week 3, day 15 ::: wednesday, january 23, 2008

What you will need for this session:
Bible.Pen.Internet

The past two weeks we’ve been looking at ourselves and looking closely at who God is. Now we’re going to turn to the world around us. In your journal make two columns. In the left column, write down all the parts of your world: school, sports, debate, 4H, church, job, etc. In the right column rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 5, rating how well in each area you believe you are allowing God’s love to show forth in your life.

Read the following statements. Based on your self evaluation, would these sentences be true or false?

1. Someone who asked your friends about you would have no idea if you are a Christian.
2. You sometimes talk about being a part of a Christian community, but your friends never take you seriously because that doesn't seem like too much of a “big deal” to you.
3. It’s obvious that you love god and share that love with others when you are around people that are easy to love. But when it comes to the more difficult areas in your life sometimes you struggle with your faith and how you treat the people around you.
4. You love God and it is obvious, but there is one area where you know your attitude is not always what God might want (relationship to your family, etc.). In this area your life is not always a reflection of God’s unconditional love in your life.
5. You’re walking and talking God’s unconditional love in every aspect of your life, and everyone you know would most certainly agree.

Reflection on these questions:

1. What did you learn about yourself?
2. Where do you see yourself living for God?
3. Where do you see opportunity to share more of God’s love?

Read 1 John 4:7-21. How is loving God and loving others related?

Ask God to help you think of one person that is hard to love. Pray for that person, and take a step this week to get to know that person a little better.