Today’s reading seems simple on a cursory reading.
It is not.
Let’s start with the concept of purpose. Salt’s purpose is to be salty. Light to give light. God’s commands to bring our will in line with His. Jesus: to accomplish reconciliation with us and God; saving us through faith in His; bestowing His mercy and grace because of His love for us; fulfilling of all the Law and Prophets. Us: to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and to do His will.
“For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”
Matthew 5:18 (ESV)
You may quibble about the wording and include other aspects. That’s fine. But the point is there is point to the OT Law & Prophets; a point to Jesus; a point to why we, as His children, are here.
Some believe that the portion of our purpose of ‘doing the Law’ is the point. It is not. The point of that Jesus fulfilled all that was necessary on our behalf. It truly and fully is all accomplished!
All!
Now Jesus, who has done that and bridged the gap between God and us, gives us a new command; a new Law; a new purpose, which is to go well beyond righteousness displayed by the scribes and Pharisees: a Law of love our of response to His fulfillment!
Right after our reading today, Matthew goes into the “Sermon on the Mount” where Jesus tells us “you have heard it said” in the OT Law…but I tell you…” In other words, what they had heard about the Law, Jesus fulfilled and gives it back to us reclaimed with an emphasis on the spirit of the Law, given in love, rather than the Pharisaically-watered-down letter of the law minimized and ignored of old. Jesus gives us a joyful Law to live in response rather than a broken one done out of fear. He reminds us that He has already accomplished all for us, so that we can respond as the best salt, and light, and CHRIST-ians He has give us purpose to be!
Through Jesus, all is accomplished! Now live joyfully, in the glorious purpose He has given you to live and love!
“Lord Jesus, thank You for accomplishing all and fulfilling all the Law and Prophets of old on our behalf. Grant us Your Spirit to joyfully respond with Your Law of love; salting and shining with Your purpose so the world sees You through us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
THEME HOOK
Discovering true love despite the Valentine’s Day hype.
Kids hear about “love” everywhere in February—candy hearts, crushes, and silly movies—but those messages are confusing and don’t last. Sometimes, “love” sounds like it’s just about feelings or gifts, and that can leave kids feeling left out or unsure what real love is.
The LOVE of God 4-week series helps children look past all the Valentine’s Day hype to discover what real love looks like in the Bible. Each week, we’ll investigate a new story that spells L-O-V-E and shows why God’s love is the best love of all.
GOSPEL CONNECTION
Across L-O-V-E, children trace the storyline of redemption: humanity’s fall, God’s rescuing pursuit, Christ’s victorious sacrifice, and the promise of eternal life. Each week points beyond “try harder” to trusting Jesus’ finished work.
FIVE WEEK LESSON OVERVIEW
WEEK 1
God’s Love is (L) Long-Suffering
Bible Story
Adam & Eve Disobey but God Still Cares (Genesis 3)
Key Discovery
Even when I mess up, God still loves me and wants to forgive me.
Takeaway
I can always ask God for forgiveness and know He will still love me.
WEEK 2
God’s Love is (O) One-of-a-Kind
Bible Story
The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:10-14)
Key Discovery
I am so important to God that He will always come looking for me.
Takeaway
I can remember that I matter to God and help others know they matter too.
WEEK 3
God’s Love is (V) Victorious
Bible Story
Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)
Key Discovery
Jesus loves me so much that He gave His life so I can live forever with Him.
Takeaway
I can always trust Jesus to save me and give me hope for forever.
WEEK 4
God’s Love is (E) Eternal
Bible Story
David’s Song & John the Baptist’s Birth (Psalm 139:13-18; Luke 1:39-45)
Key Discovery
God’s love for me never ends—He has loved me since before I was born.
Takeaway
I can always trust that God will love me no matter what, every single day.
WEEK 5
LOVE is for Sharing
Bible Story
The Early Church Shares Everything (Acts 2:42–47)
Key Discovery
God’s love grows stronger when we share it with others through kindness and community.
Takeaway
I can show God’s love by sharing what I have and helping others know about Jesus.
This year during the Fridays in Lent, there will be awesome fish dinners available to pick up at LifeBridge.
The organization, “Charitable Heroes Achieving Memorable Performances” (aka: “CHAMP”) will be doing this at LifeBridge as a fundraiser while their permanent location is being finished.
CHAMP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity organized to raise funds to promote Youth Activities, (Scouts, Special Olympics, Little League), provide scholarships to graduating High School Seniors, and assist Veterans organizations.
These Fish Dinners help them raise money for these and other causes.
Dinners include the following:
$14/Plate Option
Fried Fish
Potato Salad
Pinto Beans
Coleslaw
Hush Puppies
$16/Plate Option
Grilled Fish
Potato Salad
Pinto Beans
Coleslaw
Hush Puppies
Sweets available at pick-up. *Donations Accepted.*
They can be picked up on during the following:
February 20
4:30 – 7:00 PM
February 27
4:30 – 7:00 PM
March 6
4:30 – 7:00 PM
March 13
4:30 – 7:00 PM
MArch 20
4:30 – 7:00 PM
March 27
4:30 – 7:00 PM
April 3 (Good Friday)
3:30 – 6:00 PM
Why cook? Pick up dinner at LifeBridge on Fridays this Lent and help others out while doing it!
This Lenten season we will be going through “The Book of EXODUS: Let My People Go!”
Throughout the book of Exodus God reveals who he is through his absence and his presence, through his silence and his speech, through his wrath and his mercy, and through his judgement and his amazing grace. In doing so, the book paints a beautiful portrait of Jesus.
R. Reed Lessing (series author)
Exodus gives us a wonderful image of God saving His people with “a strong hand and an outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 26:8). In fact, the first commandment in the Jewish numbering system is “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2).
That’s something for us to hold on to and a reality we can live in when we look at the chaos of our world, our culture, and our lives.
We can feel so trapped and helpless, and looking to our culture only exacerbates those feelings!
But God is faithful, and as He saved His people by bringing them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, so He has saved us through Jesus and blessed us with His Holy Spirit.
Join us this Lent as we go through God’s command to our enemies, to let us go!