Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 2:10; John 13:35
Main Idea
You are each a masterpiece of God, created for good works. These acts of kindness and compassion aren’t about earning God’s love; they’re a natural outpouring of it; revealing God’s love to the world. The world will know we are Christians by our love and doing good, not by our pride and self-service.
positive peer pressure
- negative vs. positive peer pressure
- 1. spur each other one (paroxysmos)
2. motivate each other to love
we serve because of god’s grace, not to earn it
- Jesus demonstrated service
- God’s love and grace motivated Him
love and doing good shows our connection to Christ
- We can only be saved by God’s grace
- We serve as a response to God’s grace
- You are God’s masterpiece
- Created to serve and love others (like Jesus)
- Our service to others shows that we love and follow Jesus
- Meeting practical needs in our community
“Do not waste your time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor, act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.”
– C.S. Lewis
Salvation by grace alone
- God offers you the gift of salvation and eternal life.
- Confess your sin and trust in Jesus as your Savior.
Take Aways
Are you ready for heaven?
What are some practical ways you can “spur others on toward love and doing good ” within your community?
How does understanding that you are “God’s masterpiece” (Ephesians 2:10) change the way you view your roles in the church and in the world?
How have love and good deeds influenced your faith journey?
How does the perspective that we love and serve because of God’s grace (not to earn it) shift affect our motivations and actions?
How can you impact others with love and doing good?
