What are some special ways you show love to others? Do you only show expressions of love on special occasions, like Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or anniversaries, or do you express love every day? Do you know how to express love to other people?
Paul, as he writes to the Corinthian church, lays out what Love is, and what love is not. This topic is sparked by the way people in the church treated one another. Their treatment of one another mirrored the world more so then Christ. Paul provides two positive qualities of love in verse 4, what are the two positive qualities Paul mentions? Do you see these two qualities in yourself for how you treat your family and friends? Paul provides eight qualities of what Love is not, what is the first quality of a person who isn’t loving? What does it mean to be jealous? Can you think of an instance in your life when you became jealous over what someone else has? Have you ever been jealous of your spouse? Did this affect the way you spoke to them or even thought of them? What is the next characteristic of what love is not? To brag is to ‘heap praise on oneself,’ how often do you find yourself bragging to friends and family? How do you feel when others brag to you? What is the next characteristic on the list? Can you think of any times your pride has brought on trouble in your life? Are there times in your marriage or even as a parent where pride has caused you problems? What could you do next time to be sure you stay out of this kind of trouble? What is the next loveless attitude? Our family members many times see us act out in a way we would never act in front of others, especially in the church, because we would be embarrassed if we did. Why would you behave in such a way in the home? We tend to take those closest to us for granted. What could we do to ensure we don’t treat those closest to us like this? What is the next characteristic? People are usually looking out for number one in their lives, we love ourselves more than anyone else and it shows. How can we be more others-focused and less self-centered? What is the next characteristic? What does it mean to provoke someone? How easily are you provoked? Why do you allow others to provoke you? What can you do the next time you feel as though you are being provoked? How can you keep from provoking others? What is the next characteristic? Do you keep a mental scorecard of all the wrongs people do to you, including your spouse? Do you hold other people's sins against them, or are you prepared to offer forgiveness to people who sin against you? How is Jesus our example of offering forgiveness? Paul's last negative is contrasted with a positive. Paul says love doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, what does this mean? Do you ever gloat over people's failures and misery? We are to rejoice in the truth, this is in God’s righteousness and the renewing of people's minds by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to rejoice when others are blessed by God through Jesus Christ. Can you think of areas in your spouse's life or your children’s lives or even friend's lives where you can rejoice in and rejoice with that family member or friend? Everyone needs to know how to love more, what are somethings in your life you know needs to be eliminated so you can love others more?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Questions
Love is Selfless Actions
What are some special ways you show love to others? Do you only show expressions of love on special occasions, like Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or anniversaries, or do you express love every day? Do you know how to express love to other people?
Paul, as he writes to the Corinthian church, lays out what Love is, and what love is not. This topic is sparked by the way people in the church treated one another. Their treatment of one another mirrored the world more so then Christ. Paul provides two positive qualities of love in verse 4, what are the two positive qualities Paul mentions? Do you see these two qualities in yourself for how you treat your family and friends? Paul provides eight qualities of what Love is not, what is the first quality of a person who isn’t loving? What does it mean to be jealous? Can you think of an instance in your life when you became jealous over what someone else has? Have you ever been jealous of your spouse? Did this affect the way you spoke to them or even thought of them? What is the next characteristic of what love is not? To brag is to ‘heap praise on oneself,’ how often do you find yourself bragging to friends and family? How do you feel when others brag to you? What is the next characteristic on the list? Can you think of any times your pride has brought on trouble in your life? Are there times in your marriage or even as a parent where pride has caused you problems? What could you do next time to be sure you stay out of this kind of trouble? What is the next loveless attitude? Our family members many times see us act out in a way we would never act in front of others, especially in the church, because we would be embarrassed if we did. Why would you behave in such a way in the home? We tend to take those closest to us for granted. What could we do to ensure we don’t treat those closest to us like this? What is the next characteristic? People are usually looking out for number one in their lives, we love ourselves more than anyone else and it shows. How can we be more others-focused and less self-centered? What is the next characteristic? What does it mean to provoke someone? How easily are you provoked? Why do you allow others to provoke you? What can you do the next time you feel as though you are being provoked? How can you keep from provoking others? What is the next characteristic? Do you keep a mental scorecard of all the wrongs people do to you, including your spouse? Do you hold other people's sins against them, or are you prepared to offer forgiveness to people who sin against you? How is Jesus our example of offering forgiveness? Paul's last negative is contrasted with a positive. Paul says love doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, what does this mean? Do you ever gloat over people's failures and misery? We are to rejoice in the truth, this is in God’s righteousness and the renewing of people's minds by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to rejoice when others are blessed by God through Jesus Christ. Can you think of areas in your spouse's life or your children’s lives or even friend's lives where you can rejoice in and rejoice with that family member or friend? Everyone needs to know how to love more, what are somethings in your life you know needs to be eliminated so you can love others more?