WEEK 3 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

Practicing the Way of Jesus Together: The end of the journey is love.

Introduction:

Apprenticeship to Jesus is a journey; from immaturity to maturity, from wounding to healing, from false self to true. But if following Jesus is a journey, is there a map? Or landmarks by which we can navigate? Have those who’ve gone before us left behind their thoughts on how to stay the course, avoid detours, and chart our progress? All journeys are different, but all journeys are similar. To name your stage of apprenticeship to Jesus and your season of life is to recognize God’s invitations for you better each and every day.

Bottom line: To live in the love of God and to pass that love on to others.

Something To Talk About:

For most of us, love is a journey that begins with selfishness and ends, if we’re lucky, in understanding something of God’s expansive and unconditional love. The end goal of the spiritual journey is love. As Paul said, “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 3:13). In this sermon, we look at the four stages of love.

Love of Self: The first degree of love–love of self for self’s sake. This is our selfish preoccupation with our own needs. It is a natural love for ourselves, wanting everything to revolve around us. 1 Tim 3:2 talks about this kind of love, “For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters.” (Amplified Bible) It’s not a true love for ourselves, but a love for comfort, fame, and attention for ourselves.
Love of God for Self: The second degree of love–love of God for self’s sake. When we can’t meet our needs and experience a crisis, we crawl to God and beg Him for help. We love God for His blessings. We see this love in Psalm 116:1, “I love the Lord because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.” This is not a bad love, but it is still a self-centered love. God’s love for us is a foundation for loving ourselves. By recognizing our inherent worth and the beauty of God’s creation, we can cultivate self-love, enabling us to love others and live more fully. God created us in His image, and His love for us is unconditional and eternal.
Love of God for God: The third degree of love–love of God for God’s sake. As we grow in faith, we grow to love God in a deeper way. We realize that He is more than a genie who solves our problems. Through worship, prayer, and time in His Word, we truly know God and love Him for who He is and not just for what He can give us. 1 Peter 1:6,8 describes this kind of love, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.”
Love of Self for God: The fourth degree of love–love of self for God’s sake. When we experience a oneness with God and can pray from the heart, “Thy will be done,” we lose our self-preoccupation. We don’t dwell on our needs. That’s when we truly love ourselves. I think that this love of ourselves for God’s sake only comes when we truly see ourselves as the forgiven, much-loved children of the King. We don’t love ourselves because we have performed well. We don’t love ourselves because we deserve love. We love ourselves because we see ourselves through God’s eyes. Because of Jesus, He sees us redeemed and righteous. He calls us precious, honored, and loved. 1 John 5:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” Only because of Christ’s love can we love ourselves or others. I love the words of 1 John 4:16. “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. Rely on the love God has for you. That’s when you can truly love yourself. That’s when you can truly love others.

Discussion Questions:

How is the end of the journey love in your mind?
What does love of self for self’s sake mean to us today?
What does it mean to love yourself in a healthy and biblical way?
How does self-love relate to God’s love for us and His love for others?
Is it possible to love God for His own sake, without primarily seeking personal benefit?
What does it mean to love God for His glory and beauty, rather than primarily for our benefit?
How can we move beyond a transactional relationship with God (where we “get” something in return) and cultivate a deeper, more selfless love?
How does loving God for His own sake differ from loving Him for the benefits He provides? This helps discern the difference between genuine love and a transactional relationship with God. What are some tangible ways we can demonstrate this love?
What does it mean to love yourself biblically, not selfishly? How does this understanding align with the concept of loving God and neighbor?
How can we reflect God’s love to others, both in words and actions? How does loving others demonstrate our love for God?
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message? What challenged you?

Take one thing home with you:

Why God Should be Loved

Why do we need to love God? As an eternal, all-sufficient, sovereign being, He does not need our love. In fact, whether we love Him or not does not change the fact that He is God, nor does it diminish His power. Loving Him isn’t for His benefit, but for ours—that we might realize that we can only find true happiness in Him. The answer is simple: the reason for loving God is God himself. And why should God be loved for His own sake? We should love God because He first loved us, as stated in 1 John 4:19. His love is a fundamental part of His nature, and we are created to reflect that love. Loving God is also the greatest commandment, as it is the foundation for loving others and living a fulfilling life.