Suggestions for leading a study:

• Familiarize yourself with the passage in context, including the book itself.  Who wrote it to whom, and why?
• Read through the study guide a couple times to get the “big idea” as well as the flow of the argument
• Have the group read through the passage in it’s entirety before beginning the study.  One of the goals is to try to get your members to learn how to study Scripture methodically, and this is an important step.
• Be prayed up
• Have fun!
  

Twue Wuv

⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary:
   "If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
       if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
   In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Discussion Questions

-This section begins with the command that our love be sincere, literally not “faked”, or “hypocritical.”  What do you think qualifies as love that is not sincere?

-v. 9 has to do with turning our back on that which is wicked and clinging to what is good, or wholesome.  What does that have to do with sincere love?

-v. 10 speaks of the kind of affection a (healthy) family would have for each other.  How might that be faked in the church?

-v. 11 has to do with a dynamic spiritual life that results in serving the Lord.  Why would being hypocritical in that area of life be a failure in regards to loving others in the church?

-v.12 is about not letting the hard times get us down, but keeping our pipeline open to God.  How would this help us love more sincerely?

-the connections between v.13 and putting love into action are pretty obvious.  What is one specific example you have seen or been a part of?

-Is it difficult to show love in action in regards to verse 14?

-How do people sometimes “talk the talk”, but not “walk the walk” in regards to verse 15?  What about verse 16?

-Read vv. 17-21.  Why is showing love to enemies so critical in regards to having a love that is sincere? 

Leaders' Guide

This lesson mentions some of the practical ways that Paul tells us to put our love into action.

-This section begins with the command that our love be sincere, literally not “faked”, or “hypocritical.”  What do you think qualifies as love that is not sincere?

            The word used for sincere comes from the same place as the one for hypocrisy.  One of the things that the Bible always affirms in regards to agape love of this nature is that it is always something that results in positive action, it is not just an emotion.  Hypocrisy is always about saying one thing and doing another.  Here Paul is saying that we need to make sure what is we affirm in regards to being a loving community actually works itself out in the ways we behave.

-v. 9 has to do with turning our back on that which is wicked and clinging to what is good, or wholesome.  What does that have to do with sincere love?

            The wording here is very strong.  We need to despise evil, the same word that is used elsewhere in Scripture for sexual sin.  The reason is always the same—because evil is a destructive force in this world.  The final statement in this passage (this will come up in the final question), affirms that this is all about winning the spiritual battle.  In a world devoted to tolerance and allowing people their own moral choices, the church affirms that calling evil what it is and hating it because of that is what real love is about.  Tolerating the things that destroy people because culture wants us to is not real love. 

-v. 10 speaks of the kind of affection a (healthy) family would have for each other.  How might that be faked in the church?

            This is the other kind of love.  Not agape love, but phileo love, or brotherly love (the root for the city Philadelphia—city of brotherly love).  Many churches say they are the “friendly” church, or one big family, but still are exclusive and full of cliques that are difficult to break into.  Sincere love of this sort welcomes everyone into the family, regardless of race, personality quirks, and other things can compromise this in the church.

-v. 11 has to do with a dynamic spiritual life that results in serving the Lord.  Why would being hypocritical in that area of life be a failure in regards to loving others in the church?

            The previous section speaks of how we all have spiritual gifts that are intended to be used in the church for the benefit of everyone.  If we just come to church to receive, rather than to give then is that really sincere love?  Sincere love asks how it can contribute.  At a time when many people just come to church to receive a blessing without making a significant contribution, this needs to be heard.

-v.12 is about not letting the hard times get us down, but keeping our pipeline open to God.  How would this help us love more sincerely?

            Having a fatalistic attitude and always allowing difficult circumstances to bring us down puts us into a position of needing the ministry of others more often than we are able to minister to them.  Maintaining an attitude of hope because of the faith we have in prayer and God’s sovereignty will be a testimony and a means of being an encouragement to the congregation.

-the connections between v.13 and putting love into action are pretty obvious.  What is one specific example you have seen or been a part of?

            Sharing with people and being hospitable are pretty obvious examples of a sincere love that displays itself in action.  Here is an opportunity for some encouraging testimony as to when people have seen this really work well in a church.

-Is it difficult to show love in action in regards to verse 14?

            Blessing those who persecute is obviously a tough one. 

-How do people sometimes “talk the talk”, but not “walk the walk” in regards to verse 15?  What about verse 16?

            Being available for people in their joys as well as sorrows can be tough, because it takes time and real empathy.  Tossing off a quick “I’ll be praying for you” can be sincere, but is often-times a cop out.  Encourage the group to think about how to really be with people during the highs and lows of their lives.  Verse 16 speaks of inclusion and not segregating your social circle based on people who are in your own circle, especially financial.  This also speaks of spending time with people.  It’s easy to give lip service to this one without really living it.  How can we be intentional about being with people not like us?

-Read vv. 17-21.  Why is showing love to enemies so critical in regards to having a love that is sincere? 

            Probably the most visible (and difficult) opportunities to show sincere love is when other people aren’t showing it to us.  One of the reasons it is so important is because of the striking display it creates of what it means to be followers of Christ.  We need to see these as opportunities to witness in a way that will be unmistakable to the world by virtue of how bizarre this kind of behavior is compared to the norm.

-What is it that we are really trying to do, according to verse 21?  Can thinking of these things as ways to defeat the enemy help us in accomplishing them?