Leader Guide 10-12-08 / Romans 13

Small Group Leaders Guide
October 12, 2008

Guest Speaker: Mike Giordano
Message: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Romans 13:7-14/Ephesians 6:11

Getting Started:
1. Do you think God wants Christians to be in debt?

• This is a play on words. In Romans 13:8 we are taught to let no debt remain outstanding except for one; the continuing debt to love one another. So, in a sense, God wants Christians to be continually in debt! :)

Going Deeper:
2. Read Romans 13:9. Do you think this passage is teaching that we should have warm feelings toward others? Why or why not?

• This can be a hard question to answer depending on what you think “love” is.
• Love is certainly an emotion. However, we would not know the love of another without an expression of that love. We cannot see emotions unless they manifest in some way. The emotion of love can prompt an action but a loving action does not require a loving feeling as a pre-requisite. Often, loving feelings follow loving actions.
• I think there are passages that teach us to have feelings for others such as sympathy and compassion. (see 1Peter 3:8) However, I don’t think this passage is referring to an emotion, but an action.
• I think love in this context is something you do and not something you feel. It is a way you behave toward others regardless of the feelings you may or may not have. That said, I also think we should have “loving” feelings toward others. Y

3. When you hear the phrase, “Love your neighbor,” who do you think of? The person who lives next door to you? The person sitting in the chair next to yours at church? Someone you work with? Which “neighbor” in your life needs some love?

4. Think about your answer to number 3 above. Specifically, what are you going to do? What does it mean to “love” your neighbor in this specific case?

5. How does the Bible define love? If you wanted to find some passages about what the Bible says love is, where would you look?

• 1Corinthians 13:3-7 is a great place to start.
• 1John 4:9-10
• 1John 5:3
• 2John 1:6
• Romans 5:8
• John 13:1-17
• Romans 8:35-39
• 1John 3:17
• John 14:24

6. Read Romans 13:11. What is it about “this present time” that we need to “understand?” How is your salvation nearer now than when you first believed?

• With each day that goes by we are all one day closer to physical death. Our lives are short compared to eternity and we have little time to make a difference in the world for the cause of Christ. So, the time to love our neighbor is now, this present time
• We live in an evil age according to Galatians 1:4. There are a lot of things that compete for our time, money, attention, worship, etc. It seems like there is something waiting to make us stumble around every corner. Our “neighbors” are certainly experiencing the same thing. Notice that in the upcoming verses, Paul refers to needing the “armor” of light. Armor is worn into battle and can save your life when under assault.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

7. Read Romans 13:12-14. In this passage, Paul mentions two things to put on or be clothed with, the Lord Jesus Christ and the armor of light. Are they the same thing? Where else in the Bible are Christians advised to put on armor or be clothed? What does it mean to be “clothed” with Christ?

• Colossians 3:9-14
• 1Peter 5:5
• Ephesians 4:24
• Ephesians 6:10-17
• Galatians 3:27
• Colossians 3:12

8. Read Ephesians 6:10-17. This passage seems to be breaking down the “full armor” into its different components (belt, breastplate, helmet, etc). Which piece of the full armor are you in need of most right now and why?

9. Read 1Peter 2:21-23 and John 13:15. In both of these passages, Jesus is setting an example for us to follow. What’s love got to do with the specific examples in these two passages? What are some practical ways we can emulate the examples before us?

Putting it into practice:
10. If your “love thermometer” is registering a little on the “chilly” side, pray with your groups for a fresh sense of the love of Christ to fill you up and warm you up. Pray about ways Christ’s love in you can be demonstrated to others.

Quote Of The Week:
More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world, and more people have been driven from the church by the hardness and ugliness of so-called Christianity than by all the doubts in the world.
--William Barclay