Week 02: Love & Generosity

“For God loved the world in this way, he gave his one and only Son.” (John 3:16) During the Advent season, we are reminded that the primary evidence and act of God’s love is generosity. We see it in his gift of Jesus and we are called to embody it ourselves through our own giving. If we are called to image or reflect God, we might ask, “For _______ loved the world in this way, they gave _________.” In this week’s teaching, we examined humility, control of the tongue, and compassion as three avenues of giving ourselves in people of love.

“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”
– Attributed to Various Authors

practices

Humility

  1. Refrain from image management

  2. Deliberately keep silent about accomplishments and talents

  3. Refuse the impulse to name-drop, backing away from becoming the center of attention; drawing others out

  4. Honor others as God does, choosing downward mobility so others have more

Control of the Tongue

  1. Not speaking out of anger or irritability

  2. Use words to encourage and build others up

  3. Refuse to take part in gossip, slander, or backstabbing

  4. Curb half-truths used to create impressions and manage your image

Compassion

  1. Find an opportunity and means to comfort, encourage, and support those who struggle and suffer

  2. Seek to heal wounds that react to the wounded

  3. Show mercy rather than passing judgement

  4. Visit those who are sick, hospitalized, unable to drive and attending to their needs and desires with patient love

Additional:

  1. Pray, look for opportunities, and give your time to a member of Collective, a neighbor, or coworker in the coming weeks.

Additional Notes on Generosity

  • For more on generosity, watch the BibleProject’s Generosity video.

Ryan Smith