THIS IS A SPECIAL "HOME CHURCH" MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KYLE DURING THIS TIME WITHOUT CHURCH SERVICES BEING HELD DUE TO COVID19.

FOR PRINTABLE PDF OF THIS MESSAGE, CLICK HERE.

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Hello Church Family,
Below is a Bible study for you to use for your “at home” church service this Sunday. This time I put it into a format that includes songs. Also, I want to encourage you, that if you have any pray requests or praises that you would normally share during “prayer and praise time” at church, to send them down the prayer chain before Sunday morning so that everyone can take some time to pray for one another during each of your church services.

In Christ,
- Pastor Kyle

“Home Church” Bible Study Guide

Topic: Through Love Serve One Another

• Open in prayer. Take this time to pray for one another, including any prayer requests that may have come down the prayer chain.
• Sing some worship songs. Feel free to do this however you prefer, but below are some options for you, as well as a YouTube video above that you can sing along with.
  • Amazing Grace
  • Holy, Holy, Holy
  • Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
  • It is Well with My Soul

Read Galatians 5:13

The context of this passage is that Paul is talking to the church at Galatia about the important truth that we are no long bound by the Law, but are free from the Law because of all that Christ did. In verse 13 Paul begins to address the struggles that can come as a result of our freedom in Christ. In other words, because we are no longer obligated to live according to the Old Testament laws, it could be easy for us to become lacks and give room for the flesh (sin). So this is where we are then instructed to “serve one another through love.” The reason for this is given in verse 14: “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Though we are no longer obligated to live according to the Old Testament law, we are obligated to live according to the intent of the Law, which is first to love God, and then to love and serve one another.

• Why do you suppose that Paul emphasized that we must serve one another “through love”? What does it look like if we are trying to serve one another with any reason or motive other than love?
• We often think of love as an emotion or feeling, and though emotions and feelings come as a result of true love, they are not how we define, or even identify, what true love is. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. In only a few words, explain what this passage defines as true, agape love.
• Read Galatians 5:22-23. If we are walking by the Spirit (verse 16 & 25) and putting into practice the fruit of the Spirit, how will this effect our ability to serve one another?

Read John 13:12-17

Here Jesus is in the upper room only hours before His arrest that leads to His crucifixion. He takes these last moments to teach the disciples about things that they’ll need to know for what the near future will hold for them. Many of the things Jesus teaches are specific to these apostles as they will be the building blocks of the church, as well as the ones who the Holy Spirit will use to write most of the New Testament Scriptures. However, many of the things Jesus teaches are direct commands for us as well. As we look at the principle of serving one another, we see here that Jesus is making this point abundantly clear through His own example.

• Imagine the eternal Creator of the universe getting down on His knees to wash the dirty feet of His disciples. How backwards is this to our typical, human way of thinking?
• In verse 13 Jesus made it clear that they were right to “call Him Teacher and Lord,” but through His demonstration in verses 4-5 and His explanation in verses 14-17, He not only taught that He was not above serving one another out of love, but that it is the highest thing anyone can do. How should this way of thinking change how we think and live?
• What are some other examples where Jesus displayed similar, servant-like attitudes?
• In verse 17 Jesus says, “…you are blessed if you do them.” In what ways are we blessed if we serve one another in love?
• Though we are all somewhat trapped in our homes right now, what are some ways that we can be practicing the command to “serve one another”?
• Sing a closing worship song: The fifth song on the YouTube video is “Be Thou My Vision”
• Close in Prayer