John 13-15
- John 13:34-35 – Other people would know they were disciples because of the love they showed for each other.
- John 13:37
- John 14:21-24
- John 15:12-13
- Jesus taught us to love by setting the example.
- Laying down my life for others involves serving others.
- Sometimes, “laying down your life” means literally dying.
- Keeping Jesus’ commandments is part of laying down my life for Him.
I John 1-3
- John 2:15 – Don’t love the world.
- I John 3:4-10 – Every person is known by their deeds.
- I John 3:14-15
- I John 3:16 – We know what love is based on what God did.
- Love is action!
- I must walk in the light as God is light.
- If I don’t love my brother: I don’t belong to God, I don’t have redemption.
- God defined love: He laid down His life for us.
- Laying down my life for others involves: action and sharing physical resources.
Matthew 25:31-46
- How important is it that I lay down my life for God and others?
- To those who laid down their lives:
- “Came, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
- To those who did not lay down their lives, Jesus says:
- “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”
- Showing compassion for others is laying down my life for them.
Galatians 6:1-10
- Working to bring a straying soul back to God.
- Bearing each other’s spiritual burdens.
- What I sow is what I will reap; invest wisely.
Matthew 18:21-22
- Giving grace
Applications
- Can you tell who is laying down their lives for others and who is not?
Challenges
- Open a dialog within your family about how each of you are laying down your lives for each other.
- Ask yourself and others: What am I not laying down in my life that I need to?
- Build the mindset: “Real living is laying down my life.”
- John 14:24-26