introduction
At our last meeting, we began to look at the area of the renewing of the mind and how values undergird our thinking and actions. The Christian transformation process means that we not only have to know God’s love and forgiveness but we need to identify the values we have picked up from our background and through our choices that are not godly and change them. In this session, therefore, we want to look at the issue of love.
welcome
Who has most made you feel loved and why? who has most made you feel unloved and why? (this may well require time to pray and minister to people)
worship
Focus on the love of God, who he is, what he has done. Speak or sing out your adoration of him. Allow God’s love to touch you, particularly if you struggle to experience God’s love.
word
discuss
What examples from a TV series, film or adverts would help you to think about romantic love? Now discuss what you think should be the foundation of Christian romantic love. What would be some of the distinctive values underlying it?
Coming away from the romantic area, what is the nature of, and what are the values behind, Christian love?
read
reflect
Go round the group and each pick two things from this verse that speaks to you about the nature of Christian love.
questions
How do these things contrast with the world’s picture of love? Being honest and real, how do these things contrast with the way we love?
application
Who in the group knows that their love has been influenced by the world’s model based on appearances, feelings and emotions and mutuality? Repent of selfishness.
Pray for one another for a renewal of the mind and take on board the value system of God’s love, that is about who people are on the inside and sacrificial love.
witness
You could use this time to identify who your different contacts and networks are - e.g. people on your course, people in societies, housemates, people you socialise with etc. Where could God be using you?
What sacrifices can you make this week to show your friends you love them?
