lovea radical way

page 7 8 LOVE

dical wway

To communicate that being a follower of Jesus requires that we love in a way that is qualitatively different than the way the world defines love, because God’s love is sacrificial and initiates the best for another.

Jesus commands His followers to love others in a way that is unique and dis-tinctive, because we have been loved by God in this way.

The desired outcome is to live out biblical love more and more and demonstrate that love in all relationships. A specific practice may include praying about what it would look like to desire God’s best for someone else—family member, coworker, neighbor, or friend—without seeking any reciprocal benefit.

Background

Passage:

1 J O H N 4 : 7 - 2 1

scripture

Passage:

1 J O H N 4 : 7 - 1 2

• We are commanded to love God as

evidence that we are born of God and

truly know God (vv. 7-8).

• God’s love that we are called to imi-

tate is sacrificial (v. 9).

• God’s love that we are called to imi-

tate takes the initiative to love (v. 10;

also v. 19).

• We are called and commanded to

love the way that God has demon-

strated and revealed (vv. 11-12).

Memory

Verses:

1 J O H N 4 : 7 - 8

Dear friends, let us love one an-

other, because love is from God,

and everyone who loves has been

born of God and knows God. The

one who does not love does not

know God, because God is love.

CCCHHAAAPPPPPPTTTTTTTEEEEEERRR 111000

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PREPARING TO TEACH

According to Scripture, love is the greatest of all virtues (1 Cor.

13:13) perhaps because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). The popular

cultural definition of love is conditional and often entails how we

feel. But real love is not limited to how we feel or to a specific group

of people and generally requires reciprocation. The practice of God’s

love is not simply dependent on the worthiness of the recipient and

even includes love for enemies (Matt. 5:43-48). Love means desir-

ing God’s best for another person and doing what we can to see that

accomplished.

On the surface, this spiritual discipline appears easy to accom-

plish but you may be surprised to know how many believers have a

real struggle with love: loving themselves; loving a friend or family

member who disappointed them; loving their enemies, their boss, or

their neighbor; or loving the thief, the rapist, or the murderer. Love

for those who are dear to us is easy; loving the way Jesus demon-

strated and taught can be difficult. Examine your own heart and

spend time with God about your love-life before you begin prepara-

tion for this study.

Work through the Venture In Travelogue, reading the Scriptures

and the commentary, and responding to the questions. Seek wisdom

from God as you prepare, recognizing that most all believers are

challenged when it comes to loving every person according to God’s

design.

Pray by name for the learners in your group.

Gather plain white paper, several pairs of scissors, and mark-

ers for use later in the session. Depending on the size of your

class, prepare one or two tear sheets on which you’ve written this

question: What song, movie, or TV show comes to mind when you hear

the word LOVE? Place the tear sheet(s) and some markers near the

entrance to the room.

Write one of these passages on five different index cards: Leviti-

cus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 5:43-44; Matthew 22:37-39;

John 13:34-35. Distribute the cards to five learners and ask them to

be prepared to read aloud their assigned Scripture.

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Prepare five placards with these headings: Believe, Be Aware, Be in

Prayer, Be Active, and Be Focused. (These placards match the sections of

the subhead, “Love Delivered” on page 107 in the Travelogue.)

Depending on the personality of your group, pick out and play

a love song as learners are gathering and responding to the question

on the tear sheet: All You Need is Love (The Beatles), The Love Boat

theme song, Love Lifted Me, The Power of Love (Celine Deon), (I Can’t

Help) Falling in Love with You (Elvis Presley), or I Will Always Love You

(Dolly Parton).

TEACHING SUGGESTIONS

NOT AN OPTION

Greet learners and ask them to respond to the question on the tear

sheet(s), recording as many responses as they want to. (NOTE: This

activity will help learners focus on love in a happy, nonthreatening

way and will pave the way for a more in-depth look at the discipline

involved in love.)

Read and discuss responses. Ask: When you were a teenager,

how did you define “love”? What about now that you’re an

adult? Guide a discussion of the variety of ways the word “love”

is used in our society today, based on the responses on the tear

sheet(s), the news, and personal knowledge. Ask: How do you

think the world defines love?

Call for the volunteers to read the five Scripture passages.

Emphasize that today’s focus is on love as a spiritual discipline.

Write this Scripture passage on the board: “By this all people will know

that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Challenge learners to watch for ways godly love differs from the

love described in songs, movies, TV shows, and other facets of our

society.

Lead in prayer for today’s study.

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______________________________________________________________________________

Teaching Option

As an alternate way to introduce this study, show this video of man-

on-the-street interviews, asking people to define love: https://www.

youtube.com/watch?v=kvg8aSWF3Ng (stop the video at 4:45).

______________________________________________________________________________

LOVE DEMONSTRATED

Ask: How did Jesus love while He was on earth? In your

observation, how do people today typically demonstrate love?

Challenge learners to think about how they demonstrate love as we

examine Jesus’ instructions in 1 John 4:7-12.

Call for a volunteer to read the verses aloud while others follow

along in their Bibles. Invite anyone with a different translation to

share any noticeable variations. Ask: How can we possibly love

like Jesus loves? Highlight and discuss this sentence from the Trav-

elogue (p. 103): Loving imperfectly is vastly different than not loving at all.

Continue reading from the Travelogue (p. 103): However, people

who claim to know God and yet consistently refuse to love others need to

check their claim. Ask: Do you agree or disagree? Why? Read the

final sentence from that paragraph in the Travelogue (p. 103): It is

simply not possible to have an intimate relationship with God and not love

others. Invite comments and guide learners to grasp the magnitude

and importance of the spiritual practice of love.

Ask: What is the difference in the world’s love and the love

that should be evident in a Christian? Why is it imperative

that we show love through our actions, words, and lifestyle?

Briefly review the definition of “propitiation” (Travelogue, p. 104).

Enlist two volunteers to read Romans 5:6-10 and 1 John 4:12.

Refer to the Scripture that’s written on the board: John 13:35. Direct

learners to page 105 of their Travelogue and the list of people they

love. Say: Did you think of the names of anyone who should be

on your list but aren’t? Remind learners that God’s love is revealed

to the world through His followers, through me and you. Lead in a

time of prayer that the people on our lists will see glimpses of God

in us.

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______________________________________________________________________________

Teacher Helps

Prepare for the examination of 1 John 4:7-12 by viewing the Video

Player Tool for these verses at www.MyStudyBible.com. (There is

also a video examination of Romans 5:6-10 available for viewing.)

______________________________________________________________________________

LOVE DEFINED

Read aloud the definition of love from page 105 of the Travelogue:

Love is an intentional, unconditional, sacrificial investment of care into

others’ lives in order to seek God’s best for them. Challenge learners to

evaluate the way they love, based on this definition. Say: Using a

scale from 1 to 10 (10 would be excellent), rate yourself on how

well you love based on what we’ve learned so far today. Write

the number in your Travelogue as a reminder.

Allow time for learners to complete the suggested journal

assignment on page 106 of the Travelogue.

______________________________________________________________________________

Teaching Option

If time permits, guide an examination of three terms for love: agape,

eros, and philia. Be sure to note that the word eros does not appear in

Scripture.

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LOVE DESCRIBED

Direct learners to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in their Bibles. Invite several

volunteers to read these verses aloud from at least two or three

translations.

Call attention to the list of actions and attitudes of Jesus on

pages 106-107 of the Travelogue. Stimulate discussion by asking:

Why can’t we just use the excuse that we aren’t perfect like

Jesus was? Why do we have to hone these attributes in our

own lives?

Challenge learners to respond to this question by recording

thoughts in their Travelogues: How are these actions and attitudes from 1

Corinthians 13:4-7 revealed in your life?

Pause for a time of silent prayer.

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Teacher Helps

For additional insight into 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, visit www.bible-

hub.com, enter the Scripture passage. Review the passage in vari-

ous translations available and explore insights from some of the

commentaries on the website.

______________________________________________________________________________

LOVE DELIVERED

To examine the “how-to” of delivering love, group the adults into

five teams. (Remember a team can consist of one person, two

persons, or more.) Distribute the five placards you prepared earlier.

Provide these directions for each team: Review the insight in the

Travelogue for your assigned topic. Read the Scripture passages given and use

cross-references or a concordance to add other relevant Scripture passages as

well. Use creativity (art, music, poetry, drama, or other creative options) to

prepare a brief synopsis of your assignment to share with the whole group.

After allowing time for teams to work, call for reports. Supple-

ment as needed based on your study of “Love Delivered” in the

Travelogue (pp. 107-110).

CONCLUSION

Refer to the tear sheet(s) with the titles of love songs, movies, and

TV shows. Summarize how these ideas of love and the love we’ve

discussed today are different. Read aloud John 13:35.

Distribute a sheet of paper to each learner and scissors to share.

Instruct them to fold the paper in half and make a valentine (like

we used to do as children). Distribute the markers and give these

directions: Sit quietly and allow the God of love to speak to your heart

about what we’ve studied today. Ask Him to reveal to you what you need to

take away from this study. Maybe it ’s the name of someone you need to love

with Christ-like love; perhaps it ’s the revelation of a quality in your life that

does not reflect the love of God; or it could be the need to forgive yourself or

someone else. On your paper heart, write words or phrases that will remind

you of what God has shown you today. Place the heart in your Bible or your

Travelogue as a reminder.

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PRAY

Close the session in prayer.

______________________________________________________________________________

Teaching Option

Replace the conclusion activity with this idea. Direct learners to

write out 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, substituting their name in every

place where the word “love” is used. (For example: “Marianne is

patient, Marianne is kind, Marianne does not envy . . .”)

Challenge learners to consider the attributes or actions that aren’t

typically present in their love of others. Close the session with a

time of silent prayer.

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FOLLOW THROUGH

• Show your love and appreciation for each learner in your

group by sending a private text, email, or message to each one.

Point out where you see spiritual growth developing in their

lives or how pleased you are with their weekly participation.

• Spend time this week to implement what God revealed to you

about the way you love. Follow through on the need to reach

out in love to others.