Love, Manufactured - On Letting Love In (Focus 1 of 4)

Consider this ice breaker as you gather for the Spotlight.
What’s something you’ve always felt like you should enjoy, but just can’t get into no matter how hard you try? 

Now that you've answered the icebreaker question, here's another - this one about games. Listen to this audio clip when you’re ready to begin today’s Spotlight.

See what this Spotlight—and series—is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 1" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.

Read through these verses and then listen to this song.
The song “Is He Worthy?” by Andrew Peterson describes the greatness of Jesus. In an interview about the writing process, he named several verses that inspired the song - each of which were in the video you just watched.

Listen to this song (He is Worthy by Andrew Peterson, performed by CeCe Winans) with those verses in mind.

Let’s answer this question: “If he’s worthy, why doesn’t he… ?” together.
Use the arrows in the frame below to navigate through this interactive experience.

Watch this video and follow along to see how the worthiness that matters is actually yours.

Your ultra-worthy God makes you worthy. You don’t have to act like John the Baptist, under the rules of the law, like you aren’t allowed to approach God. You don’t have to stay out of the Most Holy Place in the temple fearing for your life if you entered unworthily. God opens himself and says, “Love me if you’d like.”

God lets love in—even before the love is offered!

Fill out this form on the order of love.
You’ll need to scroll down and click the "Next" button within the form’s frame, below, to continue on in the form.

It’s a simple idea, but love must be given first and received second.

Cain’s offering “failed” because it was an attempt to switch the order and manufacture a love that was already there.

When you "do something for God," where do your motivations fall? Cain-ish? Abel-ish? 

Meet a national nonprofit whose work has a special connection to this series.

The journey of letting love in resonates deeply with the mission of the Modern Widows Club due to the profound courage required to open your heart after loss. For many, the experience of widowhood brings not just grief but also the challenge of rediscovering love—whether in friendship, family, or even self-compassion.

The Modern Widows Club creates a space where love can begin to heal, offering connection, understanding, and encouragement. Letting love in, in this case, isn’t about replacing what was lost; it’s about allowing yourself to be seen, supported, and worthy of the love that still surrounds you. This series and the MWC engage in that work, inviting participants to explore how love—unexpected, unearned, and unrelenting—has the power to restore and renew.


 Click here to visit the Seattle Chapter’s webpage and fill in the following blanks:

• “We are the club ____ ______ wants to be in…”
• “Regardless of her _____ or ___________, she can use other women in her life who understand the unique challenges she is now faced with.”

You'll have the opportunity to do more for and with the Club as the series progresses.

For now, just do the following:

1. Reflect: Think of a widow you know who might need love, support, or encouragement. Hold her in your heart as you turn to prayer.
2. Pray: Insert her name into Psalm 46:1-3.
   "God is [Name]’s refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.
   Therefore, [Name] will not fear, though the earth give way
   and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
   though its waters roar and foam
   and the mountains quake with their surging."
3. Closing Thought: After the prayer, reflect personally on how God might be calling you to be a source of his love and care for this widow in the coming days.

Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)

Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.

Pray through this video that uses Psalm 50 to steer away from manufacturing love.

Sing along with (or listen to) this song to close out this Spotlight.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.

Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.

Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.