Introduction to the Way of Love

July 14, 2022

The Way of Love is a way of life. More than a program or curriculum, it is an intentional commitment to a set of practices. It's a commitment to follow Jesus: Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest

Turn: The Way of Love

Pause, listen, and choose to follow Jesus. Like the disciples, we are called by Jesus to follow the Way of Love. With God’s help, we can turn from the powers of sin, hatred, fear, injustice, and oppression toward the way of truth, love, hope, justice, and freedom. In turning, we reorient our lives to Jesus Christ, falling in love again, again, and again. If we listen closely, there is a spirit calling us to come back to ourselves, back to our purpose, back to something more meaningful. How will you start turning on the Way of Love?

Pray: The Way of Love

Dwell intentionally with God each day. Jesus teaches us to come before God with humble hearts, boldly offering our thanksgivings and concerns to God or simply listening for God’s voice in our lives and in the world. Whether in thought, word or deed, individually or corporately, when we pray we invite and dwell in God’s loving presence. The daily practice of making time and space to speak with God, to listen to God, or to simply be with God, clears a pathway for God to enter our lives. How will you start praying on the Way of Love? Get started or go deeper with the companion Practice Primer for Pray.

Worship: The Way of Love

Gather in community weekly to thank, praise, and dwell with God. When we worship, we gather with others before God. We hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, give thanks, confess, and offer the brokenness of the world to God. As we break bread, our eyes are opened to the presence of Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are made one body, the body of Christ sent forth to live the Way of Love. Just as God wants to enter into our lives and meet us where we are, so God desires for us to enter into God’s space, together, and be present there. How will you start worshiping on the Way of Love? Get started or go deeper with the companion Practice Primer for Worship.

Bless: The Way of Love

Share faith and unselfishly give and serve. Jesus called his disciples to give, forgive, teach, and heal in his name. We are empowered by the Spirit to bless everyone we meet, practicing generosity and compassion, and proclaiming the Good News of God in Christ with hopeful words and selfless actions. We can share our stories of blessing and invite others to the Way of Love. When we incorporate the practice of blessing others into our lives, we are putting our love into action by becoming the Good News for others. How will you start blessing on the Way of Love? Get started or go deeper with the companion Practice Primer for Bless.

Go: The Way of Love

Cross boundaries, listen deeply and live like Jesus. As Jesus went to the highways and byways, he sends us beyond our circles and comfort, to witness to the love, justice, and truth of God with our lips and with our lives. We go to listen with humility and to join God in healing a hurting world. We go to become Beloved Community, a people reconciled in love with God and one another. The pursuit of Jesus can often mean moving out of our circles of comfort and going to other places, geographically, culturally, economically, spiritually. How will you start going on the Way of Love? Get started or go deeper with the companion Practice Primer for Go.

Rest: The Way of Love

Receive the gift of God’s grace, peace, and restoration. From the beginning of creation, God has established the sacred pattern of going and returning, labor and rest. Especially today, God invites us to dedicate time for restoration and wholeness – within our bodies, minds, and souls, and within our communities and institutions. By resting we place our trust in God, the primary actor who brings all things to their fullness. The Way of Love recognizes that one way to love ourselves and to maintain ourselves as useful instruments of God is through the practice of rest. How will you start resting on the Way of Love? Get started or go deeper with the companion Practice Primer for Rest.