Love God, Neighbor, Enemy
The instruction from Jesus to love God with your whole heart, soul, strength, and mind—and your neighbor as yourself—has come to be called the Great Commandment. And it is great! It is comprehensive. It is active. It is expansive. In the Love God, Neighbor, Enemy unit, we see that while enemies are not mentioned specifically, the call to love is extravagant.
Love of God and neighbor is not fully expressed if we are only loving when it is convenient or comfortable. Through the exploration of this practice, participants will learn how—from those who may be hard to love to those who we fear or who may do us harm—the imperative to love enemies, just as we love God or our neighbor, is throughout Scripture. This practice explores this call to love through action by serving a stranger, showing mercy, washing another’s feet, being courageous, and living peaceably.
Congregational Guide
The Congregational Guide provides materials for the pastor, educator, and church leaders to connect the practice with congregational worship and life.
Included in this guide:
Foundational Essay—written by a biblical scholar, these essays explore what each practice means and where it is found in the Bible
Worship Helps—ways of incorporating this practice in worship through liturgy, song, and other suggestions
Café Discussion Guide—self-guided, brief study for each practice
Intergenerational Session—option for your church to have an event or explore the practice as a whole congregation together
Curriculum Connections—information about what each age level is doing weekly
Practicing the Practice at Home—a two-sided page for families about how to practice the practice at home
Children’s Worship Leaflets—weekly two-sided page with practice ideas, games, an adapted Bible story, and a coloring picture
