of God to others. And therefore, if we neglect to pay back our financial debts to others, then we are saying that our God is a liar and a cheat, He is not considerate of others and He will cause harm rather than protect and nurture.

Of course this is not the image we are given of the Lord our God. Psalm 23, for example, describes Him as the protector, provider, corrector, and forever blessing those who trust in and love Him. The cross reminds us that God loves us and offers salvation to all who believe in Jesus – the eternal reward being, eternal life with God in heaven.

Debt is not wrong, in and of itself, so long as we pay our debts. However, it is better by far that we do not have protracted debts as they will wear us down and make us feel like slaves to our debtor/s. Living within our means is always a healthy attitude to have towards money.

Having said that, money should always be our servant rather than our god or master. Paul warned Timothy about the pursuit of money – a favourite past-time of many within the world, because “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. ” (1 Timothy 6:10)

Ecclesiastes 5:10 tells us: “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income.” Our contentment should not be in money and things, but in the Lord and what He gives us in life. Sometimes He will surprise us with blessing we have not sought. Other times He expects us to look to Him in prayer and faith, depending upon Him for our daily needs.

Our attitude toward money and our spending is to reflect our dependence upon God and love for Him, even as we demonstrate His nature in the way we use it. Give firstly of yourself to God and then to fulfilling His command to love one another.

Prayer:

Using today’s passage and the reading notes spend time in prayer.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

· Praise the Lord for the finances you have and ask that He will give you wisdom in using it for His glory and reflecting His nature of pure love.

· Pray for those who are enslaved to debt and poverty.

· Pray for the governments of our land that they will have compassion on the poor and the needy, and will provide the appropriate care they need without promoting a handout attitude.

· Pray for love to be your strength and motivation in your relationships with others in your church.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. What does it mean for you to have no outstanding debt, except to love one another?

2. How is your knowledge of God reflected in the way you think about money and debt?

3. How should we consider others who are poor?

Monday June 29, 2015

Read Romans 12:9-10,16

There is a somewhat overused saying: “The family that _________ together, stays together.” I’ve heard various words used in the blank: prays, reads, plays, walks, etc. Really it doesn’t matter what the word is, so long as the family is doing something together it is more likely to be unified. They will have a higher purpose behind their activity that unifies their thinking. As we engage with each other so we learn to appreciate one another.

In Romans12, Paul urges us to be devoted to one another. It comes in the context of verses 1 & 2 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Because of God’s love and mercy to us in salvation, we are to present ourselves to be God’s people who are living for His glory and united in life for His purposes. This is the higher purpose behind our need to love one another sincerely. Our relationship in Christ and in God’s mercy gives us a common bond that might not otherwise exist. It causes us to think differently about each other.

Our love for one another, driven along by our relationship in Christ, must be sincere. It is love that comes from the heart and is not an artificial mask that we put on with one another. Therefore, Paul says we are to “be devoted to one another”.

When someone is described as devoted, they are involved, loving, honouring, faithful and true to their relationship with the person or entity to which they are devoted. As followers of Jesus we are to be involved with each other in a way that is honouring and loyal to Jesus, and showing love and trust to each other. Paul says you are to, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. … Live in harmony with one another.”

Living as men and women who love the Lord Jesus our Saviour, let us always remember who we are in Him and that other Christians also share that relationship with Jesus. It will be no trouble to honour other believers before ourselves when we see them as fellow recipients of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. It will be a pleasure to honour them. Their strengths and weaknesses will complement and enhance our strengths and weaknesses to make the Church more equipped for service to Jesus.

Being devoted (loving, honouring, looking out for, loyal) to one another in the Lord means that we will bring out the best in one another and make us glad to serve the Lord standing shoulder to shoulder. In this, we will appreciate one another and the strength we each bring to the whole. We will be less inclined to be judgemental and more inclined to be building up one another in the Lord.

Where there is unity and devotion to one another in the church the Lord is honoured, then the world will sit up and take notice. For this devotion is another form of loving one another to which the Lord Jesus said, “by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35) ”

Prayer:

Using today’s passage and the reading notes spend time in prayer.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

· Pray that we might be like Jesus in our loyalty to the Father and devotion to one another.

· Praise the Lord for His perfect love in Christ Jesus and that we share in this love.

· Pray for Christians who live in places where persecution and imprisonment are real weapons of the enemy to cause fear and division within the Church. Pray that they will have courage, perseverance and continued trust in Christ as they live by faith each day.

Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Who is someone you know who shows devotion to the church family?

2. How different would the church be if everyone was devoted to each other in the church? What would be the difference ?

3. How can you nurture devotion to one another amongst your friends?

P r e p a r a t i o n f o r C e l l

Read this week’s passage and jot down any problems or issues that come to mind about the passage, it’s application or meaning to you and/or your church.

                             O n Y o u r O w n

Key Words/Phrases                          John 13

Use this space to write down and define key words/phrases. Look for repetition and biblical themes from other parts of the Bible. The key verses we are looking at are verses 34 and 35. Consider also: Romans 12:9-16; Hebrews 10:23-25; Ephesians 4:2-3; and 1

John 3:11, 21-24, 4:7-21.

                       P r e p a r a t i o n f o r C e l l

After your cell has met, jot down the solutions you found.

                                   P r a y e r

Prayer:

How does this passage lead you to pray in terms of

Adoration: Confession Thanks Supplication:

Non Believers to be Praying for

              C e l l G r o u p - D i g g i n g D e e p e r .

The Passage:      Read John 13:34-35

Before Cell, complete the ‘On Your Own’ section on the previous page.

Describe the context of the following passages: Romans 12:9-16; Hebrews 10:23-25; Ephesians 4:2-3; and 1 John 3:11, 21-24, 4:7-21.

List the key words/phrases and what they mean? Use your previous page notes.

What is the key to the message given to Christians?

What is unique about Christian love?

As you read 1 John 4:4-21, what evidence demonstrates that we love God? What is the origin of your love?

1 Peter 4:9 encourages us to “offer” hospitality to one another. How might you do that with others from your church?

What is the basis and purpose of our gathering together each week? (Consider Hebrews 10:23-25)

According to Ephesians 4:1-7, what are we urged to do to be living a life worthy of our calling? What is our calling?

Recount a positive experience of “one another” ministry in your church?

James 5:16 tells us to “pray for one another”. How might you do this well?

Describe one practical thing you can take away from this passage that gives you stamina in terms of maintaining your ministry and calling. Think of your

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