August 30, 2026
Assigned Scripture
Luke 10:25-28
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[a]
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
1 John 4:7-11, 17
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.
Group Response
According to Jesus, “love” is the measure of our spiritual growth. But how is the love of a Christian different from other loves? Here are 4 levels of love, from the lowest to the highest, from the most carnal to the most complete. And here’s what’s involved in moving from one level to the next. How “perfect” is your love for God and others?
Discussion Questions
1. In one sentence, “What is a Christian?” How has the answer to that evolved over time your life?
2. Considering the 6 levels of love, in which level do you spend much of your life? How do you know?
3. Describe the love that is one level higher than the one you’re (most of the time). What would you have to do to move toward a that higher level?
4. Who is your “leper?” What kind of person is the hardest for you to love? What must God do in your life – what must you do in response – for you to learn how to love the hardest and the least?