Love People

As we abide in Christ, the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in our lives should be evident in the way we love others. Jesus calls us to love one another as He has loved us, a love that is not based on feelings or the world’s definition. What does it mean to love like Jesus? How can the way we love others point people to Christ and open the door to the gospel? In session two, we will explore what it means to sacrificially love the people God places in our midst, so that others may encounter the love of Christ through us.

Verses Used:

Galatians 5:22-23

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

1 John 4:7-12, 19

John 13:34

John 13:35

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Discussion Questions:

1) What resonated with you most in this week's homework or tonight's message?

2) What are we as believers commanded to do in John 13:34, and where does our ability to obey this verse come from? (see 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:19, Romans 5:5)

3) How does the Biblical definition of love differ from the idea of love we see in pop culture? (see John 15:13-14, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, and Philippians 2:1-4)

4) Which aspect of the Biblical definition of love is hardest for you to obey, and why? How can you better exemplify love to your family, friends, and those you care about?

5) We are called to love our neighbor, as well as the poor and the foreigner. List examples of each category that you may encounter in everyday life. How do you actively display the love of Christ to these people?

6) Why did God command Israel to care for the poor and the foreigner, and how was remembering their own experience as foreigners meant to shape the way they treated others? How should remembering our own spiritual captivity (see Ephesians 2:19), and God’s grace toward us, compel us to extend that same grace and compassion to those who are disenfranchised?