When Jesus walked the earth, He had a message to share with the world, a message that He communicated louder with His actions than with His words. Love moves. Love does not stay still or do nothing. Love moves to where people are so that we can help them to take steps to follow Jesus.
1. Love is priceless, but it does not become valuable until you give it away. What else can you think of that does not become valuable until you give it away?
2. Can you share a time when a person, or group of people, loved you even though you did not deserve it?
3. Read John 13:35. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." The reason LOVE is so big is because God uses your love to change people. Your love changes the people and places around you. Your love pushes back darkness, and brings healing. Who is Jesus telling us to love?
4. Read 1 John 3:18. "Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." If someone approached you and asked you to define the word love, how would you define it?
5. Read Mark 2:1-4. Love moves beyond feeling sympathy to do what needs to be done. How did the four friends show love to their paralyzed friend? What do you think was going through their minds as they fought to bring the man to Jesus?
6. Read Mark 2:5-12. Love moves to invite God to do the impossible. What we see in this story is genuine love for a friend that is grounded in faith of what Jesus could do. What moved the heart of Jesus to move into this situation?
7. Why do you suppose Jesus forgave the man’s sins before He healed his body?
8. Love says, “I see an opportunity, and nothing will happen if nobody does anything about it; I will move.” How does faith in Jesus propel us to do more than hope or a wish ever could?
9. Pastor James shared a story about a man named Elihu Macy. If you are reading this right now, you are a benefactor of his faith Our love is driven and empowered by faith that Jesus can do the impossible! It’s not based on what we can do…we can’t fix or save anyone…but we know the ONE who can. Imagine what God could do as love moves through you. In your wildest dreams, what can you imagine God doing through your acts of love?