People of Love

Friendship

This year we are focusing on the value of Friendship

Ephesian we looked at being better together - thankful for all that filled in over the last 2 months, now its alongside with Baptist Mission Australia - how overseas and here at home, in our community it is important to come alongside people

and later this year we will look through Acts 2 by 2, How the disciples spread the gospel in twos and we need someone or a few with us spurring us on.

the thing about friendship is it helps us to be people of Love as we see the barriers and difficulties for others.

in what we read here, this was an arena of barriers and difficulties to physical needs.

The blind, the lame, the paralyzed. Invalid for 38 years (v4-5)

If you were to walk into this place what would be your thoughts, what would be the smell? It would be overwhelming and a place many would want to avoid.

In the messiness of life, we have our own problems and issues, so we tend to want to avoid others.

But God doesn’t he wants to step right in there

Yet, Jesus enters this areana of despair and see’s the need and responds to the needs with what is in his power.

1 John 4:7–12 NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

God is Love.

we see God through this love when we show God in the way we love others.

We love people and holistically respond to their needs Because that is what God Does.

Jesus sees the invalid and validates him. He is someone to Jesus and when we are overwhelmed by the crisis. Homelessness, mental health, domestic violence, depression,

Start by loving one person, see that person as Jesus saw this man, and respond to their needs.

I have been on the receiving end of that love these past several months...

This week Baptist Mission Australia is encouraging us to be people of love and come alongside others. In a moment I am going to get up Tracey and Stephen Avery.

But before that here is a story that I have enjoyed seeing evolve and is a simple example of seeing a need and loving others.

Interview

What are some of your reflections so far (from the service)?

What lead you to be involved in the ministries you are involved in today?

How have you seen a life transformed by simply loving them?

What helps you persevere and motivates you to step into the space you do to share Jesus' Love?

What is on your heart to leave us with today?