Download the word document:The Adventure of love comes full circle Jeff Robison 7-26-09
The Adventure of Love Comes Full Circle
(July 26, 2009)
- Life Group Discussion Guide –
OPEN:
1. While none of us want to have an “enemy”, in the course of a lifetime we may experience such a relationship.
a. What are some negative consequences of such a relationship?
b. How can these negative consequences affect us physically, emotionally, spiritually?
2. How do Jesus instructions on how his followers should treat their enemies fly in the face of how our culture teaches us to treat our enemies?
a. How do God’s action (Jesus also) model how we should treat our enemies> (cf. Romans 5:6-11)
b. Do you feel God really expects us to love like that?
c. How can we?
DIG:
1. What three specific ways did Jesus say we could “love our enemy”?
_______________ to those who hate you!
_______________ those who curse you!
_______________ for those that mistreat you!
(a.) What are some ways you could actively do these things?
(b.) What are the attitudes we should have as we seek to accomplish the above actions? (cf. Romans 12:16 & 18)
2. In what ways should this “active response” of love permeate the whole of our lives?
(a.)Affect specific interaction with an enemy?
(b.)How does Luke 6:29-31 affect your answer to the above question?
(c.)What is the desired response?
______________ will be great? (6:35)
___________ of the most high? (6:35)
___________ on His head? (Romans 12:20)
(d.) How does Romans 12:20,21 give us insight into the kinds of things we should do “to our enemies”?
(e.) What is the passive thing we do in this relationship?
3. How is Luke 6:31, “Do to others as you would have them do unto you” – Fleshed out, further defined by Luke 6:32,33?
(a.) How does Romans 12:17b, give further insight: _________to do ___________ in the eyes of everybody. (12:17B)
(b.) If it is possible_________________, live at peace with everyone. (12:18)
(c.) In what areas should our righteous acts of love surpass other men?
(See Matthew 5:20 also 6:1-8)
I Peter 1:22 Have a ___________ ________, for your brothers, ________one another ______from the hearts.
I Peter 4:8 Above all ___________ one another deeply, because love covers_________.
Reflect / Apply:
I am confident that none of us wants to have an “enemy”. I’m also certain that while we may not have enemies there are people that are not on our “best liked” list.
a. How could these passages apply here?
b. What might be some positive results if we did?