Read 1 John 2:15-17, Matthew 22:37-39
- Why might someone think these verses contradict each other?
- Is loving your neighbor loving something in the world? Why or why not?
- What 3 things specifically does John point out as being everything in the world?
- What is lust of the flesh?
- What is lust of the eyes?
- What is the pride of life?
- How might someone who loves the world feel reading 1 John 2:17? How might a lover of God feel?
- Do believers/lovers of God still struggle with things of this world? Why?
- What does that mean for the body of Christ and the problems we see in it?
Read Acts 6:1-7, John 13:34-35
- Is this division the first internal conflict we see in the church?
- How is this different than say the initial conflict of persecution of the church?
- Is there a type of internal conflict that does not include division?
- Is division breaking the command from Jesus?
- Jesus gave us an outcome of following his command, what then is the outcome of division?
- Which do you think is a greater threat to the church, internal or external conflict? Why?
- What was the issue causing the division?
- Of the 3 things John gives that are “of this world,” which are involved in the problem we see here?
- Does every church issue start with one of, or a combination of those 3 things?
- What can we learn from the way they handled the issue?
Read 1 John 3:11-24
- Is there a middle ground between love and hate? Why or why not?
- What are some examples given here for showing love?
- How does showing love help resolve division?
- Is the spirit of division ever from God?
- Is it possible to identify someone seeking division? What insight might that give us?
- If we seek resolution, does that always lead to truth? Why or why not?
- If we seek truth, does that always lead to truth? Why or why not?
- How can we pray for you?
Need a prayer cue? Try Psalms 133 & 134