For the LOVE of God

1. For the LOVE of God The Epistles of John UMW Spiritual Growth Study Catherine Gunsalus González and Justo L. González

2. For the LOVE of God • Rev. Dana McKim • Ordained ,WNCC 1985 • Dual appointment • The Village Church • Pfeiffer University • Pat McKim • Macedonia UMC, Youth and Children’s Ministry • Aaron, 16 & Ashley, 7 • Missions & Disaster Response

3. For the LOVE of God PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY • 1885 – our 125th Year • 1 of 13 UMW Schools • ONLY Missions Major • Also, CE, Youth Ministry, MAPT, Deacon Studies Program

4. For the LOVE of God The Village Church • One of a kind UMC • Students Faculty Staff • 35% Worship Increase • Integrated in University • Multiple Ministries • 4 Mission Trips • UMW Unit

5. For the LOVE of God The Epistles of John UMW Spiritual Growth Study Catherine Gunsalus González and Justo L. González

6. Session 1 For the love of God

7. For the Love of God • Introduction • We live in a world of First Century Spirituality • No faith or trust in institutions • Access to a wide variety of world views and options • Ease of access to information – globalization • New tools and more effective communication • Hunger to know and experience more

8. For the Love of God • Personal Holiness • At the core of Wesleyan theology • Wesley had a passion for the Epistles of John • Simple • Direct • Heart of the Gospel • Encourage spiritual growth

9. For the Love of God • Misconceptions of Spirituality • Spirituality is incompatible with the Material • Spirituality is the same as doctrine • Spirituality is only individual

10. For the Love of God

11. For the Love of God • What “cannot be changed” in your life? • What could be changed in your life? • What discernment do you need for things that are a hindrance in your life?

12. For the Love of God • The Law of Cause and Effect: • "For every action there is equal and opposite reaction."

13. For the Love of God – John 1:6 - 2:2 IF… THEN! we lie and do not live by the truth. we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. • If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, • But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, • If we claim to be without sin,

14. For the Love of God – John 1:6 - 2:2 IF… THEN! he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. • If we confess our sins, • If we claim we have not sinned, • if anybody does sin,

15. For the Love of God • The General Rules: • DO NO HARM – AVOID EVIL • DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN • STAY IN LOVE WITH GOD (Attend to the ordinances of God)

16. For the Love of God • Purpose statement: The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

17. For the Love of God • 1 John 2:9-11 (Contemporary English Version) 9If we claim to be in the light and hate someone, we are still in the dark. 10But if we love others, we are in the light, and we don't cause problems for them. [a]11If we hate others, we are living and walking in the dark. We don't know where we are going, because we can't see in the dark.

18. For the Love of God • CREATOR AND HEALER OF THE WORLD, HELP US TO SEE OUR PART IN YOUR WORK OF HEALING OUR WORLD AND ITS WOUNDED PEOPLE. SHOW US WHAT NEEDS TO BE TORN DOWN AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT UP, THAT ALL PEOPLE MAY LIVE IN PEACE AND SAFETY, ENJOYING FULLNESS OF LIFE. AMEN Upper Room Worshipbook, 2006, Mary Lou Redding

20. For the Love of God • How do we share the light? • What are our ‘next steps”? • Where is God leading us? • What is God already doing? • How can we join in this?

21. For the Love of God We are reluctant , Author of Love and Light, to name and then set aside our hurts, anger and disappointments which we have acted upon individually and corporately in the church. Heal us with your tender touch and shine your light upon us

22. For the Love of God as we diligently seek the persons who live with a renewed commitment to seek your image in all persons. Open our eyes to your reclaiming power in out lives, your redeeming love, and reveal to us through this study how your love is made known through continued unselfish sacrifice

23. For the Love of God • Prayers of Silent Confession • Assurance and Pardon IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, GOD IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.1 John 1:9 • An Offering

24. For the Love of God • We Are Called #2172 The Faith We Sing Come! Live in the Light! Shine with joy and the love of the Lord! WE ARE CALLED TO BE THE LIGHT FOR THE KINGDOM, TO LIVE IN THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF GOD! Come! Open your heart! Show your mercy to all those who fear! WE ARE CALLED TO BE HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS SO ALL HATRED AND BLINDNESS WILL BE NO MORE!

25. For the Love of God Sing! Sing and new song! Sing of that great day when all will be one! GOD WILL REIGN AND WE’LL WALK WITH EACH OTHER AS SISTERS AND BROTHERS UNITED IN LOVE! WE ARE CALLED TO ACT WITH JUSTICE, WE ARE CALLED TO LOVE TENDERLY, WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER, TO WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD!

26. For the LOVE of God The Epistles of John UMW Spiritual Growth Study Catherine Gunsalus González and Justo L. González

27. Session 1I For the love of God

28. For the Love of God • My Journey with the UMW

29. For the Love of God • My Journey with the UMW • Southwest UMC – Miami, Fl • Small congregation • My “second home” • WSCS & Summer Camp • UMW saw potential where I saw none • Took a risk, made an investment • Youth Group, VBS, Choir

30. For the Love of God • My Journey with the UMW • Southwest UMC – Miami, Fl • Changing neighborhood • 1970’s Miami – “Little Havana” • A ‘helpful’ DS • A bad church growth model

31. For the Love of God • My Journey with the UMW • Southwest UMC Closed and Sold • Hispanic Presbyterians • Another changing neighborhood • Another bad church growth model

32. For the Love of God • Calvary Chapel – Miami • Multi site • Multi service • Multi cultural

34. For the Love of God As we come to greet your presence in our lives, to study your Holy Word, and to praise your name, O God, remind us of all your continued acts of mercy you freely give to us and the presence of your Holy Spirit calling us to love with the boldness of your truth being revealed through us. May this time of study be a special time for each of us calling us to restore balance and harmony in the lives of your created people. We pray through the name of Jesus. Amen

35. For the Love of God • 1 John 2:9-11 (Contemporary English Version) 9If we claim to be in the light and hate someone, we are still in the dark. 10But if we love others, we are in the light, and we don't cause problems for them. [a]11If we hate others, we are living and walking in the dark. We don't know where we are going, because we can't see in the dark.

36. For the Love of God • HOW are WE enabling the Light to shine? • WHERE is that Light shining? • WHERE does the light yet need to shine? • HOW are YOU showing your love of the world? • HOW is YOUR love of God being revealed?

37. For the Love of God • Postmodern Values • RELATIONSHIPS not RULES • POSSIBILITIES not PROBABILITIES • AUTHENTICITY not ACCOLADES • TRANSPARENCY not TRIUMPHS

38. For the Love of God 1 John 2:3-17 (The Message) The Only Way to Know We're in Him 2-3Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments.  4-6If someone claims, "I know him well!" but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love. This is the only way to be sure we're in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.  7-8My dear friends, I'm not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you've known it from day one. It's always been implicit in the Message you've heard. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing!  9-11Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It's the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.

39. For the Love of God Loving the World 12-13I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus' name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One.  13-14And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God's word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.

40. For the Love of God • The “Mayonnaise Sign” • Why do we have them? • Why do we need them?

41. For the Love of God • The World of John • Gnosticism • Rules • Secrets • False piety • Confusion over doctrine

42. For the Love of God “This situation may be described by two propositions, both of which are equally true. Only one who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes. … For faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience. If we are to believe, we must obey a concrete command. Without this preliminary step of obedience, our faith will be only pious humbug.” Dietrich Bonheoffer The Cost of Discipleship

43. For the Love of God Wesley used four different sources in coming to theological conclusions. The four sources are: • Scripture - the Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments) • Tradition - the two millennia history of the Christian Church • Reason - rational thinking and sensible interpretation • Experience - a Christian's personal and communal journey in Christ

44. For the Love of God • What is the source of authentic Christian relationship? • What is the source of authentic relationship with God? • What are the barriers to this relationship?

45. For the Love of God • Where have systems helped birth authentic relationship? • Where have systems restrained or caused failure in authentic relationship? • Where have we, as modern Christians, helped or harmed the process of authentic relationship?

46. For the Love of God GOD IS LOVE. WE SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER. LITTLE CHILDREN, LET US LOVE, NOT IN WORD OR SPEECH BUT IN TRUTH AND ACTION.

47. For the Love of God EVERYONE WHO LOVES KNOWS GOD AND IS BORN OF GOD. NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD, IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER GOD LIVES IN US AND HIS LOVE IS PERFECTED IN US. GOD IS LOVE AND THOSE WHO ABIDE IN LOVE ABIDE IN GOD AND GOD ABIDES IN THEM.

48. For the Love of God • Who are the unserved/underserved of your community? • What efforts has your congregation made to reach out to them? • What efforts has your unit made to reach out to them? • What efforts have you made to reach out to them?

49. For the Love of God • When in your own life has your faith been made stronger through your obedience? • When have you been more ready to act because of your faith? • What are the consequences to the unserved and underserved populations of inaction?

50. For the Love of God • The World of John • Upside Down • Jews and Christians together • Men and women together • Slaves and free together • Truth and lies together