#1463. Follow God’s example (2/3/26)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Ephesians series: Ephesians - To the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God.

From Ephesians 5:1-3, let’s reflect on how we are to follow God’s example above all others - and this requires fellowship with Him and His church. 

To watch this devotional, please select the link below:

1. Whose Example Are We Following?

It’s often said that we become like the people we spend the most time with. In The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy writes:

Whatever we make of that percentage, the principle rings true: we are shaped by our influences.

If we are to follow God’s example (‘Imitators’ ESV) — if we are to become more like Him — then we must spend time with Him. We must cultivate daily fellowship with God through prayer and Scripture. We must also prioritise Christian fellowship, because God  shapes us through His people - that’s why he’s spent so much time previously talking about the body of Christ. 

We cannot imitate someone we rarely encounter.

2. Is God’s Fatherly Love our inspiration for life?

Paul reminds us that we are “dearly loved children.” This identity comes before the command. We are not told to walk in love in order to become loved — we walk in love because we already are.

As we draw near to God personally and in the life of the church, we are reminded of this reality. Our awareness of the Father’s love deepens, and from that place we ‘walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.’

The cross is our pattern.

At Community Church Putney, we share communion each week and seek to keep the gospel central. Why? Because it is as we reflect on how Jesus ‘gave himself up for us’ that we are most transformed. The more clearly we see the self-giving love of Christ, the more we are moved to live self-giving lives.

Jesus is the perfectly loved Son. And as those who are dearly loved in Him, we are empowered by the Spirit to reflect that same sacrificial love in our relationships, our service, and our church life.

Love received becomes love expressed.

Response

When was the last time you felt God say over you, as He said over Jesus: 

Do we believe that fellowship with God and with the church is vital, and is a key to our transformation because this is the place where we meet God? 

Is the gospel of God’s love filling my heart and being seen in how I serve my church and my other relationships?

Community Group Notes - This week is 'SIV Week'

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Please ensure that everyone is aware and is signed up to our 50-hours of prayer that is starting on 11th March. Here’s the link to get the app:

https://my.jovoapp.com/invitation/?t=aW52aXRhdGlvbjoxMzA1ODpzX2tGTnN4eVNHcnZnZlJ1ZjN6WEhRTHVsVHc%3D

2. Icebreaker

Something that builds relationships and confidence to share; it’s good to regularly use this moment to ask the group: How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together 

This week is SIV (Serve, Invest, and InVite) Week, so we’ll focus more on the reaching our community aspects in our study. 

What is SIV? 

SIV stands for Serve, Invest, and Invite. This is our very simple strategy to help bring our community to Jesus. We believe that God has placed us in relationships and in specific locations to be 'salt and light.' and to ‘fish for people’.  We can effectively bring people to Jesus by: 

• 'Serving' them - demonstrating the love of Christ in practical ways; 

• 'Investing' in the ‘people of peace’ (See note below) those whom we feel the Spirit is leading us. 

• 'Inviting' them into our homes by showing hospitality and inviting them to church events, to Alpha, and ultimately, inviting them to come to Jesus through the gospel. 

On Sunday, we continued our new series entitled: Ephesians: to the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. 

Our message was, Wake Up Sleeper. We saw, from Ephesians 5:1-14, that: 

Those who have been woken up and have Christ shining on them - Seek light, refuse darkness and shine light

Please read Ephesians 5:1-14 and discuss:

• Personal Reflection – From Sunday’s message and this passage, what stood out to you? Was there anything the Spirit particularly impressed on your heart?

• SIV - Why are godly sexual ethics, and godly language, essential for a healthy life, healthy church, and why do these things make us shine like a light in this dark world?

• SIV - V.14 ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you’, is considered an early Christian hymn. What does this phrase say about how one becomes a Christian, and how does this inform how we are to pray for our non-believing friends? 

• SIV - Share Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing stories of how we’ve seen God at work through simple faithfulness.

• Practical Next Steps – Who might God be placing on your heart at this time? Are there any “people of peace” (see note) in your life—those who seem open, welcoming, or receptive to spiritual conversation?

Let’s Pray Together

Let’s pray for one another in light of what we’ve studied and bring any other needs before God.

• Pray for courage, wisdom, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in our Serve, Invest, and Invite opportunities.

• Pray specifically for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives - that God would open hearts and deepen relationships.

• General prayer: From our study, or from personal needs, how do people want prayer?