Tellico Village Church

IMAGINE freedom to give freedom to reach freedom to love

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Letter From Our Pastor Dear Church Family, Welcome to an effort that will reshape our future! From the very beginning of the Community Church 25 years ago to this very day, people have imagined achieving great things for God and our neighbors. The birth of our church – the gathering of a congregation – the construction of buildings – the creation of outreach programs – the sharing of Christ’s love in message, music, and ministry – all have been born out of the imagination of a congregation dedicated to serving the Lord and advancing the work of the Gospel.

Today, the Spirit is calling us once again to Imagine!

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Imagine a future of sharing more of Christ’s love with others than ever before…

• Expanding our mission field into Monroe County where many of our church family now live and serve…

• Developing new programs and ministries designed to help families living with Alzheimer’s, physical limitations and the challenges of advancing age…

• Creating a major outreach effort aimed at supporting younger families with children…

• Strengthening our involvement with our longtime mission partners in Loudon County, providing more volunteers, financial help and support…

• Developing exciting new programs, conferences and retreats to help people grow spiritually… outstanding musical presentations that bless the wider community … and great speakers and studies that deepen faith and inspire people to serve God!

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Can you Imagine the future we can build together?

To accomplish this exciting vision, however, we must significantly reduce our indebtedness. Reducing our debt will free up more resources for mission and ministry. Picture it as a child’s teeter-totter or see-saw.

On one end of the see-saw sits our church’s ministries - all the amazing things we want to do for God and others. On the other end sits our church’s debt.

Imagine what will be possible as we signifcantly lower that debt!

As our debt goes down, our ministries can rise UP! Rather than sending mortgage payments to the bank each month, we can aim more of that money at sharing God’s love in Loudon and Monroe Counties, and creating wonderful new ministries and programs here at the church. More resources will become available for the things we love to do and that we do best – loving our neighbors and proclaiming God’s love to everyone!

Our church needs YOU to help build this hope-filled future.

You hold in your hands some vital information about our bold, three-year debt reduction plan. Our prayer is to reduce our $5.7 million debt by over 2 million dollars, but any significant reduction will be welcomed.

A successful result will strengthen our church to serve God and love neighbor more powerfully!

Please read through this colorful brochure to find out more about what we hope to accomplish and how YOU are needed to play a role in creating the future of our Community Church.

Let yourself Imagine!

Love in Christ,

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History

remembering our first 25 years

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ne day a Pharisee asked Jesus, “Which is the greatest commandment?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:36-39 At the Community Church at Tellico Village, we take that commandment seriously. Everything we do, we do for love of God and neighbor. And look at what we have done in our first 25 years together! To list everything God has accomplished through our church would take volumes, but here are some highlights:

1988—First worship service on Palm Sunday with 11 people in attendance.

1992—Scholarship ministry began; 95 scholarships have since been given to

students from every high school in Loudon and Monroe Counties totaling $485,640 plus GED students.

1994—Christmas Eve—First worship service in original sanctuary with an over-

capacity crowd. At that time the church had 273 members who gave

sacrificially to build a future that we enjoy today.

1997—A second Sunday service was added due to overcrowding.

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1999—The Christian Life Center opened its doors, serving not only our church family

but over 15 non-profit agencies per year who use the space for gatherings.

Once again, the 708 members of the church at that time proved their generosity and faithfulness in order to realize this dream.

2000—Our second service reached its numerical capacity.

2004—The friendship kitchen formed; over 28,000 meals have been delivered to local residents.

2008—We completed our first Habitat house. We have now finished three houses in

Loudon County as well as supported 3 houses internationally.

2010—We opened our new narthex, choir suite, and sanctuary complete with our

one-of-a-kind, 42-rank pipe organ. We have since hosted world-class performances

with capacity crowds in attendance. The 1,400 members of the church sacrificed

over $3 million to advance God’s mission through the Community Church at Tellico Village.

2013—Since our beginning we have hosted countless weddings and memorial services,

and given thousands of dollars to God’s work in our community and beyond.

We’ve shared countless laughs and more than our share of tears. Now our family

stands 1,500 strong. The stewardship of this amazing church is in our hands.

What else might God accomplish through us with a little bit of generosity

and a whole lot of faith?

That’s our first 25 years in a nutshell.

Imagine what the next 25 years will hold!

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Future

envisioning our next 25 years

Freedom to Give

As we celebrate our Silver Jubilee—25 years of being church together—we stand amazed at all God has accomplished through the Community Church at Tellico Village. We also know that God isn’t finished with us yet! Where will God lead us as a church during the next 25 years? What more might we give to advance the cause of Christ around the world and in our own backyard? Imagine the freedom to give, joyfully, sacrificially, fearlessly. Imagine God blessing those gifts in ways beyond what our minds can even fathom.

Freedom to Reach

It all began with a dream—an interdenominational church on the shores of Tellico Lake. The dream continued and out of that dream a church arose—a family, really—from 11 people gathered in a home to what our church is today, 1,500 strong. Along the way our people envisioned a scholarship ministry, a friendship kitchen, a Good Neighbor’s Shoppe, Habitat houses, a Stephen ministry to care for the hurting in our community. What dreams will God plant next? Imagine the freedom to reach toward God’s great mission for our church!

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Freedom to Love

It really boils down to love—the very purpose of our church—to love God and our neighbor. A new person in our church recently said that when she came to our church, she felt like she could finally “breathe.” The love we share as a family of faith— the love we try to extend into the world around us—it creates “breathing room.” What a gift we have to share! Imagine the freedom to love from the center of who we are—the freedom to extend the same grace to others that Christ has extended to us. With even more “breathing room,” imagine how we might live more fully into the church God dreams we can be.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

Galatians 5:1

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Our Plan

Vi s ua l i z i ng How We Ma ke It Ha ppen

Where We Are Now

When we opened the doors to our new sanctuary, narthex, and choir suite in 2010, the cost of these improvements totaled $8.8 million dollars. We financed $5.9 million, raising nearly $3 million dollars with our first campaign. Our debt now stands at $5.7 million dollars with a monthly payment of just over $43,000.

Where We Want to Be

Through Imagine, we hope to generate over two million dollars over three years, compared to our annual operating budget of roughly $1.5 million dollars. In addition to reducing debt and saving $100,000-$250,000 over the life of our loan, if we raise one million dollars, we lower our annual payment by $100,000 through reamortization. If we raise two million or more, we can refinance at a lower rate and longer term, saving up to $250,000 annually. Imagine what we could do with those additional funds in the near future. Perhaps we could we expand our local missions outreach. Maybe we could strengthen our leadership and vital programs and ministries of the church. Wherever the Spirit of God leads us, those savings will certainly be used for loving God and neighbor through missions and ministry!

How We Get There

Our three-year campaign will run concurrent with our annual pledge drive. Both will begin on Rally Day, September 8, 2013.

On that day the entire congregation will be invited to engage in a 25-day prayer emphasis around the themes of stewardship and generosity. Each household will receive a pledge card, containing an opportunity to pledge to the general fund on one side and to IMAGINE on the other. On Commitment Sunday, October 6, each family will bring their card and offer their pledge for the general fund (payable over one year) as well as for IMAGINE (payable over three years). Finally, we’ll enjoy First Fruits Sunday on October 20 on which families bring in their first gifts in fulfillment of the commitment they have made to Imagine.

Special envelopes will be provided for this Sunday as well as for future gifts to retire the debt.

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Our Response

Recognizing Our Part in the Plan

What You Can Do

1. Pray—Pray about what part God would have you play in the campaign. Ask God what sacrifice might mean for you— what gift God might desire from you for this important cause. 2. Ponder—Be open to God’s leadership—no commitments necessary until October 6. Think about three years down the road—can you delay that new car for a year or two?

Can you take one less trip over the next couple of years? Where does God want you to stretch? What does God want you to imagine for the Community Church? 3. Pledge—When you feel at peace with the answer to these questions, complete the pledge card and bring it with you to church on October 6. If you can’t be there that day, submit your pledge card in the week or two beforehand either in person or by mail. 4. Praise—Then praise God—trusting that God will provide for you in the midst of your sacrifice—knowing that God will provide what the church needs to continue our important work into the future. 5. Picture—Finally, imagine! Imagine how God wants to use our amazing church in the years to come once we’re free from the debt that constrains us.

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Commitment Sunday

On Sunday, October 6, we will hold a special worship service to celebrate the culmination of IMAGINE. We are asking every person at the Community Church to prayerfully engage the process and allow God to shape our commitments. On Commitment Sunday we will join together and offer our commitments to the Lord using a card like the one you see on this page. This commitment contains two parts:

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1. A Pledge to the 2014 General

Operating Fund of the Church To maintain our missions and ministries, we’ll need each family to offer a pledge even greater than their 2013 commitment. 2014 will be a stretch year until we are able to reamortize.

We believe this congregation can step forward in faith and accomplish our goals together!

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2. A Pledge to the Debt Reduction Campaign.

This over-and-above gift can take several forms over the course of the 3-year campaign: • A weekly gift for 156 weeks • A monthly gift for 36 months • An annual gift for 3 years • A one-time gift • A gift of stocks, securities, or other assets

Please Complete Both Sides

Sample Commitment Card

2014 Operating Budget

Debt Reduction Campaign

In grateful recognition that all one’s time, treasure, and ability come from God, we/I pledge a TOTAL of $__________________ for the 2014 General Fund.

We/I want to help fulfill the mission of the Community Church at Tellico Village through the IMAGINE Debt Reduction Campaign by giving over and above my/our regular offerings.

Please indicate giving frequency: ___Bank Draft ___Weekly ___Monthly ___Annually

My/our TOTAL gift to the IMAGINE fund:

$____________  Bank draft

$__________ weekly x 156 weeks $__________ monthly x 36 months $__________ annually x 3 years $__________ one-time gift $__________ other

Please bring this card with you to COMMITMENT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2013 or return it to the church office in the enclosed envelope.

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Gift Chart Gifts Needed

Gift Level

Commitment spans three years through October 6, 2016

Annual Gift of

Weekly Gift of

Gift Level Total

1 $200,000 $66,667 $1,282.05 $200,000 1 $100,000 $33,333 $641.03 $100,000 1 $75,000 $25,000 $480.77 $75,000 2 $50,000 $16,667 $320.51 $100,000 3 $35,000 $11,667 $224.36 $105,000 5 $25,000 $8,333 $160.26 $125,000 7 $20,000 $6,667 $128.21 $140,000 9 $18,000 $6,000 $115.38 $162,000 11 $15,000 $5,000 $96.15 $165,000 15 $12,000 $4,000 $76.92 $180,000 22 $10,000 $3,333 $64.10 $220,000 23 $7,500 $2,500 $48.08 $172,500 24 $5,000 $1,667 $32.05 $120,000 26 $2,500 $833 $16.03 $65,000 27 $1,500 $500 $9.62 $40,500 30 $1,000 $333 $6.41 $30,000 $2,000,000 Your pledge is your faith commitment to God and the church, but it is not legally binding. Should your circumstance change, you may adjust or cancel your commitment at any time. Your pledge is confidential and will not be published or shared in any way.

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2 5 Day s t o I M AG I N E

Week 1 - Freedom

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his is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

– Jeremiah 29:10-13

Welcome to “25 Days to Imagine”—a journey of prayer and reflection during which we will consider where we have been as a church family during our first 25 years together, and where the Lord would have us go during our next 25 years. The scripture passage above reminds us that God had plans for the children of Israel, and God has amazing plans for us as well— plans for a hopeful and prosperous future.

The passage contains God’s promise for Israel following their enslavement in Babylon. The story of Israel’s newfound freedom unfolds in the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah. When the Jews returned to Jerusalem, do you know what they first accomplished together? They rebuilt the temple—the symbol of their identity as a people and a testament to their enduring faith in the one, true God (Ezra 1-6). Do you remember what their next great accomplishment was? They rebuilt the city walls in 52 days (Nehemiah 1-6)! Even though they were finally free, they knew that they must secure their city and the temple which held so much meaning for them.

As a church family, we have accomplished wonderful things for the kingdom of God in our first 25 years. We have built ministries . . . we have built missions . . . we have built a church that generations from now will call “home.” Let us not forget that one of the most important things we have built is a family—our family. The work of building is largely complete for the time being. Now our focus is on securing our future. That’s what IMAGINE is all about–working our way into freedom from the debt that keeps us from being all we can be and doing all we can do for the kingdom of God.

As you take the next 25 DAYS TO IMAGINE, think about God’s promise to the Israelites–the same promise that God holds for us today: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” How exciting to IMAGINE what freedom will look like for the Community Church at Tellico Village!

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Thank you, O Lord, that your plans for us are hopeful and good.

May we, the stewards of all You have given, claim the freedom You have in store for us that we might joyfully live into the future You have imagined for us.

Amen.

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Day 1: Monday, September 9

Day 4: Thursday, September 12

Read: Galatians 5:1-6 Reflect: What does freedom mean to you? For what purpose does Christ set us free? According to this writer, what is the one thing that matters? How can you more fully live into a life of “faith expressing itself in love?” How might our church more fully manifest “faith expressing itself in love?”

Respond: Pray that God would help us, individually and corporately, attain the freedom needed for our faith to more fully express itself in love.

Read: Esther 2:5-4:17 Reflect: What was Esther asked to do? Why was she afraid? What made her agree despite her fear? What are you being asked to do?

What fears keep you from responding faithfully? What do you need from God in order to respond to God’s calling for you?

Respond: Pray for faithfulness and courage as you seek to follow God’s will “at such a time as this.”

Day 2: Tuesday, September 10 Read: Genesis 1:26-2:15 Reflect: What was given to Adam and Eve? What was the responsibility related to that gift (2:15)? Were Adam and Eve owners or stewards? What is the difference between the two? What has been given to you? What is your responsibility related to that gift? Are you an owner or a steward? What does stewardship mean to you?

Respond: Pray that God would help each of us recognize all of life as an unmerited gift and that we would tend that gift well.

Day 3: Wednesday, September 11 Read: Exodus 3:1-12 Reflect: What was Moses called to do? What was his initial response (v. 11)? What was God’s promise in the midst of Moses’ doubt (v. 12)?

What is God calling us as a church family to do? What is your response to that calling? Is there a promise from God you can claim as you consider your response to God’s calling for our congregation?

Respond: Pray that God would open our eyes to the vision God holds for our church. Pray that we would respond faithfully to God’s calling for us.

Day 5: Friday, September 13 Read: Psalm 146 Reflect: What is the Psalmist’s mood? Why is he so joyful? What does God do for the oppressed, the hungry, the imprisoned? In what way are you oppressed, hungry, or imprisoned? In what way are we, as a congregation, oppressed, hungry, or imprisoned? What is God’s response to our need?

Respond: Express your thankfulness for God’s help throughout your life and throughout the 25 years of the Community Church at Tellico Village.

Day 6: Saturday, September 14 Read: 2 Corinthians 3 Reflect: The Apostle Paul insists, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Where in your life are you lacking freedom?

Where does our church lack freedom?

Respond: Pray that the Spirit of God would inhabit the places void of freedom in our individual lives and in the life of our church family.

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2 5 Day s t o I M AG I N E

Week 2 - Freedom to Give

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s Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” –Luke 21:1-4 Tony Lankford, a pastor in metro Atlanta, tells the story of Mike, a homeless man who showed up outside his church one Sunday morning asking for money. Several people fulfilled Mike’s request, so guess what happened the next Sunday? He was back, asking for more money. This went on for a while, and some folks from the church befriended him. They invited Mike to church and when he came, they made him feel welcomed. They showed him love and friendship. Eventually, Mike was baptized and became a member of the church. Pastor Tony was so proud of his people for being the presence of Christ in Mike’s life. Not too long after Mike’s baptism, Tony was at home with his family in the church parsonage when someone knocked at the door. It was Mike. Pastor Tony’s first thought was that Mike was there to ask for another handout. That wasn’t the case at all. Instead, Mike handed Tony a plastic bag filled with coins. Mike was offering his tithe to the church—10% of what he had collected on the street that week. Tony’s first instinct was to decline the gift, knowing that Mike needed those coins more than the church needed them. But he quickly thought better and accepted the gift, knowing that it was important to honor the sacrifice Mike made.

Nothing demonstrates our freedom more than radical generosity. Only one who is truly free can give until it hurts.

Such was the case with Mike, the homeless man. Such was the case with the widow in Luke 21. Show me a generous soul, and I’ll show you one who is free—free from fear, free from anxiety, free from the trappings of materialism and “keeping-up-withthe-Joneses-itis.”

The flip side of freedom from is the freedom for: freedom from fear yields to freedom for faith; freedom from anxiety yields to freedom for joy. The protagonists in both of these stories were people who had nothing but everything simultaneously. Perhaps others have everything but nothing simultaneously.

How about you? How free are you? Where do you fall on the “generosity scale?” That will give you a pretty good idea of where you fall on the “freedom scale.” Do have the FREEDOM TO GIVE?

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Jehovah Jireh, our Provider, help each of us find authentic freedom that manifests as radical generosity.

Help us find our faith in you and not in the things of this world.

Amen.

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Day 7: Monday, September 16

Day 10: Thursday, September 19

Read: Acts 20:17-35 Reflect: Who was Paul addressing in this speech (v. 17)? How does the

Read: Matthew 19:16-22 Reflect: Why did Jesus demand so much from the man? Does Jesus demand the same of us? Why or why not? What prevented the man from doing as Jesus suggested? What prevents us from doing what Jesus would have us do?

Respond: Ask God for the willingness to follow Christ even when it is not easy.

speech conclude (v. 35)? Was this more of a going away speech or a lesson on generosity? In what way is it “more blessed to give than to receive?”

Respond: Spend some time remembering times when giving has blessed your life, then give thanks to God for the FREEDOM TO GIVE.

Day 8: Tuesday, September 17 Read: Mark 14:3-9 Reflect: Why did the woman anoint Jesus’ feet? With whom do you most identify: the woman or the angry onlookers? Was the woman’s extravagant gift wasted? What’s the most extravagant gift you have given and what was your motivation behind the gift?

Respond: Ask God to increase the love in your heart for Christ and His Church.

Day 9: Wednesday, September 18 Read: Luke 12:13-21 Reflect: What might the man in the parable have done with his plenty other than build bigger barns in which to store it? What might have prevented him from exploring other options? Jesus juxtaposes those who store up things for themselves and those who are “rich toward God.” What does it mean to be “rich toward God?” Is God calling you to explore more of His riches?

Respond: Pray that God would plant the desire in your heart for more of Him and less of the world.

Day 11: Friday, September 20 Read: Matthew 6:19-21 Reflect: How does Jesus’ instruction to avoid storing up “treasures on earth” apply to people today? What’s the line between greed and practicality? Between faith and foolishness? How is God leading you to apply these verses in your life today?

Respond: Pray that God might grant you discernment as you walk the line between faith and reason.

Day 12: Saturday, September 21 Read: Matthew 20:1-16 Reflect: Why were the earliest workers upset with the landowner?

Why did the landowner give the late arrivals more than they earned?

Who would you most like to be in this story: The early arrivals who got what they deserved? The late arrivals who got more than they deserved? The generous landowner? Why? Respond: Pray that the spirit of generosity would take hold in our church, in our community, and in our world.

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Week 3 - Freedom to Reach

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eanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” – John 4:31-38 The country/bluegrass band Allison Krauss and Union Station sings a song entitled “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Hoe Corn.” The first two verses go like this: Tell you little story and it won’t take long ‘Bout a lazy farmer who wouldn’t hoe his corn The reason why I never could tell But that young man was always well He planted his corn in the month of June

By July it was up to his eyes Come September came a big frost And all the young man’s corn was lost

Have you ever planted a garden you couldn’t harvest? How sad it is to see overly ripened tomatoes on the vine, okra that’s grown too large for consumption, or corn that dies in winter’s first chill.

There’s a sense of urgency about being in charge of a garden. When the crops are ripe, they must be harvested quickly or all the work of field preparation and planting is for naught. In the scripture above, Jesus is urging his disciples to sense the urgency of the moment: “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

In every age in every place, God’s garden is ripe for picking. In other words, there are people in every time and every location who need to be shown the love of Christ. There are people in our own community who God wants to reach through us. There are worldwide issues of mercy and justice awaiting our involvement as we work toward creating “Peace on Earth.”

THE FREEDOM TO REACH beyond what we are currently able to do as a church is within our grasp. The fields are ripe for harvest all around us. May we never be content with what we have already done. May we always strive to be in the fields, bringing in the harvest of God’s amazing love.

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Great God of us all, help us break free from our easy chairs and get out into the fields you have prepared for us. Grant us the freedom to reach beyond what we can envision or imagine. Help us cultivate the work that has already been done in your fields. Amen.

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Day 13: Monday, September 23

Day 16: Thursday, September 26

Read: Matthew 4:18-22 Reflect: Jesus told the first disciples that he would make them fishers

Read: Deuteronomy 15:7-11 Reflect: The book of Deuteronomy spells out rules for living as a civil and just society just before entrance into the Promised Land.

What is our attitude toward the poor and needy in such a society?

What is our response to those who are in need?

Respond: Ask that God would help us, both individually and collectively, “give generously” to those in need.

of men. What did he mean by that? What does “fishing for people” entail?

Would anything in your life be different if you saw yourself as a “fisher of people?” The disciples dropped what they were doing to follow Christ. What must you drop in order to more fully follow Christ?

Respond: Ask God to enable you to let go of that which prevents you from following Christ more fully and loving his people more intentionally.

Day 14: Tuesday, September 24

Day 17: Friday, September 27

the reach of our church needs this “good news”: individuals, groups, segments of society? What are the ways we can share this “good news?” How might we extend the reach of our efforts to share the “good news?”

Respond: Pray that God would show us who needs the “good news.” Pray that God would grant us the gumption to go and share it.

Read: Matthew 9:35-38 Reflect: What motivated Jesus in his ministry of preaching and healing (v. 36)? What role does compassion play for our church as we think about expanding our reach? Where are you on the “compassion-o-meter?” 1 = “I have a smidgen of compassion”/10 = “I am a compassion machine.”

Respond: Pray that the God of compassion would fan the fires of compassion within you and within our church.

Day 15: Wednesday, September 25

Day 18: Saturday, September 28

Read: Romans 10:13-15 Reflect: What is the “good news” referenced in this passage? Who within

Read: Matthew 25:31-46 Reflect: Identify the types of ministry covered in this passage. Which of these ministries are you currently involved in? Which of these ministries is our church involved in? What is the reward for ministering in this way? Are there consequences for neglecting to serve God in this fashion? What is God saying to you through this passage?

Respond: Ask God to expand your heart for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned.

Read: Isaiah 65:17-25 Reflect: This passage spells out God’s vision for bringing healing to the mourning, the weak, the impoverished, and the oppressed. What is the church’s role in making that vision become reality? In what way is our church working toward that end? How might we do even more to accomplish that dream?

Respond: Pray that would God would help us IMAGINE His ideal for humankind and that we might gain more freedom to reach toward that vision.

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2 5 Day s t o I M AG I N E

Week 4 - Freedom to Love

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ear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.–Deuteronomy 6:4-9 The passage above, particularly the first sentence, is referred to in Judaism as the “Shema.” This refrain stands as the centerpiece of Jewish prayer life. It is a call to acknowledge the one, true God, and to offer God unmitigated love with every fiber of our being—emotions, spirit, and will. This is the charge to God-followers across the ages and it is our call today.

Admittedly for most of us, that kind of unadulterated love for the Lord is easier said than done. We may want to love God in this truly complete way, but our focus becomes consumed by the things of this world. When that happens—when our attention and affection is pulled away from God—we are not free to love God like we want. We are bound up, enslaved, by our earthly affections. Even healthy attachments become unhealthy when too much of our energy and attention gets consumed by them. The alcoholic or drug addict knows this pain all too well. Chemical dependency becomes a snare—its victims are slaves no longer free—their relationships suffer—once loving relationships die. The FREEDOM TO LOVE another is hindered by the love for drugs or alcohol.

What attachments in your life are keeping you from loving God the way the “Shema” commands? What areas in your life need less of your time, talent, and treasure and what areas need more? What steps can you take today to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength?”

O LORD my God, help me recognize the things that keep me from loving You more fully, and when my eyes are opened, grant me the fortitude to make the changes necessary to offer you more of myself in loving commitment.

Amen.

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Day 19: Monday, September 30

Day 22: Thursday, October 3

Read: 1 Corinthians 13 Reflect: The author suggests that love is more important than faith,

Read: Luke 10:1-10 Reflect: All it took was Jesus inviting himself to Zacchaeus’ house for Zacchaeus to confess and offer restitution to those he wronged. He knew a change was in order, and coming face-to-face with Jesus was the motivation for that change. What change is needed in your life?

Respond: Imagine standing face-to-face with Jesus. Ask him if there is some change he would desire from you.

wisdom, hope, generosity, and altruism. Do agree? Why or why not? How does love motivate or undergird these other gifts or qualities? Read verses 5-7 again. How does the love in your life measure up? What’s blocking your FREEDOM TO LOVE? Respond: Pray that God would remove the barriers in your life that keep you from living up to the ideals of this passage. Pray that our church would gain more FREEDOM TO LOVE.

Day 20: Tuesday, October 1 Read: Luke 6:31-36 Reflect: This passage is often called “The Golden Rule.” It is a countercultural way of interacting with others. Is this standard too high? Why or why not? What kind of person can live up to this high ideal on a regular basis? What role does freedom play in the life of one who is able to love like this? What is God saying to you through this scripture?

Respond: Ask God for the selflessness required to live out this radical way of relating to others.

Day 21: Wednesday, October 2 Read: John 4:1-26 Reflect: The rules dictated that Jesus should not talk to this woman, but he did anyway. What was the source of his freedom to ignore the customs of his day? Why did he choose to neglect the rules? What external influences in your life want to keep you from loving all people, no matter who they are?

Respond: Invite God to help us rise above our culture into a higher way of living and being.

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Day 23: Friday, October 4 Read: John 15:9-13 Reflect: This is one of Jesus’ most powerful teachings on sacrificial love. In what ways are you demonstrating sacrificial love on a day-to-day basis? Who or what is the object of your sacrificial love? For whom or what are you willing to “lay down your life?”

Respond: Pray that God would foster sacrificial love in your heart and within our church.

Day 24: Saturday, October 5 Read: Romans 8:31-39 Reflect: How are we “more than conquerors?” What can stand in the way of God’s love for us? How does this promise make you feel?

Respond: Thank God for letting nothing get in the way of God’s amazing love for you.

Day 25: Sunday, October 6 Read: Matthew 22:34-40 Reflect: Our church’s mission statement reads: “Our purpose is to fulfill Christ’s great commandment to love God and our neighbor.”

In what ways are we loving God well? In what ways are we loving neighbor well? How might we love God better? How might we love neighbor better?

Respond: Pray that God would grant us the commitment to 18 fulfill the purpose for which we join ourselves as a family of believers.

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