
- We have all been taught that faith is a gift from God. Due to our fallen nature, God must offer “prevenient grace” first, to enable our response of faith. What about love? Do you think of it as a similar theological virtue that cannot be exercised by natural human effort alone? Why or why not? Would you apply this answer to all types of “love,” or just some?
- In the Teacher’s Notes, our author reviews the four loves: Storge (affection through familiarity or family), eros (romantic love), philia (friendship), and agape (sacrificial or selfless love). How is it helpful to the spiritual life to understand how distinct these are? How is it helpful to the spiritual life to understand them as interconnected creations of God?
- In John 13:35 Jesus says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples; if you love one another.” Think about a mature Christian you have known. What did you witness that was extraordinary loving about that person? What is one of the greatest single examples of agape love that you have ever witnessed?
- Some Christians say: “Love is not a feeling. It’s a decision.” Does that mean that exercising agape doesn’t feel good? Does it mean I am still loving if I feel contempt for someone at work, but speak in a friendly manner to them? Could I exercise eternal love solely as an intellectual decision to obey God, with no feelings attached?
- Our author wisely gives us a nuanced description of the role of feelings in love on Sunday and Monday, writing that “(Love) is a total commitment of our actions, feelings, and thoughts towards Christ and our neighbors;” and, “Paul uses a series of verbs. For him, love is more about our actions than about feelings or emotions.” In this view, love is more than feelings, but feelings have a role to play in agape. How would you describe that role? How can we shepherd, or “totally commit” our feelings to Christ and our neighbors, as well as our actions?
- An experimental study found that when people were assigned a “fun” activity and then a “meaningful” activity, the participants found that the pleasure of the “fun” activity wore off quickly, while the rewards of the “meaningful” activity lasted (Diener & Biswas-Diener, 2008). Can you think of similar examples in your own life experiences? How does that fit with the idea of different meanings of the word “pleasure” the same way we have different meanings of the word “love?”
- Do you believe God experiences feelings of love? Explain.
- One of the hallmarks of God’s agape love for us is that, unlike human friendship or sexual attraction, there’s nothing meritorious about “us” that can be said to cause the “draw” of this Partner to the relationship. How does that make it difficult for some people to accept a relationship with God?
The Biblical Person of the Day
Hezekiah – the King Who Trusted God in Crisis
Profile
Short Story
The Decisive Moment
7 Special Things About Hezekiah
Strengths & Weaknesses
trusted in the Lord
later showed his wealth to the envoys from Babylon
The Mistake That Shaped Him
His story shows that a person can experience great victories of faith and still become careless in moments of pride.
Key Verse
The Life Lesson
Application for Today
Question for You
Connection
A New King in Judah
The Doors of the Temple Are Opened
The Passover Is Restored
God’s Answer Through Isaiah
Illness and Extended Life
The Visit from Babylon
Closing Thought
His life story shows: Whoever trusts God in crisis finds protection; whoever remains humble in success preserves the blessing.
