As your pastor, I wish to encourage you to make the most of your family time by prioritizing family worship. Over the last 12 months, I have been developing a Q&A approach to teaching my kids important Christian truths. I think I was inspired by the (more recent) New City Catechism as well as the (more ancient) Westminster shorter catechism. I am amazed at how well received these Q&As have been in my home. Our family’s joy has been made complete (John 15:11). With that in mind, I wish to share some of these truths with you so you too can learn them and teach them to your children.

First, we will focus on the great commandment. As we have been learning over the last several weeks, love is the greatest of God’s commandments because others are what matter most to God. Each member of our revered Godhead—Father, Son and Spirit—love the other members to perfection. As the most loving being ever, God loves Himself and His creatures perfectly (1 John 4:8, 16). Let’s draw our hearts near to the loving heart of God by hiding His Word inside.

This week, we will learn how to love by answering seven questions. These questions will help you to:

· promote love to your highest priority (Q. 1)

· pattern love after the Lord Jesus Christ (Q. 2, 3)

· make progress in love (Q. 4, 5)

· protect love from its devourers (Q. 6, 7)

Question 1: Whom ought a Christian to love with all his/her being?

Answer: A Christian ought to love God with all of his/her being.

Verse: Matthew 22:37 says, “And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’”

Question 2: Is there a new kind of commandment?

Answer: Yes. Jesus himself said.

Verse: John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Question 3: How will the world know who the true disciples of Jesus are?

Answer: The world will know who the true disciples of Jesus are by their love for one another.

Verse: John 13:35 says, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Question 4: In what ought a Christian always to be growing?

Answer: A Christian ought always to be growing in love.

Verse: 1 Thessalonians 3:12 says, “and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people…”

Question 5: How often ought a friend to show love?

Answer: A friend loves at all times.

Verse: Proverbs 17:17a says, “A friend loves at all times…”

Question 6: What is one thing a Christian ought never to love more than God?

Answer: A Christians ought never to love money more than God.

Verse: 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all evil…”

Question 7: What is another thing a Christian ought never to love more than God?

Answer: A Christian ought never to love the world or the things in the world more than God.

Verse: 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

Advanced question:

Question: What is the general rule for how Christians are to relate to other Christians?

Answer: Christians relate to other Christians by showing them love.

Verses: John 15:9-17.