Churches Helping Churches ABC Nebraska
2025 Theme: Love with Courage

1 John 4:16-21 NLT (Emphasis Added)

New Testament scholar Dr. Scot McKnight describes biblical love as “A rugged commitment to be with and for another person unto Christlikeness. It is rugged because it is a commitment to another person; the rugged consistent covenant commitment to another is hard. It is with because love is about sharing presence together. It is for because you will be the advocate of another. It is unto because love is directional; it moves toward the one to whom we surrender our love. God’s love and God’s kind of love transforms us into loving and holy, God-glorifying, and other-oriented people in God’s kingdom. God’s unto have a transformative power.” -Fellowship of Differents, Zondervan, 2014

In our lives, our encounters with fear and anxiety are influences that mold us into a scarcity mindset. These forces threaten to unravel our relationships, tempting us to avoid, dismiss, judge, and resent others. Fear, indeed, is a formidable barrier to nurturing connections. Yet, love has the power to expel all fear.  

In the face of such challenges, we are reminded of a transformative path laid out by Christ. Jesus exemplifies the way of courageous love—a love that transcends disagreements and overcomes judgment with merciful forgiveness. Instead of isolating ourselves or surrounding ourselves with sameness, Jesus invites us to embrace diversity, encouraging us to break bread with those different from us. 

Our calling is clear: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13.34 and 1 John 3:14; 4:20). This command is the pathway to experiencing God’s perfect love—a love that reaches its fullest expression through our actions toward each other.

This year, our theme across the Churches Helping Churches ABC Nebraska community is “Love with Courage.” Every regional event, including the vibrant seasons at the Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center, will champion this theme. We are summoned not just to believe in love but to practice it boldly, stepping beyond fear to forge holy unity and fellowship as exemplified by Christ. This act of loving bravely is not only our mission; it is our witness to the world.

We acknowledge the division that often defines our society. Yet, we are called to counteract this with the unifying power of God’s love, which is made perfect in our loving of one another as Christ loved us. In a world marked by chaos, living in loving unity is a radical act of Kingdom living. It is about loving so profoundly that it offers a compelling alternative to the prevailing chaotic and divisive norms.

As we navigate these challenging times, let our love be so daring and so visible that it becomes our most potent form of evangelism. Together, let us commit to loving with courage, transforming our communities, and reflecting Christ’s love in every interaction. Join us in this sacred effort to turn fear into fellowship and division into unity. Let us love not just in words but in action and truth.

Ways to Engage

In addition to participating in Churches Helping Churches ABC Nebraska and Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center events, we encourage every congregation to participate in “Love with Courage” Sundays on September 14 and 21, 2025, in your local church. Additionally, each local church should consider engaging with “Love with Courage” in its unique setting. 

1. Spiritual Disciplines: Learn and practice key disciplines in the context of a community, like bible reading, prayer, financial stewardship, silence, fasting, sacrifice, worship, celebration, service, confession, and fellowship.
2. Bible Reading: Read especially John and 1 John with a group. Look up words like love, church, brothers and sisters, and unity on your favorite Bible app or Bible website to meditate on key verses or available Bible studies. 
3. Small Groups: Create safe spaces for people to find their identity, belonging, and purpose in Christ by loving one another as Christ loves us. Use the ABC Nebraska RightNow Media access or Seminary Now platform to do a video-driven bible study with others. 
4. Journaling: Reflect on how your understanding of how love rooted in Christ helps create our identity, belonging, and purpose compared to a spirit of fear. 
5. Mentorship: Find a wise person, regardless of age, who loves others well and seek mentorship from them.
6. Service Projects: Look for opportunities to love by serving others deeply.
7. Retreats: Attend a retreat at Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center.

Resources

We will be focusing on 1 John for this theme. Some good commentaries include: 
Constantine R. Campbell, The Story of God Bible Commentary: 1, 2, & 3 John
Karen H. Jobes, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1, 2, & 3 John
John Painter, Sacra Pagina: 1, 2, and 3 John
Colin G. Cruze, The Pillar Commentary on the New Testament: Letters of John
Gary M. Burge, The NIV Application Commentary: The Letters of John
John R. W. Stott, The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary

-Bible Project-
1-3 John Key Guide, and Video 1-3 John
Video: What is God’s Love Like
Video: Agape Love word study

Popular Books

-Biblical Love-
Scott McKnight, Fellowship of Differents
Dan White Jr., Love Over Fear
David Brooks, How to Know A Person
Kara Powell and Brad M. Griffin, 3 Big Questions that Change Every Teenager (This is an excellent resource for all ages)

-Community-
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
Skye Jethani, What if Jesus Was Serious About The Church
J.R. Briggs, A Time to Heal
Greg Mamula, Table Life
Jonathan Malone, A Peculiar Church
Myles Wernz, From Isolation to Community
Henri J.M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved
Scot McKnight, Kingdom Conspiracy

-Politics and Power-
Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood, Baptizing America
Ross Kane, The Good News of Church Politics
Michael Wear, The Spirit of Our Politics
David Fitch, Reckoning With Power
N.T. Wright and Michael Bird, Jesus and the Powers

Songs

List of Hymns featuring “Love One Another”
Love One Another
They will Know We Are Christian

Videos

Love One Another by The Work of the People
Peace featuring Stanley Hauweras
Make “One Another” The Core of Your Community by RightNow Media