Stick with Love

April 26

Think about it …

• What are the marks of a true friendship?

• True friendship will be marked by an attitude of Christ like love– Today we study Jesus’ words about love from

John 15.

Grounded in God’s Love

• What kind of skill have you learned by watching someone else repeatedly perform the skill?

• How was this method of learning more effective than just reading a book about the skill?

• Listen for How Christ teaches us by His example.

Listen for How Christ teaches us by His example.

John 15:9-10 (NIV) "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's

commands and remain in his love.

Grounded in God’s Love

• How does Christ teach us by example?• What appeal did Jesus make in these verses?• What evidence does Jesus mention about

abiding in Christ’s love?

Grounded in God’s Love

• How would you describe the connection between “remaining in love” and “obeying commandments”?

• What does this passage tell us about God’s design for our class, our church?

Listen for how to have joy.

John 15:11-12 (NIV) I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each

other as I have loved you.

Mirror Jesus’ Love

• According to verse 11, what blessing will we receive if we truly love and obey?

• In what ways does this happen? How is God’s joy manifested in you? How is it made complete?

• How does our joy or lack of joy impact our relationships with others?

Mirror Jesus’ Love

• When do you struggle with loving others the way Jesus has loved you?

• Who have been major influences in your life because they have loved you with a love like the love of Christ?

• How has their love made a difference for you?

Listen for the greatest demonstration of love.

John 15:13 – 16 (NIV) [13] Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his

friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command. [15] I no longer call you servants,

because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends,

Listen for the greatest demonstration of love.

for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. [16] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you

ask in my name.

Love Demands Sacrifice

• According to Jesus what was the greatest expression of love?

• What does it mean for a person to “lay down his life”?

• What does it mean to be “friends” with Jesus?• When have you experienced the power of

sacrificial love?

Love Demands Sacrifice

• What opportunities do you have to “lay down your life” for others?

• Note the contrasts Jesus makes between servants and friends (He calls us friends).

Servants Friends

Love Demands Sacrifice

• Do you remember as a child when they would choose up sides for a game … were you ever the last one chosen? You weren’t even chosen, the person with last choice had to take you. How did you feel?

• It says here that God chose us … to be His friends! For what other purpose did God choose us?

Application

• Ask God to show you where you are holding back your love in any of your relationships– Read our Scripture passage again, John 15:9-16

and identify a verse that speaks to you about your attitude

– Confess to God any lack of love on your part– Surrender to God’s Spirit who will produce the

Spiritual Fruit of love

Application

• Think of someone in your life who may feel unloved– Offer a gift to show your love for him or her– Attach a note expressing God’s love and your love

for that person

Application

• Sacrifice something– Give up something this week that hinders a

relationship from being strong– Use that time or energy instead to build up that

relationship

Stick with Love

April 26