The Greatest: Week 1
Psalms 145:8-10– The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
1 Chronicles 16:34– Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Set Up
- Examples of the Greatest
- The Greatest Kingdom & Commandment
The Greatest Kingdom
Psalms 146:1-8-Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. 2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath. 3 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. 4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. 5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel[a] as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 6 He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. 7 He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. 8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly.
Attributes of God
- It is the Greatest Kingdom, because it’s a Kingdom made by the greatest King
- The World Tells us to establish your own kingdom
- Paul (Philippians 3:4-9)
- Everything we chase down here is all garbage
- Who cares if you gain the world but forfeit your own soul (Mark 8:36)
- Are you trying to build your own Kingdom?
- The Gospel
- Galatians 6:14
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The Greatest Command
- It’s the Greatest Kingdom because it has the greatest King, the Greatest King has the Greatest’s commandments.
Matthew 22:36-40- 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[e] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[f] 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
- 1 John 4:19
- 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
- What is compelling you?
- What does diving into Gods love look like?
- What does letting Gods love compel you to love look like?
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The Close
- Do you see Christ’s love for you?
- What is compelling you?
- What is your next steps?
- Do you need to surrender your life to Jesus?
QUESTIONS:
Opening Question:
- What is the most recent time someone was kind to you? What did they do?
Read/Tell the Story:
- Luke 10:25-37 (The Good Samaritan)
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think the priest and the Levite passed by without helping the wounded man?
- Was there ever a time that you were “passed by” (ignored, looked over, etc.)? What happened?
- God commands us to love God and love others. What do you do when your feelings don’t match the command?
- In a court of law, would you be convicted of loving your neighbor (the people in your life)? And why?
- When was the last time you got to help someone? How did that make you feel?
- Which “neighbor” is God asking you to show kindness or mercies towards? What are you going to do about it?
Additional Scripture to Consider:
• Matthew 22:36-40
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-7