Connect Questions - 8/20/2014

Small Group questions 8/13/14

Scriptures: John 13:31-35; John 15:12-13; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1. What do you think its like to be known by everyone for one aspect of your life?
2. Someone share a time when you had to “go solo”, for the first time. Were you given a lot of instructions right before facing the task alone?
3. In verse 34 Jesus talks about loving the way He showed love; Can you think of some words or phrases that describe the way Jesus showed His love to others?
4. In 1 Corinthians Paul lists characteristics of love; which characteristic s do you think you do well on? Struggle with?
5. What does it take to become more comfortable with living out more of the characteristics in your life?

Charactersitics of love outlined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

·      Love is patient. (Some versions endures, puts up with good and bad times)

·      Love is kind. (Does good things, is gentle, treats people with respect)

·      Love is not jealous. (Is content, does not hate others because of things, is happy when good things happen to others)

·      Love is not boastful. (Boasting about self can diminish others instead of encouraging them)

·      Love is not proud. (Does not look down on others, is not a snob)

·      Love is not rude. (Includes both saying and doing rude things)

·      Love is not selfish. (This word has in it the idea of always putting the sake of the Gospel first instead of our own interests and motives)

·      Love is not irritable. (Or provoked to do evil things to others or be tempted to sin)

·      Love does not keep a record of wrongs. (Follows the example of Christ to live forgiveness each day)

·      Love does not rejoice in injustice but in rather in truth. (Think of being moved when seeing inequality in the world, those who are mistreated, the poor used for slave labor)

·      Love never gives up. (Again some versions use bears all things here, never gives up showing grace and mercy to others) 

·      Love never loses faith. (Especially in people, believes the best in others, not willing to listen to negative reports of others)

·      Love is always hopeful. (Living out the hope of Christ, showing love in hopes of people finding Christ)

·      Love endures in all situations. (Whatever may happen to us we endure in hopes that the love of Christ will be known through because of the way we handle the circumstances of life)