What Love Does: Embracing Agape Love Small Group Study
Activity
Ask each participant to share a story of a time when they experienced or witnessed an act of selfless love. It could be something they did for someone else or something someone did for them. This will help set the tone for discussing agape love and its impact.
Scripture Reading
1 John 4:7-8: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Matthew 22:37-39: “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Discussion Questions
- Understanding Agape Love:
- How would you define agape love in your own words?
- How does agape love differ from other types of love (e.g., romantic, familial)?
- Love Without Expectation:
- Why do you think Jesus emphasized loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us?
- Can you think of a situation where you found it challenging to love someone without expecting anything in return? How did you handle it?
- The Power of God’s Love:
- How does knowing that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39) impact your daily life?
- Share when you felt particularly aware of God’s love for you.
- Love in Action:
- What practical ways can we demonstrate agape love in our communities?
- How can we ensure that our actions are motivated by genuine love rather than obligation or expectation of reward?
- The Greatest Commandment:
- How does loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind influence your ability to love your neighbor?
- What challenges do you face in loving your neighbor as yourself, and how can you overcome them?
Application:
- Personal Reflection:
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal areas in your life where you need to grow in agape love. Write down any insights or convictions you receive.
- Intentional Acts of Love:
Choose one person in your life to intentionally show agape love to this week. Plan a specific act of kindness or service you can do for them without expecting anything in return.
- Community Engagement:
As a group, brainstorm a community service project that embodies agape love. Plan and commit to this project together, focusing on selflessly serving others.
- Daily Practice:
Challenge yourself to practice one aspect of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 daily (e.g., patience, kindness). Reflect on your experiences and share them with the group at the next meeting.