December 8 2013 Showing I Care For My Neighbors

Showing I Care For My Neighbors

(Open Before Christmas: Part 2)

(Jesus) “I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:40

“‘Teacher, of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’” Matthew 22:36-40

“And who is my neighbor?” — Luke 10:29b

My Neighbor: SOMEONE WHO IS ON MY WAY.

FOUR STEPS TO LOVING MY NEIGHBOR

1. Ask GOD FOR A COMPASSIONATE HEART

“You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” — Luke 6:36

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.” — Psalm 139:23

2. Show GENUINE INTEREST.

“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” — Romans 12:10

3. Be ALERT TO NEEDS.

“Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others - ignoring God - harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.” — Galatians 6:7-8

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6

4. Respond WITH COMPASSIONATE ACTION.

“Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, ‘Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well’ – but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all – it is dead and useless.” James 2:14-17

"Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12

Memory Verse: “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." — John 13:35

December 1 2013 Showing I Care For My Family

Showing I Care for My Family

Open Before Christmas Part 1

MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 25:40 “When you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me.”

I Timothy 5:8 “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

FIVE CARE PACKAGES THAT I CAN GIVE TO MY FAMILY.

1. PRAY for my family.

Ezekiel 22:30-31.

Philippians 1:3. “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.. Whenever I pray, I make my request for all of you with joy.”

2. KEEP IN TOUCH with my family.

Philippians 1:9. “I pray that your love for each other will overflow, more and more so that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.”

3. HONOR my parents.

Ephesians 6:1--Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord. And this is the right thing to do. Honor your father and mother, this is the first of the ten commandments that ends with a promise. And this the promise. If you honor your father and mother, you will live

4. FORGIVE my family.

Ephesians 4:32. “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Matthew 6:12-15 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

5. EXPRESS LOVE TO my family.

Luke 6:38. “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

I John 4:19. “We love each other, because He loved us first.”