Study
Guide for
We – we.harmony
May 17, 2009
Open Up
In Bible times and even in more recent cultures, marriages were arranged instead of people meeting through online dating sites like e-Harmony, or the connections people make through regular, everyday life. If you had grown up in a culture of arranged marriages, what kind of person might you have married? TRANSITION: Making your marriage (and your other important personal) “a match made in heaven” has more to do with commitment and hard work than natural or pre-arranged harmony.
Dig In
1) Read Ephesians 5:21-33. Verse 21 sets the tone for this entire section (OPTIONAL: In the NIV the key phrase is “submit to one another.” If others in your group have different translations and feel comfortable reading aloud, ask them to tell the group what phrase their translation uses). The Bible sets a high standard for the covenant between husband and wife, the example of Jesus and the church. What is the hardest work for husbands in these verses? What is the hardest work for wives in these verses? BACKGROUND: The original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek) use several different words that English translations describe as “love.” “Agape” (sometimes pronounced a-GAH-pay) love is servant-hearted, unselfish love – this is the word for love Jesus uses most often.
2) Sometimes the church broke covenant love with Jesus. Read Revelation 2:1-5. (OPTIONAL: In the NIV verse 4 includes the phrase, “You have forsaken your first love.” If others in your group have different translations and feel comfortable reading aloud, ask them to tell the group what phrase their translation uses). What can we learn from these verses about broken love and repentance? BACKGROUND: In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the mini-letters to seven churches use figurative language, so stretching our imaginations helps us understand the meaning of the word pictures.
3) All our personal relationships become better when we demonstrate servant-hearted love. Read Ruth 1:3-18. How does Ruth’s love for Naomi show similar covenant-level commitment as the love described earlier in this study?
Work On
Discuss with your group different kinds of relationships that become better with committed, servant-hearted love: marriage, other family relationships, friendships. What is the hardest work in that particular relationship?
Lift Up
If the group feels comfortable, pray specifically for at least one relationship of each member.
Another Step – Advanced Study
Read John 13:34-35. Jesus extends the command to love to the whole church. What is the hardest work in loving people in a church as large and diverse as Mountain?