The Backdrop
It makes sense for the two greatest commandments from God to deal with love (love God, love others), because love is God’s main thing. Just who are God’s people to love? You might say everybody, and that’s correct; but God was actually more specific than that.
The What
Do This: Read the passages on the facing page and write in the right column below the types of people believers are told to care for or love.
Click here for downloadable PDF, which you can use with your group for this activity.
Going Inward
These are the primary passages in the New Testament where groups of people are singled out for believers to care for and love. Reflect on each of the passages for a minute. Circle anything in the right column that might represent situations around you right now.
The So What
Look again at the passages and notice the specific action that’s required in caring for and loving people. Write one or two specific things you could do this week to follow through on the instructions in these passages.
The Word
Matthew 25:37-40
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”‘”
Luke 6:35“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
John 15:12
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
James 1:27“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
1 John 3:17-18
“If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
