https://www.bible.com/events/49204898
Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg
What Does God Want from Me? All
What we do with ALL we’ve been given matters to God.
Throughout this series we will seek to understand and answer the question:What does God expect of me?
We believe whole heartedly that it is only by the grace and mercy of God that we can be saved. There is absolutely nothing we can ever do to earn our salvation.
But truths such as the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God do not nullify the fact that He has expectations about how we are to live our lives.
Our teaching series is based on the parable of Jesus in Matthew 25 known as the parable of the talents.
What we do with what we have been given, matters to God.
What does God really want from me? He wants it all. All of you.
As we enter John Chapter 15, Jesus is just hours away from the Cross. He and his disciples are together sharing a meal, as Jesus gives some final instructions and encouragement.
Think about this scene for a moment: The master (Jesus) is going away, and he has gathered his disciples together to entrust them with some final instructions.
I can’t help but wonder if the disciples in that moment were remembering the parable of the talents.
John 15:9-17
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
Not just lay down your time, lay down your money, lay down your gifts…Lay down your life.
God wants all of me?
Jesus calls us to lay down our lives?
This is a puzzling concept that many of us don’t truly understand.
One of the keys to Jesus’ command is in these two words: ‘greater love’.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Verse 13)
Jesus is calling us to a radically new way of living of loving.
By our definition, this does not make sense. We cannot fathom this kind of love, because our concept of love is so limited and flawed.
It would be impossible to comprehend this kind of love, except Jesus himself demonstrated it for us.
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (Verse 12)
It’s important to note: this isn’t a suggestion. Jesus isn’t suggesting we embrace this kind of ‘greater love’. He is commanding it.
“You must love as I have loved you.”
Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:39
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
Verses for further study/reflection:
1 Corinthians 6:19
Luke 9:24
1 John 3:16-18
John 10:11
2 Corinthians 5:15
Romans 12:1
Jeremiah 10:23
1 John 3:16
Updates on the new Waynesboro campus
God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey!
Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey.
Giving at COTN
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