Messy Christianity— 5.30 & 31
Week 4: God’s Annoying Love
**REMEMBER TO CONTACT STUDENTS DURING THE WEEK!
Purpose: To teach students the power of God’s love and how He cares about every details of our lives.
Main Ideas:
• God’s love may be “unfair” but when his “unfairness” includes you and me, who wants to argue?
• We are secure not because we are sure of ourselves but because we trust that God is sure of us.
• God knew we would naturally be dazzled by big; that’s why Jesus told the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the mustard seed. The spiritual life is a tiny life, filled with little decisions, tiny steps toward God, tiny glimpses of his presence, little changes, small moving, tiny successes, and imperceptible stirrings.
• Jesus showed up for a little while, did a few tiny miracles, said a few amazing words, and left. But his few tiny acts changed the world forever. Tiny becomes huge when Jesus is involved.
Scripture:
• Romans 8:38,39 – Nothing can separate God’s love
• Mark 12:41-44 – Little is big in God’s eye . . .
• Matthew 20:1-16 (God’s love us unfair, but unfair for all of us)
• Luke 15 – Story of the lost sheep, coin, and son
Questions:
• Do you believe that people love you? (Family and Friends?)
• Have you ever thought God’s love was unfair?
• Do you ever wonder if God’s gotten sick of you?
• Why does God love you?
• What experiences have shaped your view on God’s love?
• How do you most intensely experience God’s love?
Things to Remember:
• Become a Fan on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter
• Bring your friends – Wednesdays and Weekends
• Outreach – Adopt a Block – Next Saturday
Chapter Recaps
Chapter 7 – Little Graces
“One of the most insidious maladies of our time is the tendency in most of us to observe rather than act, avoid rather than participate, not do rather than do; the tendency to give in to the sly, negative, cautionary voices that constantly counsel us to be careful, to be controlled, to be way, and prudent, and hesitant, and guarded in our approach of this complicated thing called living.” –Arthur Gorgon
Jesus showed up for a little while, did a few tiny miracles, said a few amazing words, and left. But his few tiny acts changed the world forever. Tiny becomes huge when Jesus is involved.
God knew we would naturally be dazzled by big; that’s why Jesus told the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the mustard seed. The spiritual life is a tiny life, filled with little decisions, tiny steps toward God, tiny glimpses of his presence, little changes, small moving, tiny successes, and imperceptible stirrings.
We are secure not because we are sure of ourselves but because we trust that God is sure of us.
Jesus understands the power of people who couldn’t care less about being noticed
God recognizes the small…He recognizes the unrecognizable like you and me. Every tiny contribution we make to his Kingdom is noticed and remembered, and one day we will understand just how beautiful our thin sacrifices are.
Chapter 8 – God’s Annoying Love
Buried back in our minds is the worry that my grace credit card is going to be cancelled. Parked somewhere in my subconscious is the belief that grace and forgiveness are lavish, unconditional, and limited. Cross Jesus one too many times, fail too often, sin too much, and God will decide to take His love back. I know Christ loves me, but I continually worry that God’s love will simply wear out… then get slapped with Romans 8:38-39 (Nothing can separate us from His love)
God’s grace is Unfair
God’s love may be “unfair” but when his “unfairness” includes you and me, who wants to argue?
Life is complicated. Our schedules are hectic. Following Jesus is not always easy, nor is he easy to hear in the noisiness of our lives. Spirituality can be hard on our bones. My prayer is throughout this book/series you’ve heard the clear voice of Jesus saying, “I love you.” May you hear him in your unfinishedness, your incompleteness, your incompetence, in other words, in your mess.