Journey to Joy: Week Two

Love

This week, while you meet with your Faith Formation Group you may want to reflect on our Scripture passage by reading John 1:14, John 3:16-17 & Romans 5:18-21(printed below) and discuss the questions from the Scripture and Sermon as a way to begin a conversation. 

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:14)

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. ¹⁹ Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. ²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:18-21)

Questions for Consideration:

1. Think about your life and how you have experienced love? Share a story with your group or write a journal entry about an experience when you felt unconditional love? 
2. In John 1:14 we get the first sign of God’s love for humanity when it says, “the Word became flesh and made his home among us.” What do you think is significant about being among us in expressing love?
3. How has God expressed love for us through His Son Jesus?
4. What problems does our sin cause in experiencing the fullness of God’s love?

As you meet this week, we encourage you to also take time to open yourselves up as a group and dialog on the following Wesley Challenge question: Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite? (Pages 99-103 in The Wesley Challenge)

We are just two weeks away from our grand opening weekend! I hope you have friends that you are inviting to come join us for worship Sunday and/or Christmas Eve Monday!