John 15:9-23 (New International Version)
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well.
I. Agape: the self-sustaining love (vv. 9-12)
• Agape is the only
• Love is a
• God’s agape love is the only way to override our
• Agape love for God is when we prioritize his
II. Friendship in Eros (vv. 13-15)
• Eros + agape will turn sexual attraction into life-long
• Eros + agape assumes
• Agape + Eros = the man initiates
• Agape + eros + philia = regularly
III. The nature of Philia (vv. 16-19)
• Friendship love is focused on the
• Philia + agape makes
• Eros will have naked
• Friendship costs the price of sharing time, space, and stuff to know
IV. Friendship in Storge (vv. 20-23)
• Family love is instinctual and not based on
• Storge – agape =
• Family worship can result in parents trying to exercise authority over
• God has orchestrated that some of your friends are for
TAKE OFF
Who was your first childhood friend? Are you still friends with him or her?
TEXT
John 15:9-21 & Ephesians 5:25-30
1. What thoughts or feelings did you have during this week’s sermon?
2. How can Christians remain in Jesus’ love (vv. 10, 12,17)? How did Jesus demonstrate the ultimate example of love (v. 13)? How can we infuse our relationships with agape love that reflects the love of Jesus?
3. Jesus chose to be in relationship with us (v. 16). Distinguish between the ability to choose in philia versus storge love. What does it mean for Jesus to call his disciples friends (vv. 14-15)? Discuss how you can grow and deepen your friendships.
4. Read Ephesians 5:25-30. According to the text, what does it look like for husbands to love their wives? If you are married, how can you build your love on a godly friendship that is infused with agape love? How can we strengthen love in our friendships, especially within the church?
TAKE AWAY
Pick one friendship that you need to infuse with more agape love. Pray for the relationship and how you can be more selfless. Ask for Holy Spirit’s help to develop and implement an action plan.