1 Love ohn 4:7-16 The word love is often abused these days. It is used in the context of close, cozy feelings; of ecstatic, exuberant sexual passion; and of condi- tional commitments (“Tl love you if you live up to my expectations”) From the Christian point of view, what is this thing called love? How do we get it and how can we give it away to others who need it? GROUP DISCUSSION. Complete the following sentence: | feel most loved when another person (a) gives me a hug, (b) brings mea hot meal when I'm sic (c) really tunes in and listens to me, (d) shares him or herself with me, (e) gently confronts me in an area where I need help, (f) prays with me, (g) In groups of two or four, discuss your responses and why you chose it PERSONAL REFLECTION. Think ofa time when another person really lis- tened to your words and the feelings underneath those words, then re- you. Thi and pray that God will bless them. flected the feelings back to is rare! Thank God for that person In this study we'll see what John, Jesus’ disciple and close friend says about love. The word love (or some form of it) is mentioned sixteen times in 1 John 4. Read I John 4:7-16.LO Fruit of the Spirit 1. According to verses 7-8, where does love come from? 2. Verses 9-10 say that Christ's incarnation and death show us God's love. How do these two events help you to understand God's love? 3. How does God's love motivate you to love others (wv. 11-12)? 4. What basis do we have for the assurance of love (wy, 13-16)? 5. Based on your responses to questions 1-4, write a one-sentence description of lov What significance does this kind of love have for you? 6. How have you seen God's love demonstrated through other Christians?Love —— es 7. Because God is love, what do we know about those whose lives are full of love (v. 16)? Explain 8. No one has ever seen wind, energy or electrons, We see only the ef- fects of what they do. Likewise, no one has everseen the love of God. As you look again at this whole passage, in what ways can you see the ef- fects of Gods love? 9. Think of someone you find it especially hard to feel warm toward, someone you are thrown together with regularly. Why is it difficult for you to love that person? 10. Recognizing that love is not based on feelings, what are some practi- cal ways you can show the fruit of love to that person? Choose specific action you will take in this coming week to show the fruit of love to this person. Pray specifically about the steps you will take toward loving this person, asking God to manifest this fruit in your life. Reread verse 9 and then turn back to John 1:1-3, John heard, saw and touched Jesus Christ. What is the tone of voice you hear Jesus use in each12. —______ Fruit of tne Spirit of the following passages: Matthew 19:3-15; John 8:2-11; John 19:25- 30? What expression do you see on his face as you read these passages Mark 5:25-34; John 19:25-27? How would you have felt is you had been the person touched by Jesus here: Luke 5:12-13; Luke 13:10-13? Ask this loving Jesus to make himself increasingly real to you