Small Group Resources

October 12 - 18

Sermon Series: Core Longings

Week 4: Love

Ice Breaker, If Needed

How do you feel about your birthday? Do you love to celebrate, keep it lowkey, or would
you rather forget it? Why?

Discussion Questions

1. What is love? Recount your experiences learning about what love is and isn’t.
Build a case for why love is the most poorly understood and mis-used of the core
longings. Why do you think love is a central focus in our lives?

2. Me-centered love is illustrated in Samson’s early life.
• Read Judges 14:1-3
• Where do you see signs of Samson’s love being “me-centered”?
• What does this type of “love” focus on? What does it require from the
person who is “loved”?
• Discuss the fruits of a love centered on “me”.

3. Them-centered love is seen in Samson’s relationship with Delilah.
• Read Judges 16:4-10 and Judges 16:15-17
• What was the sacrifice Samson made?
• Why was this particular sacrifice an affront to who Samson should have
loved above all else?
• Read Luke 14:26
• How does loving Jesus above all create a you who loves other people well?
• What is the danger of a “them-centered” love? How does our culture
romanticize and elevate this kind of love? When does this kind of love
become problematic?

4. Him-centered love is true love, seen in Samson’s transformation after he loses everything.
• Read Judges 16:22-30
• What returned as Samson’s hair grew back? What was Samson’s state
when he began to call on the Lord?
• How would Samson’s story have been different if he persisted in loving
God above all? What disasters could have been avoided?
• Pray for the Lord to show you where your love is directed or centered
apart from God. What if loving God with all your heart shifted your ability
to love others in the way He intended? What would your world look like?

5. Read Ephesians 3:17-19. How do you begin to grasp the love of Jesus? Where
in these verses does it say, “unless you are problematic” or “if only you don’t
make a mistake”? Who does He love? How can He love in this way? Sit in that
love for a few moments and believe it is for you.