Message-Based Study Guide
for Small Groups and Individuals
“Everybody Knows That”
“Love the Lovable vs. Love the Enemy”
Matthew 5:43-48
(November 30-December 6, 2014)
“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that
love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually
transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them,
and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They
react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition
period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down
under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love.
There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about
hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Answer and discuss the following question with your group
1. How would you describe the phrase “love your enemy” to someone who had never
heard that saying before? Is there a difference between how you love a friend and how
you love an enemy? Explain.
Read the following excerpt out loud or watch message segment #1
An excerpt from Pastor Jim’s message, “Love the Lovable vs. Love the Enemy”
“Love your neighbor and hate your enemy” is the common standard. But Jesus expects
something that sounds crazy from his followers. The Christian standard is “Love your
enemies.” Now before we throw in the towel, or label Jesus as a lunatic. We need to
consider what he’s actually saying.
Jesus basically invents a new word here. There wasn’t a word for love that conveyed
what Jesus intended because all the other “love” words were emotion-based. Jesus
took emotion out of the equation and used a word that was action-based. “Agape”actually “agapao”- it’s a verb, an action word. It has nothing to do with how you feel but
everything to do with what you do. Jesus wants us to treat people well regardless of
how we feel about them.
Refer to Matthew 5:43-48 and answer/discuss the following questions
2. (Read Matthew 5:43-44) If you prayed for your enemies the way you pray for your
friends or family, how could that change your attitude towards them and how you treat
them?
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT – Lesson 5, page 1
Message-Based Study Guide
for Small Groups and Individuals
3. What is the "spiritual paternity test" in verse 45 that shows whether we are true
children of God? Explain this test in your own words. How do our actions reflect our
beliefs and the God we follow?
4. (Read Matthew 5:45) After commanding us to love our enemies, Jesus tells us that
God "gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and
the unjust alike." Explain how this statement shows that our love (and hatred) should
not depend on whether a person is considered "righteous" or "unrighteous." How is
God's love like sunlight that shines on everyone?
5. (Read Matthew 5:46-48) Explain how Christ followers are commanded to be different
from the world around them? Why are Christ followers supposed to be different?
6. In verse 48 we are commanded to "be perfect." How can the condition of our hearts
and our treatment of our enemies help us to not only grow and mature in Christ, but also
to reflect his perfect love to others?
Read the following excerpt out loud or watch message segment #2
An excerpt from Pastor Jim’s message, “Love the Lovable vs. Love the Enemy”
Jesus’ audience as he gave this message was made up of Jewish folks, and they had
plenty of enemies. Traditionally, the Samaritans hated the Jews and the Jews hated the
Samaritans. Jews referred to Samaritans as half-breeds and Samaritan dogs. There
was a long history of name-calling, racial jokes, violence, hate-speech and raw feelings.
Was he telling the Jews to love the Samaritans? Yes he was. Treat the Samaritans well.
Read Luke 10:30-37 and answer/discuss the following questions
7. Why do you think Jesus chose to make a Samaritan the star of this parable? Knowing
a bit about the relationship between the Samaritans and the Jewish people, how do you
think the Jewish community would react after hearing this story?
8. How would the concept of love as an action and not as a feeling help the Jewish
culture make the shift between hating the Samaritans and loving them?
Reflection and Wrap-up
9. According to John 3:16, God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son..."
God treated us well while we were still lost in sin. How does knowing this impact your
thought process as it relates to loving your enemies? How does it feel to think that we
were once enemies of God?
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT – Lesson 5, page 2
Message-Based Study Guide
for Small Groups and Individuals
10. Reflect on those that you consider your enemies. What might be a small step or two
that you could take towards loving them? How would your interactions with these
people change if you decided to love them and pray for them daily?
Pray Together as a Group
Additional Study
If you have time during your Small Group or you want to study more about God’s
instructions and views on love, read and consider the following passages:
•
John 3:16
•
John 13:34
•
Acts 7
•
Mark 11:25
•
Ephesians 4:31-32
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT – Lesson 5, page 3