Lofty Love is to Love God and Others (Matthew 22:36-40)

Full quote below.

"Teacher, which is the greatest cpmmandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Mt 22:36-40).

Jesus' core teaching is that love for God and love for neighbor are the inseparable foundation of all Scripture (Mt 22:37-40).

Paradox (Matthew 10:37-42)

Full quote below.

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it" (Mt 10:39).

1. Priority / Allegiance / Exclusivity /Preeminence. Why does Jesus' command you to love Him more than your family (Mt 10:37; 22:37-38; Dt 6:5; Lk 14:26)?
   
• Does this contradict the command to "Honor your father and mother" (Exo 20:12)? Why or why not?

God is Light (1 John 1:1-2:11)

“God is light” (1 Jn 1:5). “...walk in the light...” (1 Jn 1:7). “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 Jn 2:6).

1. Why emphasize Jesus being “heard,” “seen,” “looked at,” and “touched” (1 Jn 1:1; Jn 1:14; Lk 24:39)?
• Is this your experience of Christ?
2. What is eternal life (1 Jn 1:2; Jn 17:3; 1 Tim 3:16, 1 Cor 1:9)?
• Why does sharing this message bring joy (1 Jn 1:3-4; Phil 2:2; 2 Jn 12)?
• Do you have joy from sharing Christ?
3. What does it mean that “God is light” (1 Jn 1:5; Ps 27:1; Jn 8:12; 1 Tim 6:16)?
• What does "light" do (Jn 3:19–21)?

Live Free Without Fear (Matthew 10:26-33)

Live Free, Leave Fear. 12th Sun in Ordinary Time.

"So do not be afraid of them..." (Mt 10:26). "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body..." (Mt 10:28). "So don't be afraid..." (Mt 10:31).

• What do you (people) fear?
• Being lonely? Disliked? Unpopular? Critized?
• Not loved? Honored? Acknowledged? Recognized? Given credit?
• Being insignificant? Ignored? Betrayed? Taken for granted?

What is a Christian?

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Therefore, the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20).

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor 5:17).

• Why has Gal 2:20 and 2 Cor 5:17 been regarded as among the best verses that describe what a Christian is?

An Extravagant Expression of Emotion (Luke 7:36-50)

"...her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little” (Lk 7:47).

"She has done a beautiful thing to me." "Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Mk 14:6, 9).

1. Why did Simon the Pharisee invite Jesus to dinner, yet fail to provide basic hospitality (Lk 7:36, 44, 45, 46; 11:39, 42-43; cf. Rom 12:10)?
   
• Why did he question Jesus' prophetic credentials (Lk 7:39; Isa 64:6)?
• How does the parable of the 2 debtors:
• Expose Simon's spiritual condition (Lk 7:40-43; 18:9, 11-12; Mt 7:3-4; Jer 17:9)?