Luke 6:27-29, “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also”.
Matthew 5- (Sermon on the Mount) Love for Enemies: 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The topic for this week was to start a series on “Lent” which started yesterday but in light of the most recent “mass shooting” we would like to have one more discussion of “Love your Enemies”. Last week we were only able to get to the first 2 of the following questions, we have added a few additional questions.
Questions:
- What is your faith costing you?
- How are you willing to suffer for Jesus Christ? (we are not in a war-torn area or an area that Christians are physically persecuted, so suffering might mean something different in 2018 USA). How does your answer affect the way you handle insults or disapproval?
- Why is responding in love and not retaliation the most powerful form of witness for Christ?
- Do you find it hard in today’s political climate/Social climate to love others or Groups of people that you don’t agree with?
- In light of the shooting at the Florida school, it is very easy for us to pray for the families of the victims but what about praying for the shooter? Is that hard for you to do?
- If you were to say a prayer for the Florida school shooter what would you pray for?
- We touched on this over the last couple of weeks but why do you think Jesus so heavily emphasized praying for those it is tough to pray for?
Men's Small Group Blog 