BelongSample

Friends Pay Attention

God is love. God sent His Son because he so loved the world. So when Jesus, God’s Son, starts a sentence with, “There’s no greater love than this …” you listen. 

In John 15:12, Jesus shared what He referred to as the greatest commandment. We’re to love others the way He loves us. Then, in the next verse, Jesus told us how He loves us.

     “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

      John 15:13 NLT

So there it is. Thanks for summing it all up, Jesus.

Okay, you may not have an opportunity to literally give up your life for your friends. But you certainly may lay aside your life by giving your time, your ears, your compassion, and your energy for your friends.

Remember, belonging is not passive—it’s active. It lays down comfort and gives others the gift of going second. It sacrifices pride and shares honestly. It makes time to meet and silence to listen. It risks praying out loud. It fills in the blanks. It goes out of its way to show up to help a friend.

As your group grows together, there will be some obvious opportunities to live out Jesus’ commandment. But more often, you’ll have small, easily unnoticed invitations to lay down your life for your friends. So pay attention. Friends pay attention.

As you watch today’s video and read today’s Scriptures, answer this question. What are some small ways you can show Jesus’ love to friends in your group?