INTRODUCTION

In this message series, Pastor Cory talks about Jesus - who He is, how He taught and what He said. Each week, he will be unpacking some of the things that Jesus said that have been misquoted and misunderstood. This week he is going to talk about what Jesus meant when he said “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Is there someone that your heart needs you to pray for?
2. Who is your enemy? Who have you canceled?
3. Who is the last person you want to do good to?

MOVING FORWARD

This isn’t just about other people, this is always for us first. The darkness in us will not be driven out of us through condemnation but through the love that Jesus poured out on the cross for you and me. It is His love that drives out the darkness in us. It is His love through us that will drive out the darkness in others. In a world looking to cancel each other out, Jesus tells us to go out of our way to love, bless and pray for those very people we would cancel.

Martin Luther King said, “Darkness can’t drive out darkness, only light light can drive out darkness. Hate can’t drive out hate, only love can.”

CHANGING YOUR MIND

Luke 6:35-36
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. —https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LUK.6.35-36.NIV