As we continue in our series of Deeper Engagement, this week we will shift our focus a deeper engagement with others.
If you were to stop and think about people who you find it very easy to be around and you enjoy spending time with them…
What is it about them that make them enjoyable to be around?
What attributes and personalities traits do they have?
If you were to think of people that you don’t enjoy being around as much…
What is it about them that make them difficult to be around?
What attributes and personalities traits do they have?
When people think about you, what category do you think they assign to you?
These are the scriptures I encourage you to sit with this week.
Please note these are translations that you might not be as familiar with. Check them out and compare them to your favorite translation…
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 The Message
12-13 And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!
13-15 Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.
16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
19-22 Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.
23-24 May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!
Matthew 5:43-48 Amplified Bible
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, [n]love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him]. 46 For if you love [only] those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers [wishing them God’s blessing and peace], what more [than others] are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles [who do not know the Lord] do that? 48 You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I encourage you to find different ways to engage deeper with the bible.
Another suggestion to more deeply engage the bible is to read the bible out loud. Maybe this week you can gather with your family or with some friends and choose a piece of scripture and read it out loud and discuss.
Happy reading.
Also a reminder to keep reviewing Colossians 3:16-17 (New Century Version)…
16 Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.
Let’s engage more deeply with each other on Sunday!
Here are some fun videos for the children or the young at heart…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6MWzziBM44
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnhMZpE_rfo
Attachments areaPreview YouTube video Bible story “The Golden Rule” | Primary Year D Quarter 1 Episode 1 | GracelinkBible story “The Golden Rule” | Primary Year D Quarter 1 Episode 1 | GracelinkPreview YouTube video Golden Rule – Nature Jams – Lyrics VideoGolden Rule – Nature Jams – Lyrics Video