Hello This is a Test

Group Guide

April 3rd, 2022
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Ice-Breaker 

What does it mean to love someone? What are the ways we show love to our children? Why do you think our culture equates love with acceptance? 

This Week's City 7

4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)

Discussion Questions

  • Jesus is giving a picture here of true, gospel-centered love. He's raising the bar for love. "For those who are willing to listen." Jesus is giving us a heads up that this kind of love is HARD. It's not easy. We all have people in our lives, friends or family, that are just difficult to love. This is backwards thinking to us, another piece of God's upside-down Kingdom. The first point on Sunday was, "Real love is rooted in the sovereignty of God." Real love means we don't retaliate against people that hurt us. Instead we submit to God and respond to his sovereignty. This is the only way we can love people unconditionally. This is the only way we can love and bless and serve our enemy, the only way we can turn the other cheek or take care of them when they are in need. We have to trust God first. How does this look, practically speaking. In your own words, what does trust in God have to do with loving our enemies?

  • The second point was, "Real love is rooted in the mission of God." This means we have no human enemies. Jesus is telling us that true followers, when they are mistreated, are not only to not retaliate, but they will be marked by radical generosity, kindness and blessing. This is the kind of love that made people take notice that something about these Jesus followers was different.  We don't vilify our enemies. Jesus was and is the perfect representation of this kind of love as he allowed himself to be beaten, mocked and killed by the very people he was giving his life for. How do you typically respond when you are treated unfairly or lied about? How do we curb our desire to get even or defend ourselves?

  • The third point was, "Real love is rooted in the provision of God." This means we come to the realization that it is God who provides all the things we need. Jesus tells us we are to give to anyone who asks. Our lives are to be marked by radical generosity. This is hard to do when we think everything we have is ours. But when we realize it's all God's anyway, we are more likely to share with those who are in need. We are merely stewards. What is your attitude towards your own money and stuff? Are you stingy with what God has blessed you with? What are some ways we can turn up the generosity in our lives?

  • Fourth, Clayton said, "Real love is rooted in the reward of God." This is how we love those who don't deserve it. It's not a feeling that comes and goes. It's not an emotional response. It's a choice to sacrifice yourself for the benefit of others. This is grace-based love. We don't think, "What's in it for me?" Real believers know that if we live lives filled with radical love we will be rewarded by God. We will live in freedom and peace, have healthy relationships with people, a great spiritual blessing. What if you loved people in your life with unconditional, sacrificial, no strings attached love? How would those relationships improve? Do you need to take a step forward in this area? Who do you need to love better?

  • Finally, "Real love is rooted in the Gospel of God." Jesus loved us, died for us, chose us, even when we were still his enemies. When we love the way Jesus loved us, we look more and more like Him. This is how they will know we belong to him; the way we love each other. This kind of love is only possible if our hearts have been transformed by God's Spirit. I should love my enemies because God loved and enemy like me. The ability to love my enemies is found in remembering the greatest act of love... God loving ME. What is your biggest takeaway from this message? What is God asking you to do? 

Prayer Topics 

  • That we would love people that hurt us instead of retaliate.
  • That we would love people instead of defending ourselves. 
  • That we would be radically generous.
  • That people would know us for our love for others. 

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