1 Cor inthians 13:4-7
“ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not env y, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.�
1 Cor inthians 13:4-7
Welcome to Faith Night In! We are so excited that you’ve chosen to join in on this journey with us. It is God’s promise to you today that as you continue to seek his wisdom in your relationship, He will reveal himself to you in beautiful ways. We encourage you and your loved one to take a few hours to cozy up and dive into what God has in store for you through some honest discussion, a fun activity, and some time for reflection and prayer. We are going to take an in depth look at this month’s verses, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Set The Mood Take a minute to set the mood for your date. Head over to faithnightin.com/music for a great date night soundtrack.
Get comfortable and enjoy some tasty popcorn from Dean& Deluca. A portion of the proceeds from each date purchased this month will be donated to Pencils of Promise. POP is an international nonprofit building schools and educating more than 72,000 students around the globe who count themselves lucky just to be the owner of their very own pencil. If you want to learn more about the amazing work that Pencils of Promise is doing, head over to their website pencilsofpromise.org. Be sure to have your bible handy. If you don’t have access to one, check out the Bible Gateway app available on your Apple or Android device. Turn to the Discussion Guide and let’s get started!
Discussion Guide
We all have different strengths and weaknesses. When you two first met each other we’d venture to say that most of those weaknesses were endearing, right? As time goes on, one of the most important lessons that we need to learn in order to grow in our relationship is how to love each other through every circumstance (even when those little things aren’t so endearing). As we look a bit further into Paul’s writing about love in 1 Corinthians, it’s important to note that while in the English language most of these words are adjectives, in the original Greek translation they are all verbs. Love is action, not talk. Paul had to explain this to the Corinthian church when he saw how harmful seemingly good deeds could be without love. It is easy to admit that we love each other but I encourage you to let this verse be the litmus test for that love. Paul shares 15 characteristics of what love looks like in action.
Love is Patient...
Love is patient‌if you’re in the majority; we’re
already off to a rough start. Patience is a deliberate and willful attitude- it is waiting without complaint. This may take a generous amount of self-control and humility at times. Take a second to remind each other of one or two times that really stick out for you when your partner has shown you patience that truly made you feel loved. Can you recall a time when continued patience in a particular area led to positive change in your relationship?
Love is Kind...
Love is kind...Do you seek to meet the needs
of your partner without thought of repayment? Are you gentle and forgiving when wronged? Kindness may be a part of selfless love that can be put into practice for you. What prompts you to be kind in your day to day lives? (to see him smile? When she does something nice first?...)
…It does not envy, it does not boast...
Paul continues on “…It
does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” To be envious, boastful and proud is a viscous cycle.
We want what others have, we want others to want what we have, we are unsatisfied and the cycle continues. Do you struggle with this cycle at times? To free yourself from this cycle in your relationship will free you up to act in love. You will not be so inclined to dishonor, become self-seeking, easily anger or keep record of wrong. Share with each other one or two seeds that the enemy has planted in your heart to entice you into this cycle. (money , career, family…)
‌ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth...
“… Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” We rejoice in truth when we see our loved ones act in accordance with God’s truth. In the same way, we grieve when they fall into sin. Just as God grieves over our sin and rejoices in our repentance. What does it look like to love someone in their sin? Does it mean to turn a blind eye? Can you recall a time when you had to challenge each other in love about a harmful decision that was being made? This can be hard to confront in each other but to protect, trust, hope and persevere is to look those sinful struggles dead in the face and conquer them with tenderness and love together.
Time to Reflect
Take a few minutes to bring what is on your heart to the Lord. In what areas are you struggling to show love? What idols can you give to the Lord that are keeping you in the viscous cycle of envy and pride? Are you having a hard time confronting sin? You may choose to pray silently or aloud with each other. You will find a prayer card included if you aren’t quite sure where to start. We want to encourage you to keep your journals close throughout the month. You may want to write out your prayers or thoughts, or journal any scriptures that you find helpful. If you have not already, we challenge you to write down the answers to your discussion questions so that you can lift each other up in prayer and hold each other accountable throughout the month. Record the growth that you see in yourself and in your partner as you choose to act in love. Tune in to the Faith Night In Facebook page to follow along with us as we share a weekly challenge and pray with you! We are on this journey right along with you.
Love is...
Materials 2 Glue Pens | 2 Water Color Paper | Water Color Pencils | Cloths | Cups (for dipping cloths) |
Step 1: Write each other a little love note
with your glue pens using a generous amount of glue. (Tell him what you appreciate most about how he loves you. Or tell her about a time when you felt that kind of love that Paul teaches about from her)
Step 2:
Let your secret notes completely dry before step 3. You can go ahead and fill your cups with water, and ready your cloths and pencils.
Step 3: Shade over your whole paper (right
over the dry glue) with your water color pencils. Get creative with your color choices!
Step 4: Give your partner their note, lightly
dampen your cloth, rub it over your paper in small sections and watch as your watercolors come to life. The water will reveal your loving words and blend your watercolors.
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