GOING DEEPER
06.21.2020 | JUST BE | Wk 9: “Just Be Love”
Join the community and go deeper with this Bible study.
Breaking Ground
What is your most cherished memory from childhood?
The Dig
Begin by taking time to define love. What are the different ways you experience being loved? Unloved?
Next, read Colossians 3:12-14. Paul has just finished laying out his understanding of the Gospel message to a church that is deeply divided – ethnically, religiously, socially. He then begins instructing this community on how that story should shape how they live together in love.
First, notice that Paul begins by reminding them that they are holy (or set apart for a divine purpose) & loved by God.
What is the connection between being holy & loving others?
How does knowing that we are loved impact how we seek to love others in our world?
Second, Paul lays out a series of virtues that he believes love should produce & bind together – compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, & forgiveness.
Have each member of the group pick one of these attributes. How does love inform that attribute?
What does it mean that each of these attributes is bound together & united in love? In other words, how is love the common denominator between each of them?
Consider these attributes in terms of how you receive love.
Which, when extended or expressed to you by someone else, makes you feel loved the most?
Which, when withheld from you by someone else, makes you feel loved the least?
Consider these attributes in terms of how you extend love.
Which do you find easiest to extend to other people?
Which do you find yourself most often withholding from other people?
How does this reflect on the quality of your love?
Where do you need to work on growing in your capacity to love in the way Paul describes here?
Getting Out of the Hole
Reflect on the practices that were covered in this series. For reference:
- Meditation (Just Be Present)
- Centering Prayer (Just Be Centered)
- The Examen (Just Be Aware)
- Praying for Others (Just Be Released)
- Intentional Solitude (Just Be Still)
- Praying the Psalms (Just Be Trusting)
- Gratitude Lists / Tithing (Just Be Generous)
- Lectio Divina (Just Be Open)
Choose one from this list that has stuck with you or intrigued you & commit to practicing it daily for the next 2 months.
Journal about your experience with this practice. Note anything that stands out or really hits home. Share your experience with your growth group next week!
Additional Resources*
The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun
Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating
The Naked Now by Richard Rohr
Coming Up This Week:*
Sunday, June 28: Join us for the first week of our new series Therefore!
* Please see mye3.org for details.