REALLIFE
STUDY GROUP
“A Loving
Community”
ICEBREAKER: What do you think is the
best love story either fictional or non fiction? (Romeo & Juliet, Pride
& Prejudice…)
DEFINITION: Agape: The God kind of Love is unconditional,
sacrificial, unending, infinitely flows, cannot be contained, nullifies
revenge, defies reason, transcends judgment, conquers fear, miraculously
reproduces, powerfully transforms, forgives betrayal, reconciles enemies,
champions truth, extravagantly gives, always hopes, believes the best, never
gives up
OUTLINE:
1. Love’s outrageous purpose
Before we can express love to one another we have to personally
experience
God’s outrageous love.
Four Greek
words for “love”
1. Philio-family
2. Philostorgas-friend
3. eros-romantic;
erotic
4. agape-unconditional
2. Love’s outrageous story
3. Love’s outrageous power
This week: 5 ways we express our love:
1. Speak words of affirmation
2. Spend quality
time
3. Give a gift
4. Act in humble service
5. Express appropriate touch
TEXT: Ephesians
3:17-19, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:
1.
What
is the best gift you have ever given someone and tell us why you feel it was so
valuable?
2.
Who
in your life has made you feel so special that you know that you are loved when
you are with them?
3.
How
do you know that God loves you?
a.
Because
the Bible says so (John 3:16)
b.
Because
I feel His presence sometimes
c.
Because
He has given me so much
d.
Because
He has forgiven me when I did not deserve it
e.
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4.
From
the list in the outline of the 5 ways we express our love, which one would you
say is your primary love language of expressing your love to others?
5.
1
Corinthians 13 defines love. When we
truly have God’s love in our lives we could substitute our name in place of the
word “love.” Which one is the hardest
for you?
1
Corinthians 13:4-8 (The Message)
(Your Name) never gives up (is patient).
(Your Name)
cares more for others than for self (is
kind).
(Your Name)
doesn't want what it doesn't have (does
not envy).
(Your Name)
doesn't strut (is not arrogant or proud),
(Your Name) Doesn't have a swelled head (is not rude),
(Your Name) Doesn't
force itself on others,
(Your name) Isn't
always "me first,"(is not
self-seeking)
(Your Name) Doesn't
fly off the handle,(is not easily angered)
(Your Name) Doesn't
keep score of the sins of others, (keeps
no record of wrong)
(Your Name) Doesn't
revel when others grovel,
(Your Name) Takes
pleasure in the flowering of truth,
(Your Name) Puts
up with anything,
(Your Name) Trusts God always,
(Your Name) Always looks for the best, (always hopes)
(Your Name) Never looks back, but keeps going
to the end. Love never dies.
6. Romans 8:35-39 says “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For
I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
What does the enemy use to try to get you to believe that God or
at least His people do not really love or care for you?
a.
Disappointment
b.
Rudeness
c.
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