Stick with Love
April 26
Think about it …
• What are the marks of a true friendship?
• True friendship will be marked by an attitude
of Christ like love
– Today we study Jesus’ words about love from John
15.
Grounded in God’s Love
• What kind of skill have you learned by
watching someone else repeatedly perform
the skill?
• How was this method of learning more
effective than just reading a book about the
skill?
• Listen for How Christ teaches us by His
example.
Listen for How Christ teaches us by
His example.
John 15:9-10 (NIV) "As the Father has loved me,
so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10
If you obey my commands, you will remain in
my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's
commands and remain in his love.
Grounded in God’s Love
• How does Christ teach us by example?
• What appeal did Jesus make in these verses?
• What evidence does Jesus mention about
abiding in Christ’s love?
Grounded in God’s Love
• How would you describe the connection
between “remaining in love” and “obeying
commandments”?
• What does this passage tell us about God’s
design for our class, our church?
Listen for how to have joy.
John 15:11-12 (NIV) I have told you this so that
my joy may be in you and that your joy may be
complete. 12 My command is this: Love each
other as I have loved you.
Mirror Jesus’ Love
• According to verse 11, what blessing will we
receive if we truly love and obey?
• In what ways does this happen? How is God’s
joy manifested in you? How is it made
complete?
• How does our joy or lack of joy impact our
relationships with others?
Mirror Jesus’ Love
• When do you struggle with loving others the
way Jesus has loved you?
• Who have been major influences in your life
because they have loved you with a love like
the love of Christ?
• How has their love made a difference for you?
Listen for the greatest
demonstration of love.
John 15:13 – 16 (NIV) [13] Greater love has no
one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I
command. [15] I no longer call you servants,
because a servant does not know his master's
business. Instead, I have called you friends,
Listen for the greatest
demonstration of love.
for everything that I learned from my Father
I have made known to you. [16] You did not
choose me, but I chose you and appointed
you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.
Then the Father will give you whatever you
ask in my name.
Love Demands Sacrifice
• According to Jesus what was the greatest
expression of love?
• What does it mean for a person to “lay down
his life”?
• What does it mean to be “friends” with Jesus?
• When have you experienced the power of
sacrificial love?
Love Demands Sacrifice
• What opportunities do you have to “lay down
your life” for others?
• Note the contrasts Jesus makes between
servants and friends (He calls us friends).
Servants
Friends
Love Demands Sacrifice
• Do you remember as a child when they would
choose up sides for a game … were you ever
the last one chosen? You weren’t even
chosen, the person with last choice had to
take you. How did you feel?
• It says here that God chose us … to be His
friends! For what other purpose did God
choose us?
Application
• Ask God to show you where you are holding
back your love in any of your relationships
– Read our Scripture passage again, John 15:9-16
and identify a verse that speaks to you about your
attitude
– Confess to God any lack of love on your part
– Surrender to God’s Spirit who will produce the
Spiritual Fruit of love
Application
• Think of someone in your life who may feel
unloved
– Offer a gift to show your love for him or her
– Attach a note expressing God’s love and your love
for that person
Application
• Sacrifice something
– Give up something this week that hinders a
relationship from being strong
– Use that time or energy instead to build up that
relationship
Stick with Love
April 26