What is Love?

How Do We Love Others?

Lesson 4 Sermon Outline
Overview
Summary
In the small group lesson this week, you helped your students examine why it is so
difficult to love others: sin has warped our hearts and the environment around us. While
the world tempts us to see people as objects to be used for our own gain, God calls us
to selflessly love, remembering that each person is loved by God and created in his
image. God’s design for love and sex is radically different than what the world presents,
and when we love God’s way, the world will notice! With this sermon, you will help your
students consider how they can pursue their calling to love by following Jesus’ example
of obeying God’s Word with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Key Takeaways
1. Students will identify the connection between loving God and loving others.
2. Students will explain the importance of focusing on Jesus’ attitude and example
of loving others, even our enemies.
3. Students will assess their relationships and media use to determine how they
affect their love for God and others.

Scriptures
Mark 12:28-31 / Matthew 5:43-48 / Philippians 2:1-5
Sermon Outline
Introduction

What is love to you and how do you show that love to others? Have you ever tried to
love someone well? What worked and what did not?

(Share a story about a time where you loved someone well and the result of that
moment. You can also share a funny story about a time you tried to love someone well,
and it did not work out)

Loving others can be difficult!

Think about what you see filling social media and news channels right now. It is all hate
towards others!

(If possible, use some appropriate examples. Be careful not to choose ones that
students will find too funny)

Our call to love other people is inseparable from our call to love God.

God’s design for love is radically different from what the world presents, and when we
love this way, the world will notice!

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Point #1: Jesus calls us to love.
One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He
realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which
is the most important?" Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this:
'Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the
Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The
second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment
is greater than these."... Matthew 22:35-40

Loving others is so important to Jesus that he says it is equal to loving God.

When Jesus says to love your neighbor as yourself, it forces us to determine who our
neighbor is. Is our neighbor those closest to us, those easy to love, or those in our
family?
Whoever you come into contact with is your neighbor. Whether that person is someone
you get along with or not, you are called to love them.

"You have heard the law that says, 'Love you neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say,
love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as
true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the
good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love
you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are
kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Matthew 5:43-48

It’s not normal to be kind to people who are unkind, and this kind of extreme love marks
us as children of God.

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Point #2: The world will know the love of God through the way we
love our enemies.
Jesus doubles down on this commandment to love through calling us to not just love
those who love us back, but to love our enemy.

Who is your enemy? Is it someone who has picked on you in the past? Maybe it is
someone who has hurt you through the words they said or the things they did.

It is easy in moments of hurt to walk in unforgiveness instead of love.

Christ’s love for us was sacrificial and selfless, and in the book of Philippians Paul is
calling us to have that same attitude toward others.

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any
fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then
make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another,
and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress
others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for
your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude
that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians 2:1-5

The way we love others flows out of our relationship with Jesus!

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 Point #3: We love because Christ loves.
I think it is worth noting that Paul started out as an enemy of Jesus, but then became a
follower who planted churches worldwide.

Our relationship with Jesus should lead us to love those closest to us as well as those
far away.

Who in your life could you love better? Who could benefit from your interest, your kind
words, or your acts of service?

I want us to take some time and pray about a person or persons you need to love.

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Discussion Questions

1. Is there a certain group of people that you find hard to love? What are some
steps you can take to show love to this group of people?
2. Does social media help you love others, or does it cause you to objectify people?
How do you see it playing a role in your love for others?
3. Think about the world’s view of sex and God’s design for sex. How does God’s
design honor and protect each person’s dignity?
4. Phrases like “don’t be selfish” and “work together” can lead to burnout and
frustration if we focus on the command alone. Why is it important to focus on
Christ’s attitude and example as we obey?