MAIN IDEA || Most of God’s help tends to come in ordinary means of personal engagement and prayer. John 13:34–35 (NLT) 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Jesus gives us something new to drive our lives: “a new commandment” 1. Love each other. 2. Love as I have loved you. 3. Love is proof. God’s love is . Isaiah 43:1–5 (NLT) 1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… 5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. John 4:1–42 To be more our care must be more personal. 1 Peter 1:22 (NLT) 22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. Romans 12:9–10 (NLT) 9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 1 John 3:18–19 (NLT) 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. To be more helpful, our love must be more . CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION 1. When have you been blessed by the personal responses of others? In other words, when has someone encouraged you by really listening to and hearing you? 2. One of the shocking revelations of the character of God occurs when, in response to the wavering affections of Israel, the Lord says: My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. (Hos. 11:8) a. “Recoils” is not the same as withdraws. i. It is more that God’s heart is strongly moved and aroused on behalf of his people. ii. God is moved by his people; we too want to be moved by the pleasures and hardships of those we love. b. As we think about the fact that God is moved by us, we hope to be even more responsive to others. How might these realities affect how you pray? 3. The movement from knowing others to praying with them face-to-face can be hard. a. Why might that be? b. How do you hope to grow in praying with others?