Icebreaker

What is the strangest gift you have ever received?

Recap

We continued this week exploring Matthew 22:35-40 concerning  what Biblical love actually looks like. The enemy twists and distorts what God expects of love; in order to love the way we are supposed to, we need to fully understand God’s definition of love and what that means. 

Scripture Reference

1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 1 John 4:7-8 and 18-19; Luke 6:32-36

Focus Questions

Read each of the Scripture passages referenced above out loud, one at a time. What did each passage say? What did you hear? Try to repeat what you heard. (Others in your group can help you along the way.) 

1. What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus or his plan?

1. What does this passage tell me about people?

1. What does this passage tell me about myself? What am I doing well? What do I need to change? If this is God’s word for my life, how will I obey it?

1. Who needs to hear this story, and how can I tell them? Who am I going to tell?

Send Out 

Which people are easy for you to love? Which people are hard for you to love?

Who do you spend most of your time and energy giving love to?

Have you ever shown love to someone who didn’t deserve it? Why did you show love in that situation? How did the person respond? Did it encourage or discourage you to show love to others?

Read Romans 5:7-8. What kind of love does Jesus have for people? How did he demonstrate his love? 

Spend some time in 1 John 4:7-21. While reading, think about what obstacles get in the way of loving others. 

1 John 4:18 clearly states that there is no fear in love. What worries, concerns, or fears do you have? It’s difficult to admit when we’re afraid, so we tend to define our fears as practicality, being responsible, preparing for the future, or setting boundaries in our lives (all good things, right?). Fear can disguise itself as anxiety, anger, depression, or difficulty making decisions. Name (out loud) what your fears are, then ask God to take them and replace them with love.