It Takes a Village Week 3
Welcome to week three of It Takes a Village! Pastor Josh expressed to us the importance of true love in our lives. It seemed as if he took a page out of the playbook from the movie Princess Bride when Miracle asked, “What you got here that’s worth living for?” and Wesley answered, “True Love”. The following questions are inspired by Pastor Josh’s story of when a neighbor helped take his son to the hospital with no notice.
- What is something important a grandparent or older mentor taught you about love?
- If you are married, what was the moment you knew you were in love with your spouse? If you are single, what’s an important trait you look for in a partner?
- Have you ever had a friend “fall in love”, but you could see that it wasn’t real love (even though you didn’t say anything)? What did you see?
- Have you ever heard someone describe “true love” to you and then in that moment or afterwards you thought to yourself, “That’s not right.” What did they say that you did not agree with?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered…it keeps no record of wrongs…Love does not delight in evil.
Pastor Josh said, “It’s easy to embrace what love is. It’s harder to embrace what love rejects.”
5. What examples do you see in our culture today where the enemy is describing a love that is not real?
6. Can you share a time when you personally found it difficult to “reject” what loves rejects?
***For leaders – For example – one person I knew who graduated H.S. wanted to join the military to go on their own. His parents told him “If you love us, then you will remain here with us and help us with the family business.” This son had a hard time rejecting his parents “loving” wishes. The parents were mixing family love and their own self-centered reasons to keep their son in a business that he wanted no part of.
7. Have you ever tried to win someone over in your Village that disliked you by looking for ways to show love to them? If the answer is “yes”, what did you do? If the answer is “no”, do you know someone that you can attempt to win over by acting in love?
8. Have you ever had to “call someone out and call them up” like Pastor Josh’s track coach did to him by lovingly challenging him to deal with unresolved issues in his life? How did they respond when you did it? If they were angry with you, how did you handle it?
Pray for one another! Pray that God will show each member in your Group how you can spread love in “the Village”. Have a blessed week!