Warm-Up
What is our first truth? I was made on purpose and for a purpose!
What is our second truth? I can trust God and His Word!
What is our third truth? God loves me and sent Jesus for me!
What action does God want us to take ?Love God and love others
Last week’s verse taught us,
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30
Now we have the second action:
“The second is, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other command greater than these.” — Mark 12:31
Let’s demonstrate this idea by having a wheelbarrow race! In partners of two, we will race to the finish line! One partner will be lifting the legs of another, holding their ankles, while their partner does the race on their hands!(You can have them switch for the way back if time allows)
Workout
The wheelbarrow race is a perfect example of serving! One partner had to serve the other in order
for them to cross the finish line.
Remember our response to God’s Game Plan? Love God and love others.
Last week, we focused on loving God. Now it’s time to focus on others.
Remember, God said to love Him first. With our _______ and _______(heart/soul). With our _________ (mind). With our ________ (strength).
Look what His second command is: “The second is, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no othercommand greater than these.” — Mark 12:31
We will love our neighbors by serving our neighbors. But, who are our neighbors?
Raise your hands if…
You have people living next door to you.
You have friends.
You have teammates.
You have classmates.
When God says, “neighbors,” He is talking about those who live on Earth with us. So, everyone is our neighbor.
There is a beautiful story in Luke 10 of how one neighbor serves another. There was a man who was beat up and left on the side of the road. So many passed him, not offering help; then, a man passed along and felt compassion for him. He decided to serve the hurt man and take care of him. Jesus said the one who helped him was a neighbor and for us to be like him.
Anyone who God puts in our lives or in our path are our neighbors. Let’s become like the man who helped. Let’s start loving so deeply that we serve and help without even thinking about it.
Wrap-Up
I want you to think this week about two things:
- Who around you can you serve today?
- How can you serve?
“Dear God, I want to be more like You and love those around me by serving them. Help me serve thoseselflessly and lovingly. Send me people who I can serve. Amen.”