Breaking Ground
What makes you feel loved more than anything else? Why?
The Dig
This Sunday, we continued Advent by reflecting upon how Jesus’ birth transforms our understanding of love.
Read John 3:16 & 1 John 4:9. In these texts, we see early Christians describing the incarnation (that is, God’s choice to take on flesh & become human on Christmas) as being, above all else, an act of divine love. In these verses, the word “love” is agape. In Greek, agape is not grounded in our emotions or feelings; but rather in our will, choices, worldviews, actions, & commitments. It’s choosing to see others as inherently valuable & seeking their good regardless of our judgments of them or their response to us.
How do you define love? Do you lean towards thinking of love as being more about feelings or commitment? How does this impact who you tend to love?
Why do you think the biblical authors associated this specific form of love with Christ’s incarnation? How does it help us understand this event?
Next, read Matthew Matthew 5:43-48. Here, we find Jesus explicitly teaching on God’s Agape Love as part of the Sermon on the Mount.
How does this teaching expand upon & help us to better understand Agape Love? Why can agape include both those we want to consider our neighbors, as well as those we tend to label enemies (while other forms of love can’t)?
According to Jesus, how should becoming aware that we’ve already received agape from God (& continue to do so) impact us? How should this reshape our own definitions of love, choices, worldviews, & commitments to others?
What individuals or groups of people do you struggle to feel love for in this season of your life? Where has this led you to fall short of treating them like God treats you or seeing them as God calls you to?
How might Christ’s incarnation & teaching on agape love help us change our internal & external responses to the people we’ve sinfully labeled as enemies? What actions can you take to start better reflecting Advent Love in 2026?
Getting Out of the Hole
Take time each week to reflect upon the Sunday sermon.
- Read John 3:16, 1 John 4:9, & Matthew 5:43-48. Make note of key characters, decisions, & attitudes throughout the story.
- How do Jesus & the New Testament authors define love in these texts? Where do they think it’s modeled best? How does this help us understand what they mean by love?
- How can Jesus’ love include those we deem enemies? How does this change our definition of our enemies & neighbors? How does Christ’s arrival embody this perfectly?
- Where do you need this bigger, more inclusive agape love of God in this season? Who do you need to extend this love towards in 2026?
Journal about how this prayer practice makes you feel this week. Share your experience with your group next week.
Additional Resources*
Centered Set Church by Mark D. Baker
Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent & Christmas
TheBibleProject.com
Coming Up This Week:*
December 24th: Join us on Christmas Eve as we celebrate Christ’s birth!
* Please see mye3.org for details.