Elements City Church
Inward (love yourself.)
We're taking 3 weeks to examine what Jesus said matters most! All of us already live within this movement that Jesus is speaking too as he replied to the question: ‘what is the greatest commandment? - All of us currently relate to God in a certain way, all of us treat ourselves in a certain way and all of us relate to others in a certain way. Jesus isn’t calling us to do something out of the ordinary – but he is calling us toward a divine movement of love in the way we relate with God, ourselves and others. We each have room to grow in our love for God (upward), for ourselves (inward) and for others (outward).
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for joining us...
Love God most, Love ourselves rightly, Love others really well.
It’s God’s love that empowers us too love!
(to love him back / love ourselves rightly / and love others well)
When it comes to finding, discovering our value and worth – within our society, almost always, our culture says: our value derives from
= WHAT WE DO, WHAT WE HAVE OR WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH.
But the Scriptures declare that to LOVE ourselves rightly – that requires embracing our true identity as the Beloved of God. To lean into the words of love God speaks over us and embrace that as our true identity.
According to God: our identity is not based on production, but based on what has been provided! = Jesus – God provided Jesus for us, to show us our value and worth to himself.
...in these words of reminder, Jesus reflects on both His past loving involvement with his disciples, as well as, His soon approaching demonstration of ultimate love at Calvary.
The Cross - is THE key to knowing our worth and value to God – to embracing a real love for self.
-God demonstrated his love for us by sending Jesus to die for us on the cross while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8)
-Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)
-Because of His great love for us, God made us alive with Christ! (Ephesians 2:4-5)
-See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we get to be children of God – and that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)
-Henri Nouwen
See Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:16-19 = part of growing into the fullness of all God has for you – is understanding and living within the love He has for you, so you can love yourself rightly!
1) “It’s not about you”
2) “you're enlisted into a purpose beyond you”
Jesus great statement early on with his disciples (see Matthew 16) as he begins to take them on his journey to the Cross and their commissioning to then live as his active agents of God’s love in this world. He must redirect them away from what society will always try to get us to buy: the world revolves around you.
Surrender to faith in Jesus over faith in yourself
Surrender to His grace, over your efforts
Submit to living for someone beyond yourself
Submit to following his leadership over your wishes and wants alone.
Enlisted into a purpose that is beyond you
We are also saved INTO a greater purpose.
Your Kingdom contribution is about you living to become the full potential of who God has sought you, saved you, forgiven you, rescued you, recreated you and is empowering you to BE.
Quote:
The only person in the universe whose opinion really counts looks at me and He finds me more valuable than all the jewels in creation.
–Timothy Keller
Wear the 'labels' God gives you!
In Christ, You’re loved.
In Christ, You’re forgiven.
In Christ, You’re holy.
In Christ, You’re a Temple of the Holy Spirit.
In Christ, You’re securely accepted.
In Christ, You’re no longer condemned
In Christ, You’re never alone – He is always with you.
In Christ, You’re a new creation.
In Christ, You’re equipped and gifted.
In Christ, You’re a sent one, commissioned with purpose
In Christ, You have a future, no matter your present struggle
In Christ, You have an everlasting HOPE
In Christ, You have an eternal HOME prepared for you.
In Christ, You’re a child of God.
In Christ, You’re a friend of Jesus forever!
Some of our prayer team and pastors are available following service to pray with you. You can also submit your prayer request via our app. We look forward to partnering with you in prayer.
Thanks for partnering with us...
We throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room If you're new, we'd love to meet you and welcome you! We'd love to also invite you back with us next Sunday at 5pm.