GROWTH QUESTION #1
Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?
HOW TO LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
LIVING PROOF INLAND EMPIRE CRUSADE
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MEETING AGENDA
- OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
- GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
- ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
- TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
- GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
- CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.
GROWTH QUESTION #2
What did you learn from this week’s sermon?
GROWTH QUESTION #3
What was your most important accomplishment this week?
TODAY’S PASSAGE:
Luke 6:27–37 (NLT)
27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you. 32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. 35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. 37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.
Opening question
Why do you think loving enemies is one of the hardest things Jesus asks us to do?
Truth #1
LOVE IS A COMMAND, NOT A FEELING (v. 27–31)
Jesus doesn’t say, “feel love.
He gives actions:
These are choices, not emotions.
Biblical love (agape) is not based on:
It is based on obedience to Christ.
If we wait until we “feel” love, we will never obey this command.
John 14:15 (NLT) – “If you love me, obey my commandments.”
Galatians 5:16 (NLT) – “Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
He gives actions:
- Do good
- Bless
- Pray
- Turn the other cheek
- Give
- Treat others how you want to be treated
These are choices, not emotions.
Biblical love (agape) is not based on:
- How someone treats us
- Whether they deserve it
- Whether we feel like it
It is based on obedience to Christ.
If we wait until we “feel” love, we will never obey this command.
John 14:15 (NLT) – “If you love me, obey my commandments.”
Galatians 5:16 (NLT) – “Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
- Love is not proven by emotion, it is proven by action.
- Instead of asking, “Do they deserve love?” ask, “What would obedience to Jesus look like right now?”
INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS
What is the difference between loving someone emotionally and loving someone through action?
Truth #2
WHAT WE SOW IS WHAT WE REAP
(v. 32–36)
Jesus explains that loving only those who love us is ordinary, even sinners do that.
But kingdom living is different.
- If we sow mercy → we reap mercy
- If we sow grace → we reap grace
- If we sow forgiveness → we reap freedom
- If we sow bitterness → we reap bondage
The measure we use will be measured back to us.
God calls us higher... to love like He loves.
Luke 6:36 (NLT) “You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”
Galatians 6:7 (NLT) – “You will always harvest what you plant.”
- You can’t plant hate and expect peace to grow.
- The way we treat people today is the harvest we will live in tomorrow.
INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS
Have you ever seen unforgiveness or bitterness hurt the person holding onto it more than the offender?
Truth #3
LOVING ENEMIES MAKES US LOOK LIKE JESUS (v. 35–37)
Jesus says when we love enemies:
- we show we are children of God
- we reflect the Father’s heart
- we become merciful like Him
Think about it: God loved us when:
- we sinned
- we rebelled
- we ignored Him
- we were far from Him
We were once His enemies — yet He forgave us.
Now He asks us to show others the same grace.
Forgiveness is not saying what they did was okay.
It’s choosing freedom over revenge.
Judgment hardens hearts.
Mercy changes hearts.
Romans 5:8 (NLT) – “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) – “Be kind and compassionate… forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
- When we love enemies, we look most like Jesus.
- If people watched how you treat difficult people, would they see Jesus?
INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS
Who is one person that God may be asking you to show mercy or forgiveness toward this week?
CLOSING QUESTION
What’s one thing you are taking away from this lesson that you can apply to your life this week?
GIVING
Giving generously cultivates an attitude of gratitude that profoundly enriches our own lives and the lives of others.
2 Corinthians 9:11 (NLT)
Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.
PRAY
QUESTION #1
Who are you praying for to be saved?
QUESTION #2
Who can you invite to the next meeting?
QUESTION #3
What are your prayer requests?