The Armenian Church

Lent: A Season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving

Week 2: Friendship and Love

"For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Sunday: The Sunday of Expulsion recalls the story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-24) and their expulsion from Paradise as a result of their sin of disobedience to God. It reminds us of the sad consequences of sin. How do we suffer when we sin?

Monday: As a Christian, think about what you can do to promote friendship and love?

Tuesday: Discuss with your friends the traits of true friendship. One might be honesty, and you can read Exodus 33:7-11. Another might be loyalty, as described in Proverbs 17:1-28.

Wednesday: With your family, talk about how you would define a loving person. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Then replace the word love in this verse with your name. Does it fit you?

Thursday: Love is a command from God. Read 1 John 2:1-11 and think about who has been like the apostle John, a person who has cared about spiritual growth in your life. Love should be a unifying force and identifying mark of the Christian community. Love is the key to walking in the light, because we cannot grow spiritually while we hate others. Our growing relationship with God will result in growing relationships with others.

Friday: Surprise a friend or family member with a small gift showing them your appreciation.

Saturday: Tell each of your special friends what it is that makes them special.

Lent Week by Week

Week 2

Reading:

1 John 2:1-11

1: My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
2: and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
3: And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4: He who says "I know him" but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
5: but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him:
6: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
7: Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.
8: Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
9: He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still.
10: He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling.
11: But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.