Leadership Ministries Worldwide

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Weekly Scripture Studies

Marked By Christ’s Love

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Marked By Christ's Love

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"         1 John 3:10-17 

Do we really love God? Are we marked by love? Is love the chief characteristic of our lives? Love proves that one understands the love of Christ. Jesus Christ laid down His life for us:

  • When we were still powerless, totally unable to help ourselves or to save ourselves
  • When we were ungodly
  • When we were sinners
  • When we were enemies of God, rebelling, cursing, neglecting, ignoring, denying and rejecting God

Despite all this, Jesus Christ died for us. He took our sins and the guilt for them upon Himself, and He paid the judgment for them. Jesus died for us. Why? Because He loves us; He loves us enough to die for us even when we oppose and do things against Him.

The point is this: if we love God, then we follow His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ. We love people just like He did; we love them even when they oppose and do things against us. Love also has compassion and gives to meet the needs of people. No matter what we profess, think, or argue, if we are not actively helping and giving to meet the needs of the desperate and needy in our communities and in the world, we do not love God. In fact, love is the proof that we really understand the love of Christ. If we love those who do things against us then we know the love of Christ. If we can help and sacrificially give to meet the needs of the oppressed, then we know the love of Christ.

God loved us: He gave all that He was and had to save us. Therefore, we must love others: we must give all that we are and have.

Study Questions:

  1. Do you believe that you are marked by love?
  2. Do you have an understanding of the depth of God’s love for you? How does that overflow into your daily life decisions?
  3. What can it look like for you to love those who oppose you? To love the less fortunate in your community?

Other verses: Romans 5:6-10, Romans 13:8-10, John 13:34-35

A Fervent Love

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A Fervent Love

"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."           1 Peter 4:8

The word “deeply” is an athletic word. It means vent; to stretch and reach out; to strain and exert to the utmost degree just like an athlete in a race. It has the idea of burning and boiling and being passionate about loving one’s brother in Christ. A fervent love is far more than the human love of warm feelings and attraction. It is far more than sentimental and caring feelings for a person. The believer is to love with the ultimate love, the love of fervency. And note: fervent love is to be put before all else. It is the most important duty of the believer. We are to strain every ounce of energy in our minds and hearts to love. This means that we love others even when they:

  • Hurt us
  • Persecute us
  • Oppose us
  • Ridicule us
  • Abuse us
  • Speak evil against us
  • Injure us
  • Mock us

The most wonderful thing that happens when we love each other with a fervent love is this—a multitude of sins is covered. What exactly does this mean? It means that when we love, we are not hating and reacting and sinning. When we love we are living with a forgiving spirit and we are forgiving others, not living with a sinful and unforgiving spirit. It means that when we love, we are more likely to reach those who do evil toward us and thereby to win them to Christ and to a life of love and ministry upon the earth.

Study Questions:

  1. How would you define fervent love?
  2. Is it difficult for you to love fervently? Why do you think that is?
  3. What are examples of ways you can love somebody deeply? Fervently?
  4. Think of somebody that is hard for you to love. Over the next couple weeks, or even months, intentionally seek them out however you see fit. Pray that you would love them deeply and fervently as Christ has called us to do.

God’s Unbelievable Love

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God's Unbelievable Love

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." Romans 5:6-11

This passage discusses God’s unbelievable love. It shows the great depth of justification. The passage also gives one of the clearest definitions of agape love. It actually shows the meaning of agape love as a godly love, a sacrificial love, a love that gives itself for the powerless, for the ungodly, for sinners, and for enemies.

We were ungodly and imperfect, yet Christ died for us. God’s great love is seen in this unbelievable act. We were weak, worthless, useless, helpless, hopeless, destitute, and without strength. We were spiritually worthless and useless and unable to help ourselves. And at “just the right time” Christ died for us. Christ died for us. The word “for” means for our benefit, for our sake, in our behalf, in our stead, as our substitute. Christ died as our sacrifice, our ransom, and our atonement.

Christ died for those for whom no man would die, for those who were of no value and of no good. He died for those who were diametrically opposed to God, the very opposite from all that He is. Such is the unbelievable love of God; such is the depth of justification.

We were enemies, yet God has reconciled and saved us. God gives us joy through the reconciliation of Christ. A person who receives so much from God is bound to be filled with joy and rejoicing.

Study Questions:

  • What does agape love look like to you?
  • How does it make you feel knowing that Christ died for the sinful and helpless?
  • Do you live your life knowing that your sin was paid for because of the unbelievable act of love by Christ dying on the cross?
  • What are ways you can show agape love to the people you love deeply?

Download a free PDF of this section from The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible® and continue your study.

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The Great Supremacy of Love

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The Great Supremacy of Love

Both faith and hope are great qualities and gifts, but love is far superior. How? In this passage, Paul is contrasting love with the spiritual gifts and dealing with the tendency of people to center attention upon their gifts and accomplishments. Love is far superior to faith and hope for at least six reasons.

  1. Faith focuses upon the revelation of God, whereas love focuses upon God Himself. Love stirs a relationship of adoration and worship. Faith, of course, can stir the same adoration and worship; but faith can also exist without adoration and worship.
  2. Hope focuses upon being eternally with God in a perfect world, but again, love is superior because it focuses upon God Himself. A person can have hope in someone without loving him, but a person who loves someone always hopes in him.
  3. True agape love does not originate in the nature of man, but in the nature of God. God is love.
  4. True love is a gift of God. A man can know true love only as he comes to know the love of God.
  5. Experience and nature itself prove that faith and hope reach and grow people, but love reaches and grows people far more than any other gift or quality.
  6. A person can believe in God, yet feel he is above others. His faith may make him proud, arrogant. But true love has no weaknesses. Love never fails, it never comes short. Love involves caring and giving, selflessness and sacrifice.

There is no question, what the world needs more than anything else is love. If people loved each other, really loved each other, there would be no more war, crime, abuse, injustice, poverty, hunger, homelessness, deprivation, or immorality. Love is the one ingredient that could revolutionize society. Love is the greatest quality of human life. Love is the supreme quality, the most excellent way for a man to live.

Study Questions:

  • What feelings arise for you when you think of the word “love”?
  • Is it hard for you to understand the depths of love? Why do you think that is?
  • Do you believe that love is superior to hope and faith? Is that hard for you?
  • Do you believe that love could revolutionize the world? What are tangible ways that you could love better?

Download a free PDF of this section from The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible® to continue your study.

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Loving Your Enemies

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Loving Your Enemies

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."       Matthew 5:43-48

When Christ said “Love your enemies,” He could have used any one of four words. The Greek language is very descriptive and detailed in its expressions. Its words are precise and full of meaning. In speaking of love, the Greek language describes exactly what is meant. It separates the various types of love, and uses four different words for love.

  1. Eros – This is love that arises from passion, infatuation, and sexual attraction. It is the love of a man for a woman.
  2. Storge – This is love that arises from a natural born affection, the affection of family love.
  3. Phileo – This is love that is an affection that fills a person’s heart with warmth and tenderness. It is the love of precious affection and feelings toward those who are very near and dear to one’s heart.
  4. Agape – This is a sacrificial love, that is, a love that cares, gives, and works for another person’s good—regardless of how the person may respond.

The word Christ uses in saying “Love your enemies” is agape: the love that must be willed. The Christian must use his mind and reason, deliberately choosing to love his enemy.

The Christian’s love is not a complacent acceptance of open wickedness and license. It is not sitting back and allowing a person to do as he pleases. It is not allowing selfishness and deception and a wallowing around in license. Agape love is putting a stop to sin and license as much as possible. It is restraint, control, discipline, and even punishment when it protects the offender from himself and protects those whom he hurts. Very simply pictured, it is a parent controlling a child for his own good and for the good of those who love him. Agape love is God’s love. A Christian can have agape love only as he allows God to love through him. The believer wills to love as God loves, and God empowers him to do so (Romans 5:5).

Study Questions:

  • Can you think of people you love that fall into each of the different types of love?
  • How does it make you feel that God calls us to love our enemies?
  • Have you ever experienced love from an enemy? If so, how did that make you feel?
  • Why do you think God calls us to love our enemies?

 

Download this free PDF of this section of Matthew from The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible® to continue your study.



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Moses’ Self-Denying Faith

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Moses' Self-Denying Faith

 

The faith of Moses was a sacrificial faith, a faith that chose God and God’s people rather than this world and its pleasures. Moses was reared as a prince in Pharaoh’s court. This means that he had everything that a person could ever want. But ultimately Moses gave it all up. He sacrificed everything for God and His promises, the promised Seed and Promised Land. The day came when Moses had to make the most critical decision of his life. He faced as large a crisis as any individual could face. Was he going to be identified as an Egyptian all the days of his life, or was he going to become identified with the people of God? Was he going to pursue the pleasures of Egypt and this world or pursue God and His promises? When Moses was forty years old, he faced the crisis and made the decision.

Moses had often seen the Israelites abused during his forty years as an Egyptian prince. But apparently this most recent incident (Ex.2:11–12) was the final straw; he had seen enough of the mistreatment of his people. He made the decision that launched a number of decisions—decisions that were to show that he was rejecting Egypt and the world and identifying himself with God’s people.

The point is this: Moses gave up all the pleasures and enjoyment of Egypt and the world—gave it all up. He sacrificed everything for God and God’s people, the very people who had been given the hope for the promised Seed and the Promised Land.

Following Christ is never easy, not if you are truly following Him. Why? Because His call is contrary to what most people think. His call is a call to love, joy, and peace; but it is not a call to a life of ease, comfort, and plenty. The call of Christ is not to physical and material health and wealth. To the contrary, the call of Christ is to a life of self-denial and sacrifice. If you are going to follow Christ, you have to be willing to sacrifice everything you are and have (Lk.9:23; 18:22). Moses is a prime example of a believer who gave up all that the world has to offer in order to follow God and His promises. His faith was a self-denying faith.

  1. Why do you think it is so often hard to identify with Christ?
  2. Is self-denial and self-sacrifice hard for you? Why do you think that is?
  3. Is there something going on in your life that is contrary to what you believe? How have you handled that?
  4. Is there a specific call from God you are avoiding?

Download a free PDF of this section in Hebrews of The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible® to continue your study.



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