God Loves You!

Opening question: Who has shown you the most love, and in what way(s)?

Let’s read what the Bible says about love:

Matthew 5:44, 45
44 Here is what I tell you: Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. 45 Then you will be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don't.

Galatians 5:22, 23
22 The fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. 23 It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself.

Romans 5:8
8 Here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:7-12
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born again, because of what God has done. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 How did God show his love for us? He sent his one and only Son into the world. He sent him so we could receive life through him. 10 What is love? It is not that we loved God. It is that he loved us and sent his Son to give his life to pay for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we should also love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is made complete in us.

Discussion questions:
1. Which description of God’s love do you like the most, and why?
2. Which of the verses above is the hardest to swallow?
3. Have you ever had someone in your life that was hard to love? Explain.
4. How are we supposed to love hard-to-love people, since we are so weak?
5. What’s the difference between God’s love and human love?
6. What are some ways that we can put our love into action?