Week 6: No Greater Love

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal)

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants talk about an act of love someone else has displayed to them.

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes)

Read: John 15:9-17

Work as a group (or in groups of two or three) to write a one-sentence definition of love. [Here’s mine – Love is compassionate, sacrificial, tangible, and committed.]
What might it mean for you that Jesus commanded us to “love one another as I have loved you” (v. 12)? (It is not optional. Nor is loving one another merely expressing good thoughts; we are called to embody love, as Jesus who gave himself for the world—which is also expressed in verse 13.)
What might it mean for your church that Jesus commanded the church to “love one another” (v. 17)?
Whom do you find it difficult to love?
In American society, it is typical to think of limited resources or scarcity. Contrary to this, how is love compounding? (That is to say, how does showing love often have multiplying effect?)

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End by praying the following or a similar prayer:

Loving God, you have not commanded what you have not expressed. In fact, love is at the core of your nature. We know that as we grow in relationship with you, we cannot help but have love increased in our lives. Lord, help us not merely to have loving feelings or emotions, but to find tangible ways to express love to those nearest us this week. Amen.