Teaching Points
1. Read 1 John 4:16 and make observational questions.
ANSWER:
· 1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
· What have we known and believed?
· What is God?
· How can we dwell in God and God in us?
· What does it mean to dwell in love contextually?
OBSERVATION:
- God is love. And as we dwell in His love we can dwell in Him and Him in us. And if God dwells in us and we in Him, then we are truly His children, or offspring.
- To dwell in God’s love means to “confess that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 4:15).
- What does it mean to “confess”? To truly confess that Jesus is the Son of God, or Divine, is letting God dwell in you. “The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.” {MH 470.1}
APPLICATION QUESTION:
· Are you experiencing God’s love today?
· Do you confess that Jesus is the Son of God in your daily lives?
· How has your love endured when severely tested? (Think about in the home, at work, school, etc, and compare with Matthew 24:12, 13)
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
· What is the difference between what we commonly hear in the world as “love” and what is described in I Corinthians 13?
· Why does Paul say that the greatest of faith, hope, and love—is love?
2. Read Matthew 22:37-39 and make observational questions.
ANSWER:
· Matt 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
· What is the first and great commandment?
· With how much should we love God?
· Why does it mention heart, soul, and mind?
· In what way should we love our neighbor?
OBSERVATION:
· What does the word “love” mean? Dictionary: “To have affection for, to be fond of, to be a friend to, especially; judgment and deliberate assent of the will in the matter of principle, duty and propriety.” In other words, this love is based on understanding and judgment rather than just feelings. God wants us to love Him with the understanding as much as our feelings. Our understanding of God should awaken a love and appreciation for who He is.
· God wants us to love Him emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and socially—God wants all of us with no divided affections!
· Heart, soul, and mind are mentioned to give a complete picture of how deep we need to love God. “Heart” includes our thoughts and feelings—the emotions. “Soul” refers to spiritual and physical aspects (body + breath = living soul). “Mind” deals with the imagination, where deep thinking takes place.
· Who is your neighbor? Notice this definition: Strong’s 4139: “close by”. Your neighbor is someone near you, your fellow man. This could be your husband or wife, your children, your brother or sister, your classmate or someone next door or on the street, someone traveling with you. These are all your neighbors.
· How do you love your neighbor as yourself? Matt 7:12 “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” God want us to love others as we love ourselves, unselfishly. True love is not selfish; it is unselfish thinking of the good of others first.
APPLICATION QUESTION:
· Do you love God because you truly understand His character? If not are you willing to take the time necessary to get to know God so that you will love Him that way?
· Do you truly love your neighbor? When you meet someone on the street are you thinking, What can I do to help this person feel appreciated, loved, and most importantly, know that God loves him?
· Think about what you think about most—yourself or others. If it is yourself, are you willing to ask God to help you focus on others’ needs and not yourself all the time?
3. What is the definition of what love is according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8?
ANSWER:
· 1Co 13:4-8 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
· Love suffers long
· Love is kind
· Love rejoices in the truth
· Love bears all things
· Love believes all things
· Love hopes all things
· Love endures all things
· Love never fails
OBSERVATION:
· Notice the definitions of what love is:
· Suffers long = Strong’s 3114: “to be long-spirited, i.e. (objectively) forbearing or (subjectively) patient, patiently endure.”
· Kind = Strong’s 5541: “to show oneself useful, i.e. act benevolently.”
· Rejoices in the truth = “rejoices”, Strong’s 4796: “to sympathize in gladness, congratulate” the truth.
· Bears all things = “bears”, Strong’s 4722: “to roof over, i.e. (figuratively) to cover with silence (endure patiently).”
· Believes all things = “believes”, Strong’s 4100: “to have faith, i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ).”
· Hopes all things = “hopes”, Strong’s 1679: “to expect or confide, trust; to anticipate with pleasure.”
· Endures all things = “endures”, Strong’s 5278: “to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere.”
· This love cannot be quickly turned on or off. It is a principle firmly grounded in a firm reliance upon Christ and consistent relationship with Christ.
· A person who has this love will resist the temptation to follow feelings and physical emotional swings—not that they won’t feel them them, but that those feelings do not control how they respond.
APPLICATION QUESTION:
· Think of this past week. What are the times and experiences where you have been tempted to be patient or impatient? Did you suffer long?
· Do you have a firm reliance and consistent relationship in Christ?
· Do you go through trials with patience and calmness, or do you get upset and fall under the temptations?
· How does your tone of voice, words, and acts reveal true love?
· How do you rate? How would your family say you rate? If you are not experiencing true love, are you willing and committed to diligently, earnestly take time with Jesus to gain true love?
· Are you one who has this love and then quickly changes that love toward different people?
· Is your love lazy, inconsistent, untrusting, or give up easily?
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
· What are some ways that we can begin to cultivate true love?
4. What is the definition of what love is not according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8?
ANSWER:
· 1Co 13:4-8 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
· Love doesn’t envy
· Love doesn’t vaunt itself (doesn’t boast of itself)
· Love isn’t puffed up (no pride)
· Love doesn’t behave unseemly (it isn’t rude)
· Love doesn’t seek its own
· Love isn’t easily provoked
· Love thinks no evil
· Love doesn’t rejoice in iniquity
OBSERVATION:
· Notice the definitons of what love is not:
· Does not envy = “envy”, Strong’s 2206: “be jealous over”
· Does not vaunt itself = “vaunt”, Strong’s 4068: “to boast”; other translations: does not have a high opinion of itself, is not boastful
· Is not puffed up = “puffed up”, Strong’s 5448: “to inflate, i.e. (figuratively) make proud”; other translations: is not arrogant, or proud
· Does not act unseemly = “unseemly”, Strong’s 807: “to be (i.e. act) unbecoming”; other translations: rude
· Does not seek her own = “seek”, Strong’s 2212: “to worship, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require”; other translations: does not insist its own way, isn’t selfish, and takes no thought for itself.
· Is not easily provoked = “provoked”, Strong’s 3947: “to sharpen alongside, i.e. (figuratively) to exasperate, stir”; other translations: not irritable, not quick tempered or angry,
· Does not think evil = “think”, Strong’s 3049: “to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively):— conclude, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on).”
· Does not rejoice in iniquity = “rejoice”, Strong’s 5463: “to be cheerful, i.e. calmly happy or well-off, be glad.”
· True love is centered in Christ and others, not self. If people are always thinking of themselves, they cannot have true love.
· True love involves treating another person the way I want to be treated. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 gives a detailed description of what it means to love my neighbor as myself.
APPLICATION QUESTION:
· Is there someone in your life that you resent or are jealous of?
· Are you constantly saying things that put others down? Are you constantly criticizing someone, making them feel they do nothing right?
· Do you twist stories to make yourself look like the good one?
· Do you allow yourself to get easily upset even over little things?
· Are you rude or do others think you are rude?
· Do you take pleasure in watching, hearing, or reading stories, news, music, TV, or books that have sensual, unjust, and evil content?
· Do you keep track of others mistakes or hold in resentment for something that has happened to you or someone close to you?
· How do you rate? If you answered yes to any of the above you are not manifesting true love.
· What are some areas you see that need to change in regard to what love does not do?
· Are you willing to ask the Lord to help you overcome these traits and cooperate with Him?
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
· How did Christ demonstrate the qualities of true love during his trial and on the cross?
· What are some other times Christ demonstrated these qualities?
· By looking at these qualities, can you determine what kind of fruit you have?
4. Read Matthew 5:43-48 and make observational questions:
ANSWER:
· Matt 5:43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
· What does it mean to love your enemies according to verse 44?
· According to verse 45, what reveals that we are the children of God?
· Contextually speaking, what characteristic of God reveals His perfection?
· What characteristic reveals that we are perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect?
OBSERVATION:
· To show love to our enemies we need to bless them, do good to them, and pray for them.
· Notice the progression of our enemies: curse, hate, despitefully use, and persecute. First, they start with negative words. Second, their feelings are negative. Third, they falsely accuse you (original Greek definition). Finally, they persecute you—totally against you in every way.
· I see a definite connection in this progression. But notice how God’s people will react in love to their enemies. They will speak positive words when negative words are being spoken about them. They will do good to those who show feelings of hatred them. And, finally—perhaps the hardest of them all—they will pray for those who falsely accuse and persecute them.
· These are the same characteristics of loving your enemy as we see in Jesus on the cross. This is perfect love.
· If we show this kind of love to our enemies we can truly be called children of God. We need to treat our enemies just as we treat our own friends. Our love must have no partiality, no respect of persons.
· True impartial love is how God reveals His perfection. He sends rain and sunshine to both the just and the unjust.
· By showing this same love we show we also are perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.
APPLICATION:
· In the context of being perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect it seems evident that this showing of true love toward our enemies is a vital concept.
· The evidence of true perfection is genuine, impartial love for all enemies and friends alike.
· This concept that Jesus was teaching here was not a new concept, it is all through the Bible.
· When we treat our enemies in this way they have an opportunity to see true Christians, be broken, and be converted. This love has an effect. Not all will respond but it gives them the opportunity for salvation that otherwise they may not have had.
SOP:
· [Matt 5:43-48 quoted] I have been deeply impressed by these words. We must understand their real meaning. If we would represent Christ's character by obeying this requirement, there would be a great change in evildoers. Many souls would be convicted of their sinfulness and converted through the impressions made upon them by our refusal to resent the evil actions of those controlled by satanic agencies. We must prayerfully and determinedly work on the Lord's side. In all the issues that provoke the soul we should resist the evil and refuse to abuse the evildoer. {MM 254.1}
PROPHETIC APPLICATION:
· Read Matthew 24:9, 10, 12-14 and notice the similarity with Matthew 5:43, 44. “Hated of all nations”; “betray one another”; “love of many shall wax cold”
· God’s people during this time will have enduring love and express this love by sharing the gospel with their enemies who hate them.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
· Who is your enemy?
· If a person is treating their spouse or family member like an enemy, are they revealing the love of Christ?
· If a person is faced with an angry person how should they respond?
· How does this test reveal the kind of love we have for others?
5. Read Proverbs 15:1, 25:21, and 1 Peter 3:9 and make observational questions.
ANSWER:
· Pro 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
· Pro 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
· 1 Pe 3:9 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
· What kind of answer will turn away wrath?
· What are we to do if our enemy is hungry or thirsty?
· What should we give when we are given evil or slander?
· In the context of treating our enemies with true love, what effect will true love have on them? (See Proverbs 15:1 and 25:21,22).
6. Read Luke 10:29-37 and make observational questions.
ANSWER:
· Lk 10:29-37 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
· What answer did Jesus give to the challenge of “who is my neighbor?”
· What was the Levite’s and the Priest’s responsibility?
· What did they show in their character by neglecting this man?
· What quality did the Samaritan man reveal?
· What was the relation of the Samaritans with the Israelites?
· Was it a humbling job for the Samaritan to take care of this man who apparently was an Israelite—his enemy?
· Who is your neighbor?
· Compare with Matthew 25:31-46.
OBSERVATION:
· The sheep are those who manifested true love (like the Samaritan).
· The goats are those who neglected these hospitable duties. They were self-centered (like many of the Jews in Christ’s day).
· The sheep were ignorant of what they have done because their attention was so much on others and not themselves. Their love was not seeking its own.
· How we treat others reveals how we would treat Christ
· God considers what we do to others as done to Himself
· True love sees others as Christ views them—valuable enough to shed His blood for them
· It is interesting that those who are sheep are considered sheep outwardly by their acts of genuine benevolence, of love and concern for others.
· These are said to be righteous who show true love toward others
APPLICATION QUESTION:
· Consider how you have been treating those around you. Do you have true, unselfish love?
· Be honest with yourself. How would God view you? Search your heart.
· What opportunities do you have every day that you could be showing the love of God but have been neglecting to?
· Are you treating others the way you would want to treat Christ?
· Are you praying for those who have hurt you emotionally or physically?
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
· How does true love affect the way we treat our family?
· How does true love affect the way we treat our church family, especially in board meetings and the like?
· How does true love affect the way we relate to young people who are manifesting rebellion?
· How does true love affect the way we eat, drink, and exercise—our physical lifestyle?
· How does true love affect the amusements we watch, listen to, or participate in?
CONCLUSION:
· True love is selfless and enduring. We do not have true love of ourselves. We must gain this true love from Christ. If Christ is living in us, (abiding in the vine), we will treat our fellow man with true love. This is how others know that we are Christians—when we love one another. True love will transform every area of our lives.
· In the last days, it is this kind of love which will take us through the time of Jacob’s trouble.
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