Issues of the Heart #2: Rivalry


Preparing for Worship

•  Find a place free from distractions.

•  Gather your family (if applicable).

•  Refrain from checking messages on your devices.

•  Have your Bible ready.

•  Estimated duration of worship: 1 hr 15 mins


Order of Service

Call to Worship

Have someone read aloud:

1 John 4:20-21 (NKJV)

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the unconditional love that You have lavished upon us. We love and honor You by loving people with Your truth and grace. You are Love. We, Your church, will continue to proclaim You on earth by the love we give to others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Worship through Songs

Lyrics - All Hail The Power of Jesus' Name
Lyrics - Happiness Is The Lord
Lyrics - 祢是信實的上帝 (You Are a Faithful God)
Lyrics - Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Scripture Reading

Read aloud (together if applicable).

R-48 LOVE ONE ANOTHER 彼此相愛

John 13:34-35; Ephesians 4:31-5:2; 1 John 3:14-18; 4:7 (NKJV)


A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”


Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.


Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.


We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.


By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?


My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.


Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Sermon

Song of Response

Lyrics - Shepherd of My Soul

Worship through Prayer

  1. Purify my love. Let me love with truth and grace. Teach me to love in righteousness. When I don't see eye-to-eye with my loved ones, help me take the side of Your truth in love. Let every conflict be another opportunity to grow in mutual understanding that strengthens my bond with them.

  2. Let no bitter roots take hold of my heart. Cleanse my mind from any sinful thoughts that I have against them. Help me strive to love them sincerely even in my private thoughts, words and feelings.

  3. Father, forgive me for the sinful acts that I have committed towards my brothers and sisters. Against You, O Lord, have I done these, for they too bear Your image. May I see them as people whom You love and treat them carefully out of my love and reverence for You.