January 22, 2023: "Life Together - Love Should"

Watch:

Sermon begins at 20:36

Sunday Setlist

How Great Thou Art x Hymn Arrangement

A Thousand Hallelujahs x Brooke Ligertwood

The Lord’s Prayer x Hillsong Worship

Listen:

Sermon Guide

Connect:

In what ways have you seen our culture give bad advice about love?

Why can love be tricky at times?

Engage

Read Romans 12:9-13

In this week’s sermon, we are presented here with six “love shoulds”

  1. Love should…be free from hypocrisy (v. 9)

What is hypocrisy and why does it bother/offend us so much?

In what ways has the church gained a reputation for hypocrisy?

2. Love should…be rooted in truth (v. 9)

In what ways does telling each other the truth demonstrate authentic love?

3. Love should…feel like family (v. 10)

Which of the following would you compare your current commitment to church to?

  • An intramural soccer team - You enjoy it, give it some of your energy, but it’s only one night of the week.

  • A TV show like “The Voice” -  At the beginning of the season you get into it, but then experience the pangs of boredom and you change the channel or forget about it.

  • A free trial of a streaming service - You sign up for a two-week trial, you like some of what you are getting, but you rotate between eight different email addresses because you don’t want to get financially invested.

  • A family - You are committed to coming to the table and being present.

    4. Love should…perceive the worth of every person (v. 10)

What does honor look like?

Robert mentioned two important components of the early church as it honored others:

  • All are equal

  • None are left out

What is compelling about this treatment of others?

How do you see this in today’s church?

5. Love should…overflow with the optimism of God’s promises (v. 11-12)

We are called to help each other hold on to the promises of God.

Read the following passages and describe the beauty of these promises and their importance

  • 1 Corinthians 15:58

  • Isaiah 40:28-31

  • Psalms 103:17

  • Psalms 27:13

Is there a particular promise from the Bible that you have found to be comforting?

What promise have you found to be difficult to hold on to?

6. Love should…be demonstrated in our actions (v. 13)

Why does a watching world need to see our faith demonstrated through action?

How have you been inspired by seeing this?