Small Group Discussion
In Romans 12:9-21 Paul deals with the importance of love in our daily relationships. This section of Romans consists of many short commands (there are about 30 different commands in these thirteen verses!). But if you summarize the whole section, again, you could do it in one word: LOVE
1. Where is the first place our love should be displayed (vv. 9-13)?
2. What is the basic characteristic of brotherly love?
3. In what ways can brotherly love be shown or demonstrated?
4. Beginning in verse 14 there is a slight change of direction in the passage. The phrase “bless those who persecute you” turns our attention to those outside the body of Christ; to unbelievers. How does Paul say the Christian should relate to the non-Christian? More specifically, how should the Christian relate to the unbeliever who acts in an evil way toward Christians? Give specific ways.
5. In these verses there are two basic goals we should have in showing love towards unbelievers. What are they?
PERSONAL APPLICATION:
Apply this to your life
- In the space below, write one way that you will show genuine love for a fellow believer today.
- In the space below, write one way that you will show genuine love for a non-believer today.
- Is there someone who has been doing evil to you lately? If so, how might you return good for evil? What deeds of love could you do for this person?