Love=Self Sacrifice

From: 5/30/2010
Introductory Questions:
Dave said that one of the primary ways that we SHOW love is by sacrificing for those we love.
What is one way that your spouse, parents, or another significant person has sacrificed for you recently?

What is one way that you have sacrificed for someone else whom you love?

What is one of the ‘everyday sacrifices’ that you are called on to make regularly that is a struggle? (ie., washing dishes, giving up remote, filling gas tank, making dinner, etc.)

Bible Questions:
There are several examples of this kind of loving self-sacrifice in the scriptures.
Read 1 Samuel 20: Who sacrificed for whom?

John 15:9-15; Matthew 26:39: Talk about Jesus’ example.

Read Philippians 2:3-8: Why was Jesus’ example so remarkable? What does this do to our defense of our selfishness?

Read James 4:1-4: Why does James say that we have so many conflicts? What is at the root of it? How does “friendship with the world” play into this?

Read James 4:7-10: How are we to correct this?

Read Romans 12:1-2: How does God change us?

Sharing Questions:
In what ways do you typically let your ‘desires’ cause you to ‘wage war’ with those you love?

Is there a way in which you have become “friend to this world”, and are being “conformed to this world”? How might that be effecting you, spiritually?

If you knew that God was moving you to sacrifice for those you love in some way, would you?

Based on your own past behavior, on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 10 (totally), how self-sacrificing would you say you are (when it comes to those you love— esp. family)?
If you had the opportunity to become more sacrificial, would you take it? Would you be willing to change some priorities to accomplish this?

If so, what specific priorities do you think God would want you to change?