What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. If you had a “shot clock” on your life – a finite amount of time – left on this earth, what fun thing would be on you bucket list? What difficult, relational work would you be sure to complete?
2. Love Humbly. Read John 19:25-27, Micah 6:8 and Matthew 5:2-12. Discuss the word “humble.” From these various passages, from the life of Jesus and His teachings, what does it mean to be humble? List some practical ways you are humble or can grow in humility. In every conflict, in every conversation ask, “Who’s needs am I putting first right now?”
3. Love Unconditionally. Read Luke 23:40-43 and 14:12-14. What specific types of people did Jesus either care for or use as examples of people we should care for without judgment or prejudice? Are some of these people groups easy for you or difficult? Where do you excel? Where must you grow? Do you have an action step to grow in this unconditional type of love?
4. Love Gracefully. Read 1 Peter 2:23-24. What specific things did Jesus do (or not do) to show godly love during His last hours? Which of these do you feel is humanly impossible? Is that really the case?
5. This Week: How will you love like it’s the last thing you’ll ever be able to do? How will you put others first? How will you lay down an offense and love the offender? How will you love your coworkers, neighbors, strangers, or enemies this week? Do you have someone in mind right now?
Deeper
There are four distinct types of love we see in the Bible. Each word has a very different meaning in the original language. Yet in our culture and in the English language, we just use one word: love. To better understand the complexity of love, we need to understand which type or version of “love” is being used and understand how that love differs from the other emotions. Let’s look at God’s “agape” love this week.
One thing to understand about agape is that it’s rooted in the idea of a love between God and His children. Yet this is still specifically different than “storge,” which is parental love within the family.
6. Read John 3:16-17. Also, read Romans 5:6-8. What is surprising about the love of God described here? Are there limits to this type of love?
7. Read John 17:25-26. What does the end of this passage mean? Can this love be transferred or contagious?
8. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. The love of God controls / compels us to do what? What else do we learn about agape love in this passage?
9. Read Matthew 22:37-39, John 14:21, and Matthew 5:43-44. How can we express love back to God? Can we agape love God? Who else are we to love? Are there any exceptions? Criteria?