On Sunday, October 29, 2023, Teaching Pastor Bruce Hess’ message is Part 4 from our sermon series “The Power of Love”. Below are some questions for your personal or group reflection.
- We can often hear folks say things like “I’ve fallen out of love,” “I don’t love him/her anymore.” What is the core issue with statements like that? From this series, what perspective might you share with them?
- “Love is not rude” (13:5), not ill-mannered or crude. What are some common ways we/others tend to display rudeness? What type of actions would be the opposite of rudeness? Make a list.
- ”Love does not insist on its own way” (13:5). What are some practical ways we can give preference to others?
- ”Love is not irritable” (13:5), not touchy or quick to take offense. What circumstances in life make you more vulnerable to being irritable? Bruce said that the difference between reacting and responding is what?
- “Love is not resentful” (13:5), it does not take into account a wrong suffered, keeps no record of wrongs (doesn’t keep score). Why do we have this tendency to “keep score”?
- Read out loud 2 Timothy 4:14. What instruction for ourselves is found there?
- Look at Ephesians 4:32-5:2. As mentioned in the message:
- what is His will for me?
- what are we called to pass along that we’ve received?
- how are we to imitate our Heavenly Father?
- how does God view our responses before Him (see the end of vs. 2)?
- It is a true blessing (giving a salute to the lyrics of Foreigner’s song, I want to know what love Is, I want you to show me) that our God has fulfilled our deep need for Him to show us what love is. He’s done it two ways. One, by sharing the practical aspects of love from 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. Second, by clearly demonstrating His love through what the Lord Jesus did for us by coming into this world to give His life as a ransom for many. Spend a few moments thanking the Lord both for His Word, and for the greatest act of love ever: Jesus taking your place on the cross!