Embracing Holy Love: A Call to Radical Inclusivity

Devotional

Day 1: Offering Imperfect Worship to God

Description: Worship is not about achieving perfection but about offering our best to God despite our imperfections. This mindset helps us focus on the essence of worship—connecting with God and each other in genuine, heartfelt ways. When we acknowledge our imperfections, we open ourselves to God's grace, which transforms our worship into a sincere offering. This approach encourages us to be authentic in our worship, knowing that God values our honest efforts over flawless execution. [23:01]

Bible passage: "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'" (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV)

Reflection: Think about an area in your worship where you feel inadequate. How can you offer this imperfection to God as an act of sincere worship today?

Day 2: Embracing Radical Inclusivity of Love

Description: John Wesley's teachings emphasize that our love should extend to all people, regardless of their actions or beliefs. This radical inclusivity mirrors God's unconditional love for us and challenges us to love even those who may be difficult to love. By embracing this inclusive love, we reflect the boundless love of God and break down barriers that divide us. This approach calls us to see every person as worthy of love and compassion, just as God sees us. [30:31]

Bible passage: "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:44-45, ESV)

Reflection: Identify someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you show them God's radical, inclusive love today?

Day 3: Transcending Boundaries with the Good Samaritan

Description: The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us that true love transcends social and religious boundaries. It calls us to show compassion and mercy to everyone, including those we might consider enemies, thereby reflecting the boundless love of God. This story challenges us to look beyond our prejudices and extend kindness to all, regardless of their background or beliefs. By doing so, we embody the inclusive love that Jesus demonstrated through His life and teachings. [37:04]

Bible passage: "But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him." (Luke 10:33-34, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you hesitated to help someone because of social or religious differences. How can you overcome these barriers and show compassion today?

Day 4: Love as a Divine Gift and Human Responsibility

Description: Wesley believed that love is both a gift from God and a responsibility we must actively engage in. By performing acts of love, we open ourselves to being filled with God's love, which empowers us to love others more deeply. This dual nature of love calls us to recognize it as a divine gift while also taking responsibility to cultivate it through our actions. Engaging in acts of love not only benefits others but also transforms us, making us more receptive to God's love. [42:45]

Bible passage: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a specific act of love you can perform today. How can this act help you experience and share God's love more deeply?

Day 5: Continuing the Methodist Tradition of Social Justice

Description: The early Methodists were known for their radical acts of compassion and justice, reaching out to the marginalized and oppressed. This tradition calls us to continue engaging in social justice and compassion in our communities today. Whether through supporting local ministries, engaging in community service, or simply showing kindness in our daily interactions, we are invited to embody the love of God in tangible ways. This commitment to social justice reflects the heart of Methodism and its dedication to making a positive impact in the world. [47:10]

Bible passage: "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?" (Isaiah 58:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a social justice issue in your community. How can you take a concrete step to address this issue and show God's love to those affected?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the essence of Wesleyan theology, focusing on the transformative power of holy love. We began by acknowledging the imperfections in our worship and the importance of offering our best to God, despite the inevitable bumps along the way. This theme of imperfection and grace set the stage for our exploration of John Wesley's teachings on love, particularly his assertion that a Methodist's love should extend to all humankind, regardless of their actions or beliefs.

We examined the parable of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus teaches that true love transcends social and religious boundaries. This parable challenges us to love even those we might consider enemies, reflecting the radical inclusivity of God's love. Wesley's writings reinforce this, urging us to love everyone, including those who may hate or persecute us.

Our discussion also touched on the practical aspects of living out this love. We highlighted the importance of acts of service and compassion, not just as a response to feeling love but as a means to cultivate it. This aligns with Wesley's belief that love is both a divine gift and a human responsibility. By engaging in acts of love, we open ourselves to being filled with God's love, which in turn empowers us to love others more deeply.

We concluded by reflecting on the historical roots of Methodism, emphasizing its commitment to social justice and compassion. Wesley's movement was marked by its outreach to the marginalized, a tradition we are called to continue today. Whether through supporting local ministries, engaging in community service, or simply showing kindness in our daily interactions, we are invited to embody the love of God in tangible ways.

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Key Takeaways

1. Imperfect Worship as an Offering to God: Our worship is not about achieving perfection but about offering our best to God despite our imperfections. This mindset helps us focus on the essence of worship—connecting with God and each other in genuine, heartfelt ways. [23:01]
2. Radical Inclusivity of Love: John Wesley's teachings emphasize that our love should extend to all people, regardless of their actions or beliefs. This radical inclusivity mirrors God's unconditional love for us and challenges us to love even those who may be difficult to love. [30:31]
3. The Parable of the Good Samaritan: This parable teaches us that true love transcends social and religious boundaries. It calls us to show compassion and mercy to everyone, including those we might consider enemies, thereby reflecting the boundless love of God. [37:04]
4. Love as a Divine Gift and Human Responsibility: Wesley believed that love is both a gift from God and a responsibility we must actively engage in. By performing acts of love, we open ourselves to being filled with God's love, which empowers us to love others more deeply. [42:45]
5. Historical Roots of Methodism in Social Justice: The early Methodists were known for their radical acts of compassion and justice, reaching out to the marginalized and oppressed. This tradition calls us to continue engaging in social justice and compassion in our communities today. [47:10]
### [47:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:01] - Announcements and Opening Prayer
[23:01] - Imperfect Worship as an Offering
[24:56] - Wesleyan Teachings on Giving
[26:08] - Prayer and Community Support
[28:34] - Wesley's Definition of Love
[30:31] - Radical Inclusivity of Love
[32:22] - The Greatest Commandment
[34:08] - Summarizing the Law of Moses
[35:35] - Who is My Neighbor?
[37:04] - The Parable of the Good Samaritan
[39:20] - Loving the Unlovable
[41:05] - God's Example of True Love
[42:45] - Love as a Divine Gift and Human Responsibility
[45:32] - Compassion and Justice in Ministry
[47:10] - Historical Roots of Methodism
[48:56] - Invitation to Join and Baptism
[49:59] - Closing Prayer and Communion
[51:23] - Call to Action and Support
[52:16] - Confession and Communion Instructions
[54:02] - The Lord's Supper
[55:53] - Communion Service
[65:27] - Preteen Class Reflections
[66:23] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, what actions did the Samaritan take to help the injured man? (Luke 10:33-35)
According to Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40, what are the two greatest commandments?
How does 1 John 4:20-21 describe the relationship between loving God and loving others?
What did John Wesley mean by saying that a Methodist's love should extend to all humankind, even those who may hate or persecute us? [30:31]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose a Samaritan as the hero in the parable, considering the historical enmity between Jews and Samaritans? (Luke 10:33-35)
How does the command to love your neighbor as yourself challenge our natural inclinations and societal norms? (Matthew 22:39)
What does it mean to love someone who is difficult to love, and how can this reflect God's love for us? [39:20]
How do acts of service and compassion help cultivate love in our hearts, according to John Wesley's teachings? [42:45]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you offered your best to God despite imperfections. How did this experience impact your relationship with Him? [23:01]
Think of someone in your life who is difficult to love. What practical steps can you take this week to show them love and compassion? [30:31]
How can you incorporate acts of service into your daily routine to cultivate a deeper love for others? [42:45]
Identify a marginalized group in your community. What specific actions can you take to support and show compassion to them, following the example of early Methodists? [47:10]
How can you practice radical inclusivity in your interactions this week, especially towards those who may have different beliefs or lifestyles? [30:31]
Reflect on the historical roots of Methodism in social justice. How can you contribute to social justice initiatives in your community today? [47:10]
What are some ways you can remind yourself daily of God's unconditional love for you, and how can this awareness empower you to love others more deeply? [41:05]

Sermon Clips

1. "We are imperfect people that are just trying to give God our very best so I just want to say thanks to all worship team to our people in the back that are in the booth that are just here to offer what they can and I'm gonna thank you for rolling with the punches because sometimes things don't go exactly as they do and it's about us being right yeah so thanks to those online as well." [23:01] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Giving is rooted into God's very being therefore when we give we are doing so because God first gave to us he gave the gift that is unearned which is the gift of grace and the love of God therefore we do so in return we give back to God just simply because it is our love in return so I want to thank everyone who continues to support our ministries." [24:56] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When we ask the question who do we love he's saying everyone everyone is a child of God he says it doesn't matter if you know a person or if you don't it doesn't matter if that person is kind or unkind it doesn't matter if they hate you or if they're good or if they're going to be hateful towards you it doesn't matter if they are an enemy of God that's a strong phrase right there that one hit me right in the gut an enemy of God he doesn't matter if that person is evil or unthankful someone who may do wrong or even persecute us we are to love everyone." [30:31] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We summarize the entire law of Moses because of this passage with Jesus. That Jesus said, the whole law is all summarized by two things. We love God. We love others. Right? Are we thankful for that? Yes, right? Y'all are thankful that we don't have to follow the whole Levitical law, aren't you? You don't have to memorize all of them. Did you do too much work on the Sabbath today? Y'all don't have to worry about that, do you? No, you didn't have to walk to church, right? Y'all happy about that? Yes, right? Okay. I wanted to make sure you're happy." [34:08] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The intention of this story from Jesus, is that the person that we would not want to help, because they are the people that we cringe when we see, is the person we are supposed to love. And if you look back to that quote I started with, with John Wesley, we are supposed to love the ones that are less likely to be loved. I don't know about you, but when I read that quote again this week, it just hit me. Because the person who does evil, the person who is against God, the person who persecutes me. It's a heart, it hits me right here in the gut." [39:20] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We love because, friends, God demonstrated true love for us through Jesus. nobody has been a better example of love than our Lord God. Amen? Think about it. A world that, well, I don't know. A world that wasn't going to accept him, wasn't going to understand him, was going to persecute him, was going to judge him, was going to exile his people. God came, loved them, forgave them, broke down the walls between humanity and God. He did all of that through Jesus. Knowing, knowing how long it was going to take for the world to see Jesus for who he was. He did everything for his creation, knowing he would be rejected. If that's not love of those who hate you, I don't know what is." [41:05] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The foundation of our theology is that God is love. Therefore, when we act in love, God fills every ounce of who we are to give us the power that we need to love others. See, love includes all acts of compassion. It transplaces hatred. It transmutes love. These are not real words. I'm sorry." [43:58] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The fact that we as a church have been rising up to speak for children who have special needs and are on the spectrum, friends, that is justice and compassion. The fact that we have made a point so that when families walk in the door, they know that their child was created in the image of God, which bubbled out of our own church's experiences, that's compassion and justice. Sometimes those things don't have to mean we're down on the streets going to rallies. Sometimes it's little things." [45:32] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Loving others transforms not just us, but the people that we love. It transforms our relationship with God. Because the more we love like God, the more we receive and understand how God loves us. And I hate to break it to you, that doesn't happen by just sitting and worship. If there's any of you that feel like you haven't moved in your Christian discipleship, it may be because you're not getting the acts of service where they need to be. Or you're not putting yourself in situations to push this." [47:10] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "You have the power. The power to transform our community through the love. Would you pray with me? Almighty God, I am so thankful that you loved enough to come down for us. To not stay in your comfortable place, but to be incarnate and to suffer. And in that, Lord, in all things, you set the example of what sacrifice and actions behind words look like for us. So as we come to this place, God, I ask that you show us what we can do in our lives here and how we can love you deeper by loving others. I pray this in your holy and powerful name. Amen." [51:23] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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