Love Speaks
Icebreaker: If you are given a blank friendship card, what would you write in it to a friend or family member?
In this series, we are looking at different ways Jesus modeled what “Love Does.” In this study, we are studying how love speaks to us.
1. What does the world think love is?
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.
2. How did the Apostle Paul describe love? (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
3. How does the definition in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 differ from the world’s view of love?
4. What makes this love unfailing? How have you seen that God’s love is unfailing?
1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
5. The Apostle John further described love as a person. What does it mean that God is love? (1 John 4:8)
6. Since God is love, how has that affected His communication and actions with us?
7. Where did Jesus Christ direct His love and for what purpose? (John 13:34,35)
John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
8. How would you describe the different ways Pastor Brian pointed out that Jesus spoke love into Peter in the follow verses?
a. Matthew 16:17-18 – Encouraging Words
Matthew 16:17-18 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
b. Matthew 16:19 – Empowering Words
Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
c. Matthew 16:21-23 – Exhorting Words – …to strongly urge, to try to influence…to warn.
Matthew 16:21-23 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
9. How could each of these ways of speaking love have a positive influence on others?
a. Encouraging Words
b. Empowering Words
c. Exhorting Words
10. What are other ways we can speak in love? (1 Corinthians 13:1, Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 4:29)
1 Corinthians 13:1, If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
Ephesians 4:15, Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4:29, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
11. Why is it important that we speak love according to the listener’s needs? (Ephesians 4:29)
12. What was the most memorable words of love you have ever received from others? How did that change your life?
13. What has been your experiencing in speaking love in accordance with the listener’s needs?