Day 1: "Spit You Out of My Mouth"
- Watch the video above.
- In your Crazy Love workbook read the paragraphs before question 1 (Pg. 45-46).
- Then answer questions 1 in your book (Pg. 46).
- Finish in prayer.
Day 2: "The Kingdom of Heaven: Priceless." (Matthew 13:44-46)
- Read the devotional Below.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44–46 (CSB)
The Israel-Palestine region has witnessed wars, pillaging, and upheaval more extensively than maybe any other place on Earth. Jesus may imagine a scenario where, in the haste of escape, a person buries a valuable treasure hoping to return one day and unearth it, but never returned. The treasure remains hidden for years, until a man digs a hole and accidentally finds it. He then sells everything to buy the field and obtain the treasure. The second parable echoes a similar theme. A magnificent treasure, surpassing the value of the merchant's own possessions, went undervalued. This led him to sell everything and buy it.
Both characters recognized that the treasures they discovered were worth every sacrifice. These individuals understood that selling everything was not only shrewed, but a brilliant investment.
According to Jesus, these stories mirror the Kingdom of Heaven. The central idea is that following Jesus entails a wholehearted commitment. He doesn't seek a fraction of our lives or even the majority; He demands everything. However, there's a crucial asterisk – anything lost in this life will yield immeasurable returns. Our sacrifice isn't in vain; what we receive is the most extraordinary thing in the universe: The Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus also said, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29).
The Kingdom of Heaven, as described by Jesus the King, is a multifaceted teaching that essentially embodies the perfections and beauty of God made manifest in the world. Simply put, it fulfills the deepest longings of our hearts and serves as the "happily ever after" in every story. For Jesus, you give up everything, and in return, you receive even more.
Regardless of what God may require us to give up, Jesus' profound calling is, and will always be, more than worthwhile.
Both characters recognized that the treasures they discovered were worth every sacrifice. These individuals understood that selling everything was not only shrewed, but a brilliant investment.
According to Jesus, these stories mirror the Kingdom of Heaven. The central idea is that following Jesus entails a wholehearted commitment. He doesn't seek a fraction of our lives or even the majority; He demands everything. However, there's a crucial asterisk – anything lost in this life will yield immeasurable returns. Our sacrifice isn't in vain; what we receive is the most extraordinary thing in the universe: The Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus also said, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29).
The Kingdom of Heaven, as described by Jesus the King, is a multifaceted teaching that essentially embodies the perfections and beauty of God made manifest in the world. Simply put, it fulfills the deepest longings of our hearts and serves as the "happily ever after" in every story. For Jesus, you give up everything, and in return, you receive even more.
Regardless of what God may require us to give up, Jesus' profound calling is, and will always be, more than worthwhile.
- Now, in your Crazy Love workbook read the paragraphs before questions 2-3 and answer the corresponding questions on page 47.
- Finish in prayer.
Day 3: Select Scripture Readings (Part 1)
- Read the verses given below and in your book (Pgs. 47-48) write down any thoughts that challenge you or realizations of the things you need to work on. On pages 47-48 you will find each of these verses listed. You can write your answers underneath the corresponding verses in the book.
13 The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me. Isaiah 29:13 (CSB)
6 Isn’t this the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh and blood? Isaiah 58:6–7 (CSB)
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43–48 (CSB)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’ Matthew 7:21–23 (CSB)
32 “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32–33 (CSB)
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’ 29 “He answered, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. Matthew 21:28–31 (CSB)
37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. Matthew 22:37–38 (CSB)
5 They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people. Matthew 23:5–7 (CSB)
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:25–28 (CSB)
6 Isn’t this the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh and blood? Isaiah 58:6–7 (CSB)
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43–48 (CSB)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’ Matthew 7:21–23 (CSB)
32 “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32–33 (CSB)
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’ 29 “He answered, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. Matthew 21:28–31 (CSB)
37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. Matthew 22:37–38 (CSB)
5 They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people. Matthew 23:5–7 (CSB)
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:25–28 (CSB)
2. Finish in prayer.
Day 4: Select Scripture Readings (Part 2)
- Like yesterday, read the verses given below and in your book (Pgs. 49-50) write down any thoughts that challenge you or realizations of the things you need to work on. On pages 49-50 you will find each of these verses listed. You can write your answers underneath the corresponding verses in the book.
57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 Then he said to another, “Follow me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” 60 But he told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57–62 (CSB)
16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16–21 (CSB)
12 He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. 13 On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12–14 (CSB)
31 “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:31–33 (CSB)
1 He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1–4 (CSB)
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1–2 (CSB)
17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, 1 Timothy 6:17–18 (CSB)
22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 (CSB)
17 So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it. James 4:17 (CSB)
1 “Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Revelation 3:1 (CSB)
16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16–21 (CSB)
12 He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. 13 On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12–14 (CSB)
31 “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:31–33 (CSB)
1 He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1–4 (CSB)
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1–2 (CSB)
17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, 1 Timothy 6:17–18 (CSB)
22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 (CSB)
17 So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it. James 4:17 (CSB)
1 “Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Revelation 3:1 (CSB)
2. Answer Questions 5-7 (Pgs. 50-51)
3. Finish in prayer.
3. Finish in prayer.
Day 5: "Why Love?" (1 John 4:19)
- Read the devotional Below.
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (CSB)
Throughout this study, I constantly feel like I am having my priorities challenged. This week is no different, but I feel like it is challenging me from a little different perspective. This verse in 1 John, “We love because He first loved us,” is both an encouragement and a convicting statement. Think about the people that you love the most. Now think about the people that you have difficulty loving. What is the difference in how you should view them? Is there one? Jesus came on the scene and really flipped upside down what love really is. He became love for us, and He did it while we were His enemy (Romans 5:10).
What does that mean for us though? It means that we are truly, perfectly loved. We are loved exactly as we are. Even more than that, we are loved in spite of who we are. We rarely do anything other than think of ourselves first. Even when we try to do the right thing, the Bible says that our best is like filthy rags compared to God and His holiness (note: “filthy rags” is the PG version of Isaiah 64:6). And despite our brokenness and our propensity to selfishness, pride, and so many other messed up things... God, the Creator of the universe, still chooses to love me fully and completely each and every day. It truly is amazing!
So, when I think why I should love, there is the reason. I should choose to live a life that is characterized by love, because I am first loved by a God who is love. It really changes our perspective on those people that are hard to love in our lives, doesn’t it? Suddenly, when I take time to remember and recognize the love that God has for me, I find it much easier to love others. I would even argue that our lack of love for people comes from our unwillingness to constantly acknowledge God’s great love for us. We need to recognize what things are stealing the attention away from God’s love in our lives and set up some guidelines to help keep our priorities straight.
This is the method that Jesus commanded of us in the Great Commandment: to love Him with everything. John says in his gospel, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). There is a method to the madness here. God is love, and He has loved us in spite of who we are. We are compelled and have the responsibility to love others around us with the love that God has shown us. In doing so, others will see God in our love and know that is the characteristic of God. Think about your neighbors, friends, coworkers, classmates, family, and any others that you regularly interact with. Wouldn’t you like to see them come to know and understand God’s love? Then it’s our responsibility to love them and show them the God of love through our love. God deserves every bit of love that we have, because He loved us first.
What does that mean for us though? It means that we are truly, perfectly loved. We are loved exactly as we are. Even more than that, we are loved in spite of who we are. We rarely do anything other than think of ourselves first. Even when we try to do the right thing, the Bible says that our best is like filthy rags compared to God and His holiness (note: “filthy rags” is the PG version of Isaiah 64:6). And despite our brokenness and our propensity to selfishness, pride, and so many other messed up things... God, the Creator of the universe, still chooses to love me fully and completely each and every day. It truly is amazing!
So, when I think why I should love, there is the reason. I should choose to live a life that is characterized by love, because I am first loved by a God who is love. It really changes our perspective on those people that are hard to love in our lives, doesn’t it? Suddenly, when I take time to remember and recognize the love that God has for me, I find it much easier to love others. I would even argue that our lack of love for people comes from our unwillingness to constantly acknowledge God’s great love for us. We need to recognize what things are stealing the attention away from God’s love in our lives and set up some guidelines to help keep our priorities straight.
This is the method that Jesus commanded of us in the Great Commandment: to love Him with everything. John says in his gospel, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). There is a method to the madness here. God is love, and He has loved us in spite of who we are. We are compelled and have the responsibility to love others around us with the love that God has shown us. In doing so, others will see God in our love and know that is the characteristic of God. Think about your neighbors, friends, coworkers, classmates, family, and any others that you regularly interact with. Wouldn’t you like to see them come to know and understand God’s love? Then it’s our responsibility to love them and show them the God of love through our love. God deserves every bit of love that we have, because He loved us first.
- Now, in your Crazy Love workbook read the paragraphs before question 8 and answer the questions 8-10 on page 51-52.
- Finish in prayer.
Final Day: Attend Community Group
Congrats! You made it through week 4 of Crazy Love. Now go to community group and share, learn, and enjoy time with your church family.