Love Each Other Deeply
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.1 Peter 4: 7-11
A Thought From the Pastor
How can we love each other deeply? The Greek word that “deeply” was translated from describes the effort by an athlete trying to win a race. It is straining with all your effort! Additionally, God has given us a training regimen in scripture to help us begin this effort.
- If you are going to love others we have to learn to accept God’s love ourselves. I John 4 tells us that love originated from God and the proof is Jesus Christ. This is the foundation for us loving others.
- We need to learn to forgive. Luke 6 teaches that loving each other deeply doesn’t mean avoiding the truth, it entails showing kindness with grace and mercy to others when we love them.
- When we walk in the Spirit we can learn to love deeply. Galatians 5 reminds us that by living in the Spirit while avoiding the fleshly desires will result in fruit. The greatest fruit of all is love.
- Love should be our highest goal. Love should be the foundation for our relationships with others. God demonstrated this to us through sending us his son and John 13 tells us that love should be the distinguishing characteristic of a follower of Christ.
Prayerful Planning
- Please stop by our Welcome Center after church to sign up for Sunday celebrations, food pantry volunteers and our texting system and any questions you may have with events.
- It's Celebration Sunday! Please join us after church today for some treats and celebrate sobriety milestones, anniversaries, birthdays and other ways God has showered his blessing upon us.
Plans and Events at PCOC
- 4/19 - Celebration Sunday today right after church
- 4/20 - Community Kitchen @ 11:30-12:30pm @ PCOC
- 4/22 - Women's and Men's Bible Studies @ 6:30pm @ PCOC
- 4/23 - Church Prayer @ 10:30am @ PCOC
Purpose For This Week
- Pray that we would be light in our community.
- Pray that we would do good for the glory of God.
- Pray that our children would grow in faith and goodness.
Praise Reports & Prayer Requests
- Please cover Miryssa Latham in your prayers as there are concerns for her health with some initial tests from her pregnancy. Please pray that cancer will not be present and that she and baby will be healthy.
- Please cover Brigid Koch and family in prayer as she continues her journey of starting a faith-based foster care facility in Petoskey. Please cover applications, funding and patience in this endeavour.
- Please pray for Tyler and Ashleigh as they are juggling a lot in their lives with family, college, wedding planning and daily life. Please continue to cover Ashleigh's kids in prayer.
- Please pray for many that are struggling with family reunification and that God would bless this desire and that he would watch over the children of the families within our church. Please cover families in our midst that are going through this and that God's will and providence for the children and families would be done.