Rev. Franke's Theme Thoughts

Series B, Easter 6 May 13, 2012

Lessons for The Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 10:34–48 ~ God’s love is known by His message of peace through Jesus to all, including Gentiles.

Psalm 98 (Antiphon: Psalm 98:2)

1 John 5:1–8 ~ God showed His love in sending His Son; we show our love by keeping His commands.

John 15:9-17 ~ Jesus’ command for His followers is that they love one another.

GATHERING THE TEXTS: How Can Anybody Love Me?

Sometimes that is the way we feel, but God showed His love in this: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. People see that love expressed in our own lives. That is why Jesus said we should love each other as He has loved us. St. Peter recognized God’s abundant love poured out to Gentiles as well as to the Jews, and knew that God loves people of all races equally. We might rather ask, “How can anybody doubt God’s love?”

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE: Father, You have loved me so much and made me a member of Your family in Jesus, Your Son; help me show my love to my sisters and brothers in Christ, and to others who You want to include in Your family also. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: God has shown His love for us by giving us victory over sin through the death and resurrection of His Son. We show our love for God by our love for each other. As we share all gifts with those in need we share God’s love as well.

OFFERING PRAYER: Use our gifts of love, O Lord, to spread Your word of peace.

Let our love for one another show in all we say and do,

While we tell our sister, brother, that Your mercies never cease.

May our acts of love for others turn their hearts to Christ and You. Amen.

CONVICTION AND COMFORT: Often we doubt God’s love for us because we show favoritism in dealing with others. We see aspects of our own lives we would reject. But God reaches out to us and to those we avoid in our prejudices, including us all in his family through the love he has given in Jesus our Savior. That same love in our lives will overcome our rejections as we learn to love as Christ has loved us.