START HERE | Start with loving God, because God loved you first
Sometimes following God feels a little complicated. There seem to be many things to remember, prayers to pray, and guidelines for how we’re supposed to live. How do we even know where to start? In this three-week series, we’ll find our starting point in the words of Jesus. We’ll point our students toward the greatest thing Jesus calls us to do: love God, love others, and love ourselves. When it comes to faith, they can START HERE!
BIBLE: Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love you neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)
This week, the conversation anchors on the fact that God loves us. No matter who we are, what we've done, what we believe, or how we live, God’s love is readily available to every single person. That alone may be a revolutionary thought for your students! Because the world (and yes, even the church at times) is filled with all kinds of ideas about what it means to be loved by God and love God in return, your students may have a hard time embracing the simplicity of the fact that God loves them! Your goal this week is to help simplify it for them. God loves them, and it’s out of that love that they can love God in return. When it comes to their faith, that’s a great place to start!
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JUST FOR FUN
What’s a hill that you would die on, saying it’s the greatest and no one can convince you otherwise (maybe it’s Marvel vs. DC, lip gloss vs. Chapstick, Minecraft vs. Fortnite, being the one who’s driving vs. having someone drive you around, Nike vs. Adidas, Your mom’s cooking vs. Your best friend’s mom’s cooking, etc)
DISCUSS THIS
– How do the things we love shape our lives and relationships?
– What are some things people typically assume God values most? Do you agree or disagree with these assumptions?
– Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
– Why do you think this commandment is considered the greatest?
– What does it practically look like for you to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?
– How might your daily life change if loving God became your number one priority?
– In everyday life, how are loving God and loving others connected?
– What's one step you can take this week to intentionally show that loving God is your highest priority?
TRY THIS
Leaders—encourage your students to memorize The Greatest Commandment this week. Text the verse to them sometime this week and remind them that loving God and loving others are connected.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).
FOLLOW UP & PRAY