—Show Description—discussion questions for the Love Ethic
—details—More forthcoming
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The sections below are numbered by the article published. For each section, there are several applications which hopefully were understood by the reader. Within each application, there are one or more questions to help generate discussion about the application. “Considerations” are provided for some the questions to help the discussion or group leader think a little deeper and get some more insight about the discussion. Be sure to leave suggestions or feedback at the bottom of the page…
Questions
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Introduction
Application: Sovereignty of God at work:
“Grace teachers”, evangelism opportunities, Jesus Movement, youth discontent all pulled together at the same time…
Question #1 When is it right to divide a church? When is it wrong?
Considerations:What are the effects of division?
What’s the cost of division?
Question #2 Yet, what are the dangers of being so far “outside” structured / traditional Christianity and not having any clear authority present?
Considerations:These were unhealthy early days, esp. down on campus: no clear authority, elders who weren’t elders: too young & immature, or old/carnal businessmen leading the board…
Application: The unusual character of Xenos stems from re-thinking how we “do church” at a time when people were re-examining everything.
Question #1 What makes Xenos different from “traditional church”?
Question #2 Do you see how the differences may be connected to its origens?
Considerations:As an “equipping organization for laymen,” Laymans Challenge set the pattern for our current “Bible Study” format by deliberately avoiding competition with the “worship service” of traditional churches.
We also lacked clear authority: the Fish House was out there in the “Wild, Wild West” of Christian circles. We were licentious, crazy drunks.
Considerations:Later, as “traditional church” continued to become irrelevant to youth and liberals continued to infect mainline denominations, these men changed their intentions, and decided to build a “church” organization.
They didn’t understand they had already built one! So they incorporated “high church” features, mistakenly interpreting the “Worship of God” in liturgical terms; this they did because they didn’t understand Agape love and ministry that well.
“We need something more…” is always the sign of an absence of love relationships & spiritual immaturity.
Application: “Saved by grace” is insufficient for mature Christian growth. “Faith and faith alone” becomes a problem.
Question #1 How does this square with 2 Cor 12:9
“My grace is all you need!”
Question #2 How can you identify an immature Christian?
Considerations:Doesn’t understand the WOG. (Heb. 5:14ff)
Considerations:Divisive / cliquish (1 Cor. 3:1–3)
What’s Our Problem?
Application: We live in a uniquely love-dysfunctional age
Question #1 What is “dysfunctional” or “functional”?
Question #2 What does “emotional health” look like?
Question #3 Explain the connection between “lawlessness” and “cold love” ? Consider 1 Cor. 6:18 - how does sexual immorality affect people’s lives? How does it affect a marriage?
Considerations:a false-even depraved-definition of love
Considerations:increased sexual appetite
Considerations:calloused, broken hearts
Question #4 What is unique about this age which has never before been possible?
Considerations:”Love of money…”
Considerations:Postmodernism: a “religion of lawlessness”
Question #5 Of the problems identified in our modern culture, which seem to be the most debilitating for love relationships?
Application: Our understanding of love is seriously disconnected from traditional cultures.
Question #1 What differences do you see with modern western family and love relationships compared to traditional cultures?
Question #2 What do you see in American culture that most interferes with our ability to love?
Application: Our definition of love is seriously disconnected from the Bible’s definition
Question #1 What did love mean to you as a non-Christian?
Question #2 What does it mean to you now?
Question #3 As a Christian, what difference, if any, has Christian love made in your lifestyle and life priorities or activities or your overall sense of fulfillment?
Application: The path to health means establishing a healthy relationship with parents.
Question #1 What good is it?
Question #2 Why go back to parents if you’ve already left them?
Question #3 If one or both of your parents played an unhealthy role in your life or marriage, why would we expose ourselves to that?
The Power of Love
Application: Your previous experience with love is flawed.
Question #1 Do you think this is true?
Question #2 Does this invalidate your previous relationships?
Application: Love requires principles
Question #1 But isn’t love something we all naturally know? Doesn’t a baby understand love without ever learning any principles?
Question #2 Isn’t there such a thing as a “true love” which strikes people blind?
Question #3 Do you agree when someone says, “we were meant for each other…” or “God has chosen someone special for you…” ?
Application: Love’s principles are irrational.
Question #1 If “God is Love”, does that make God irrational?
Considerations:Yes, God seems irrational to the natural mind, Paul says.
Question #2 If love’s principles are irrational, how can we teach them or learn them?
Application: Love is connected to feelings.
Question #1 What does love feel like?
Considerations:Love itself is not a feeling; but it deeply affects our feelings. IL: Bitterness isn’t a feeling, but it will corrupt our emotional life.
Question #2 Do you agree: “Our motivation to do things and our emotional energy comes from being loved” ?
Question #3 Do highly-functional and successful people like businessmen need to feel loved?
Considerations:Absolutely…it’s one of the big differences between a machine and a human.
Question #4 When someone says, “I’m not a very emotional person,” is that true?
Question #5 Do you agree: “restlessness or depression or sadness or anger signals a shortage of love in your life.” ? Wonder if the person saying this is a drug addict?
Considerations:Drug addicts are definitely living love-deprived lives, but they’re also exacerbating the problem.
Question #6 Do you agree: “All emotional problems from a crying baby to severe psychotic disorders come from the failure of an individual to feel loved by those who are important to him.” ?
Question #7 Consider: “Christians who ignore their need for healthy love will ultimately fail in life, no matter how strong their faith is.” Does that mean God isn’t able to meet all our needs?
Question #8 What is the interconnection between faith / hope / love? What does it mean, “abide these three things…” ?
Question #9 I says, “The Christian who wishes to live a life of sustained spiritual power and fulfillment must sooner or later cross the bridge from simple faith into the deeper realm of understanding how God’s love works.” How do you cross this bridge?
Application: Love means victory
Question #1 What is “the aroma of Christ”, and a “knowledge of Him” ?
Question #2 How does the “aroma” and “knowledge” impact people?
Question #3 What is “the victory” in “thanks be to God, who gives us the victory”
Question #4 Can you identify specific victories like this? Have you shared these with non-Christians? Discuss what effect that had. Have you given thanks to God for them?
Counseling-LoveEthics