Download Month 3 Week 2 Greatest of These is Love! We talk about it. We sing

Month 3
Week 2
Greatest of These is Love!
We talk about it. We sing about it. We praise it. We seek it, and we
long for it. Love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” God’s kind of love is
foreign to us. How can we love the unlovely—no endure them, but
love them? How can we genuinely desire the best, not for ourselves or
our friends, but for our enemies? Love challenges us. It frightens us,
and it embraces us. Ultimately only love can change us so that we
become people who love.
This month we will study the foundational characteristic of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Every characteristic of the fruit exudes love. First, we will see some components of the
world’s love. Then we will examine the distinctive nature of God’s love. “For God so loved
the world…”
Principle Questions
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
How might an ongoing deprivation of your mate for inappropriate
reasons be considered a unique form of adultery?
What caused Herod and Pilate to become friends?
Why did God choose the foolish things of the world to shame the
wise?
What does Psalm 145:8 tell us about God’s anger?
What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and agape?
Today’s Treasure – “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:7-8).
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Week 3 – Agape: Caring Love
At the end of day 2, we considered the Greek meaning of agape, the foundational quality
of the fruit of the Spirit. In addition to a study of the Greek meaning of agape, God was
gracious to include in His Word a beautiful discourse describing this unique kind of love.
Turn to 1 Corinthians 13. Do not let the bug of familiarity bite you! You can be very
familiar with words yet quite unfamiliar with meaning. Trust God to faithfully teach you
something new about His personal way of loving. As you read through the chapter, keep in
mind that every use of the word love or charity (KJV) in 1 Corinthians 13 is the Greek word
agape.
From first reaction to these verses, how do you feel about practicing agape?
Circle as many as apply:
Overwhelmed
Skeptical
challenged
confident
unattainable
Remember that Paul was in the process of giving very specific instructions about the purpose
and practice of spiritual gifts. He began his discourse on agape by illustrating its relationships
with the gifts of the Spirit. The people of Greece appreciate eloquence. They loved philosophy
and listened all the more if it was presented with depth and color. In fact, they might have
considered a discourse most impressive if they couldn’t comprehend a single word of it! Now,
read 1 Corinthians 2:1-2. Paul admitted that he did not come before them with great polish and
fluency. In fact, he claimed to know only one thing.
It’s no wonder that the people of Corinth misused the gift of tongues! They were more
interested in the expression of language than the content. Paul responded to their obsession
with words when he said: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love
[agape],” my words will be meaningless noise (see v.1). He, then, referred to the spiritual gifts
of prophecy, knowledge, and faith (see v. 2).
Scripture says if these three gifts express no love, I am:
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Beloved, have you ever heard speakers who said all the right things but their personalities
seemed as cold as ice? Perhaps they were attempting to exercise their gifts without love. I am
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continually sobered by 1 Corinthians 13:2 as I prepare to speak. Each time I go before the Lord
and ask Him to give me a supernatural love for the people I’m teaching; otherwise, my words
are meaningless.
In verse 3, Paul broadens his expression to the extreme by saying essentially, “neither
material abstinence nor martyrdom would gain me a thing without love.” Then, in verse 4-8,
Paul provides a perfect description of agape.
Please complete the following two columns from the information you gleaned
in these five verses:
AGAPE IS…
AGAPE IS NOT…
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Characteristics of Agape
1. First we learn that agape is PATIENT. The Greek word used for this English
interpretation is makrothumia. Basically, the word represents “a person who is able to
avenge himself yet refrains from doing so.”
Read Romans 12:17-21. Mark the following statements correct © or
incorrect (I).
___1. We should make every effort to live peaceably with “everyone.”
___2. When we have been wronged, we should not take revenge because
God is not angered by such behavior.
___3. We should treat our enemies as they treat us.
___4. Evil is most likely to be overcome with good.
What response of God does Proverbs 25:21-22 add to Paul’s words in
Romans 12:20?
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2. Next, in 1 Corinthians 13 we read that agape is KIND. The Greek word for kind
is chresteuomai which generally means: to show oneself “useful.” Agape volunteers to
help. Perhaps poor Martha was just searching for a little kindness from Mary in the
kitchen while Mary was seeking the better thing!
3. Third, Paul taught that agape does NOT ENVY. The Greek word zeloo means “to
be zealous” and it connotes a passionate sense of jealousy. Left to reap, envy always
ends in some form of action. This same word is used in Acts 7:9.
In this verse, what act did envy or jealousy spur? (Circle one.)
murder
competition
slavery
fighting
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One only has to scan a newspaper ot find evidence that envy can kill. Agape never
envies.
4. Fourth, we learn that agape does NOT BOAST. The Greek word perpereuomai
comes from the root word meaning “braggart.”
a. Why did God choose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (1
Corinthians 1:27-29)
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b. What is the only grounds for boasting (1 Cor. 1:31)?
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5. Fifty, we discover that agape is NOT PROUD.
What negative consequences resulted from pride in the following Scriptures?
2 Chronicles 26:16________________________________________________
Psalm 10:4 ______________________________________________________
Proverbs 11:2____________________________________________________
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Daniel 5:20 ______________________________________________________
Obadiah 3 (Isn’t it fun to go to a passage in Obadiah? How often do you get that
opportunity?)
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Jeremiah 13:17________________________________________________________
Name the positive consequences that came from repenting of pride in 2
Chronicles 32:26.
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Proverbs 13:10 says “Pride only breeds quarrels.” The last time you quarreled
with someone, was any pride involved in your part?
 YES  NO If so, explain.
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By the time we are emotional enough to quarrel over an issue, pride is always involved.
(Remember, quarreling and loving confrontation are two different actions.) During the early
years of our marriage, my husband sometimes chose fishing over church. It upset me so badly
that I could not refrain from quarreling with him about it. I hoped to make him miserable
enough that he would decide instead to go to church with me. Does this sound familiar?
Would you like to know what bothered me most about his absence? Having to explain why he
wasn’t at Sunday School.
Relief flooded my soul the day I relinquished responsibility for my husband’s spirituality!
It was hindering my own! He still occasionally skips church to fish, and when he does, he
leaves me a note that says, “Elizabeth, Jesus loves a fisherman.” I don’t doubt it. Oddly
enough, though, he rarely catches a thing on Sunday. Isn’t God good? He’s taken up the cause
Himself, and He loves Keith even more than I do.
We will continue our study of agape next week. Good work! Keep in mind your
homework is an extension of agape! For our highest and best-keep letting Him in!
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How does God want you to respond to what He showed you today?
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