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Song of Songs 8:6-7 ESV
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.

Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Sermon Discussion Guide

Big Idea:

“The love that Jesus has for his Bride the Church is a love that can’t be bought, but it is a love that was costly. For it cost Jesus his life. And it’s a love that will cost you your life. For - in being loved by Christ - you are no longer your own - you now belong to him. You are united to him. You’re now awakened to his love for you and - in response - love him in return. Sacrificially and passionately. Knowing that his love is something you could never have purchased - his love is something you could never have earned - his love is something only freely given by the One who is even more than a great model of what it means to love others - but is love himself.”

How were you impacted by the message this week?

What did we learn about the Song of Songs and its intended purpose?

Why should we take our marriage covenant seriously?

Read Song of Songs 8:6-7. How does the faithful love of a husband point us to Jesus?

If we were created to love and to be loved, what does that look like?

Why are love songs so powerful? Share some of your favorites.

What is sacrificial love? Why do we struggle so much with the sacrificing part?

Read Ephesians 5:22-33. How can remembering Jesus’ sacrifice help us understand how much he loves us?

Why is Jesus so angry when he clears the temple? How does this show us both his view of sin and his love for us?

Each week we hear “God loves you and I love you, too.” How might you respond differently the next time you hear this?

NOTES

PERSONAL REFLECTION
How were you personally challenged this week?

In what ways can you read the Song of Songs differently?

Take time to evaluate oath-bound relationships. How are you doing?

How has your view of love changed in light of what you have learned this week?

What is your response to how Jesus demonstrated his love for you on the cross?

How will you personally apply what you learned from the sermon to your life?

How can your group hold you accountable this week? How can they encourage you?

DEEPER
Pray: Take time this week to pray for each Life Group member individually. At your next meeting, follow up with each other’s prayer requests.

Read: Song of Songs 8:6-7; Ephesians 5:22-33. Take time to reflect on these passages and write down your thoughts. Visit Gateway News to read and review the sermon manuscript.

Write: Take time to write down your thoughts and insights from the sermon this week. Keeping a journal is just one more tool that you can use to track what God is showing you in your walk with him.

Sing: Listen to the worship songs from Sunday throughout the week. Look up the lyrics to each song and spend some time reading them as well.

Memorize: As a Life Group, pick a few verses from the sermon and memorize them this week. (Song of Songs 8:6-7; Ephesians 5:22-33)

Love: How can your group show the love of Christ to our community this summer?

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