Connell Church of the Nazarene

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, thank you for the many gifts You have given me. Help me to better understand the gift of Your grace in this time. Amen.

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Reflect: How does Paul’s definition of love inform our understanding of God’s grace? What is the most important part of this chapter to you? Why does it stick out to you most? How can you apply this understanding of love to one relationship in your life today?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “Fairest Lord Jesus”
Fairest Lord Jesus!
Ruler of all nature!
O Thou of God and man the Son!
Thee will I cherish;
The will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown!

Fair are the meadow;
Fairer still the woodlands,
Roved in the blooming garb of spring.
Jesus is fairer;
Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing!

Fair is the sunshine;
Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry hosts.
Jesus shines brighter;
Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast!

Beautiful Savior!
Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of man!
Flory and honor,
Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be Thine!

Closing Prayer: Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen (Psalm 72:18-19)

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, as I remember Your goodness to me this week, help me to offer thanks to You with a sincere heart, in a way that will bless You. Amen.

Read: 1 John 4:7-21
Reflect: How do you define love after reading this passage? Why is important for love to work between people, and between people and God? What does it look like to abide in God?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “Because I Have Been Given Much”
Because I have been given much,
I too must give.
Because of Thy great bounty, Lord,
Each day I live,
I shall divide my gifts from Thee
With ever brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed,
By Thy good care,
I cannot see another’s lack
And not share
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,
My roof’s safe shelter overhead,
That he too may be comforted.

Because love has been lavished so
Upon me, Lord,
A wealth I know that was not meant
For me to hoard,
I shall give love to those in need-
Shall show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

Closing Prayer: Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. (Psalm 72:18-19)

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, as I remember Your goodness to me this week, help me to offer thanks to You with a sincere heart, in a way that will bless You. Amen.

Read: 1 John 1:5-2:14
Reflect: John says that he writes so that they might not sin. How does his writing keep his readers from sin? What is the difference between “little children,” “fathers,” and “young men” in vv. 12-14? Why does Jesus make these instructions to the different groups twice?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “Because I Have Been Given Much”
Because I have been given much,
I too must give.
Because of Thy great bounty, Lord,
Each day I live,
I shall divide my gifts from Thee
With ever brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed,
By Thy good care,
I cannot see another’s lack
And not share
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,
My roof’s safe shelter overhead,
That he too may be comforted.

Because love has been lavished so
Upon me, Lord,
A wealth I know that was not meant
For me to hoard,
I shall give love to those in need-
Shall show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

Closing Prayer: Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. (Psalm 72:18-19)

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, as I remember Your goodness to me this week, help me to offer thanks to You with a sincere heart, in a way that will bless You. Amen.

Read: John 15:18-16:4
Reflect: Do you think Jesus expects us to be persecuted for following him (even 2000 years after his ministry)? What is the role of the Helper, or Holy Spirit, according to Jesus? Does Jesus’ teaching make it easier for his disciples as he is about to leave them?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “Because I Have Been Given Much”
Because I have been given much,
I too must give.
Because of Thy great bounty, Lord,
Each day I live,
I shall divide my gifts from Thee
With ever brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed,
By Thy good care,
I cannot see another’s lack
And not share
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,
My roof’s safe shelter overhead,
That he too may be comforted.

Because love has been lavished so
Upon me, Lord,
A wealth I know that was not meant
For me to hoard,
I shall give love to those in need-
Shall show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

Closing Prayer: Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. (Psalm 72:18-19)

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, as I remember Your goodness to me this week, help me to offer thanks to You with a sincere heart, in a way that will bless You. Amen.

Read: John 15:1-17
Reflect: From this passage alone can you determine what Jesus considered fruit in the lives of his disciples? What motivation does Jesus give us to love one another? In what ways did Jesus demonstrate how to fulfill the command of love?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “Because I Have Been Given Much”
Because I have been given much,
I too must give.
Because of Thy great bounty, Lord,
Each day I live,
I shall divide my gifts from Thee
With ever brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed,
By Thy good care,
I cannot see another’s lack
And not share
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,
My roof’s safe shelter overhead,
That he too may be comforted.

Because love has been lavished so
Upon me, Lord,
A wealth I know that was not meant
For me to hoard,
I shall give love to those in need-
Shall show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

Closing Prayer: Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. (Psalm 72:18-19)