"The Blueprint of Love"

1.  It’s natural to think that love is whatever was modeled to us as we grew up. Thankfully, God came in the form of man to provide us a perfect example of what love actually is to us. Some of us were blessed to be in a home that had mature love on display regularly, and some had to look elsewhere if they wanted to see healthy versions of love. Who in your life has been a consistent example of the type of love Jesus displayed? What set them apart from others?

2.  Love is patient and kind, and much to our dismay, love is not petty. Some of us have a short fuse and can quickly give people a piece of our mind. Others may be long-tempered, but when we go off, we let people know every harm they’ve done to us in the last 20 years. Lord help those of us who are both! But the Word tells us that our love for others should drive us to not only be slow to anger but when we do find ourselves in a situation where we are justly upset, to still be kind to those who have caused harm. In what ways could you grow in how you love others?

3.  During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He modeled mature love for His disciples by serving others, including those who had committed their lives to serving Him. He could have ruled through His authority, but He chose to put His love on display through service, patience, and a never-ending supply of forgiveness. Can you share a time when you experienced someone else’s maturity? How did this influence your walk in Christ?

Quotes:

“If you want to know if someone loves you, look at what they do, not what they say”

“Am I wanting to make a difference or am I wanting to make a point?”