BIBLE STUDY
ENCOURAGE LOVE | INSPIRE GOOD—Stir it up! Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:23-24 (ESV)
Over the past two years we have witnessed an abundance of “stirring up”—over the questions of stolen elections, COVID-19 restrictions, failing businesses, failing health, vaccinations, education, health care, racial and socio-economic inequity and injustice, failed ministries . . . and the list goes on. The Church has been drawn into this whirlwind of stirrings in ways not witnessed by humanity in decades.
by Linda Ellsworth Linda is the member care coordinator for Christian Camping International, Canada.
The writer to the Hebrews, however, commended an entirely different kind of “stirring up.” He encouraged believers to “consider” (take time to carefully think about and purposefully plan) how to stir up and prompt each other to sincere agape love, the automatic outcome of which should be good works (deeds and actions done for the benefit of others). Describe what the above statement means to you, and why: _________________________ _________________________ 1 John is a sweeping overview of the “how’s and why’s” of agape love and its outcomes. READ all of I John. Together we will ask the Spirit to teach us how to consider each other, and to aspire to “stir it up” through agape love. But before we can be instruments of agape love, we MUST deal with that wall that separates us from the Source of Love.
READ I John 1:1-4 - The Wall Why do you think John introduced his letter in this manner? What fact presented here is critical to our acceptance of the Good News of Jesus? Have you ever used this fact in telling others the story of Christ’s love? _________________________ _________________________ READ verses 1:5-10 and 2:1-14 Continuing on from his introduction, John segues into a lengthy explanation of the invisible wall that prevents us from shedding that Light of agape love. What is that wall? (1:6,8,10) _________________________ _________________________ Based on John’s assertion that God is Light, with no hint of darkness, that “wall” creates three major issues: • We are liars (verse 6) • We deceive ourselves (verse 8) • We make God a liar (verse 10) live • July - August 2021
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