Life is much easier without change. That's why we often eat the same foods or wear the same kinds of clothes. That's why we have a few very close friends, people who we know well, who won't always surprise us with new ideas or new actions. Change is very difficult, often frightening and always a mystery. If we try to change our habits, what will our life look like? How will we be able to learn all the new ways? Won't people leave us and find new friends when we change? So why should we try this new life that Jesus commands for us? This life of "love our neighbors"?

The best reason for us to change our lives, for us to follow Jesus' command, is found in 1 John 4:7-11. Read that passage and then answer the following questions.

Where does love come from? (verse 7)  

Without God, our lives would be filled with hatred, quarreling and fighting!

How do we become children of God and come to know Him better? (verse 7)  

How did God show His lover for us? (verse 9)  

How do we respond to that love of God, that love that cost Him the life of His own Son? (verse 11)  

God first loved us, so we return His love by loving all the people who live around us and share God's world with us.

God knows that it is hard for us to change our lives, so He gave us an example of how to live our New Life in Christ. St. Paul talks about that example in Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus is the Son of God, equal to His Father in every way. We would expect Him to act that way, to show His power, and to demand that people worship Him, but Jesus chose to do something completely different.

What was His choice? (verse 7)  

What did this choice cost Him? (verse 8)  

What was God's response to Jesus' sacrifice? (verses 9-11)  

From the example of Jesus, we can find the courage and strength to make the changes God asks us to make.

Intro | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Review

Section 4 Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 5