Read john 15:12-17
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
PONDER
Meditate on the love of Jesus displayed on the cross. Apart from Him, we are dead. Yet God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). By His love, we live. Let this reality lead you to worship!
Jesus’s love for us defines how we love one another. Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ?
PRAY
- Father, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. We have life only in Him, we confess that apart from Him we can do nothing.
- Father, thank you for your love that we have experienced in Christ. Help us to love one another as you have first loved us.
- Father, produce fruit in our lives so that all would know we are your disciples, and that by our fruit, you would be glorified.
- Father, as we study your Word, may we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing, may we have life in His name.
- Father, prepare me to gather with my church and worship you. You are worthy! To you be the glory!
PRactice
Gather! 9:30 or 11:00am. Purpose to read, sing, pray, and give to worship our Savior and build up your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Last week, we presented 12 new members of our church family. Before this Sunday, visit tcbchurch.org/newmembers. Choose at least one to learn their name and pray for them. Look for them this Sunday and introduce yourself!
5 Practices for Gathering Well:
- Be Present – The first step to gathering well: Gather!
- Be Early – Prioritize the gathering with your time. Don’t be late. The practical discipleship of this priority can be profound for you and your family.
- Be Prepared – Ponder, pray, sing, fast, and praise are all good ways to prepare.
- Be Uncomfortable – Sit with different people. Sing loud. Challenge routines. Gather on mission.
- Be Responsive – Don’t just be hearers of the Word, be doers. Pray. Ponder. Practice. Too often we gather to affirm what we already hold, rather than be taught, rebuked, corrected, or trained in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Gather to be transformed.
- Get help and accountability in Prepare Sundays at either 9:30 or 11:00 downstairs in the adult hall. Prepare is a Go Study Group aimed to help us grow as doers of the Word by working through the next steps required to faithfully apply the biblical text we’re reading and preaching through at TCBC.