Love Your Enemies

Loving our enemies is deeply challenging to our flesh, but Scripture clearly lays out how we are to treat them. In session four, we examine the Biblical standard for choosing to love our enemies, forgive even when it's difficult, and trust in God as the perfect Judge.

Verses Used:

Luke 6:35

Proverbs 3:5

Ephesians 4:32

Matthew 5:44

Discussion Questions:

1) What resonated with you most in this week’s study guide or tonight’s message, and why?

2) The Bible commands us to love our enemies. Why is this so hard to do?

3) Though we often equate love with a feeling, the Bible defines love as an action. If this is true, how can we still love people we don’t feel loving toward? (See Luke 6:27-36 and 1 Corinthians 13:1-8) 

4) Do you have an enemy in your life or someone you struggle to love? How can you apply the verses above to that situation?

5) How have you taken or been tempted to take your own revenge against an enemy? What does Romans 12:19 command instead, and what does this mean? How would obeying and trusting this verse impact your interactions with your enemy?

6) Have you received the forgiveness of God for your sins? If so, how does God having forgiven you impact your responsibility and ability to forgive your enemy? Can you think of a time you had to choose forgiveness? How did you do so? (see Romans 5:6-10 and Matthew 18:21-35)