Your Best Us, Part 3: “Practice Your Promise”
June 18, 2023

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Message Review

The best way to protect your marriage is to practice the promises you made when you said “I do”. Practicing “agape” love with your spouse will help you become “Your Best Us”.

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Questions  

  • This Week’s Sermon was about practicing your promise of agape love with your spouse. What were your initial thoughts or takeaways from the sermon and why?

Focus Passage Study
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Read this passage 2-3 times then talk through the following points:

  • Context: This letter was written by the apostle Paul to the Corinthian church during the spring of A.D. 53, 54, or 55. Paul received an oral report and a letter from the church, which revealed that they were facing challenges such as division, immorality, idolatry, and theological confusion. The purpose of Paul writing this letter was to encourage the church to stay faithful to the gospel and become a true dwelling place for God's Spirit, so that they may be "guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    • Discuss the context of this passage (i.e. when it was written, who wrote it, who it was written to, what was going on before and/or after this specific passage, etc.)

  • Observation: What do you notice in this passage?  What words or phrases stick out to you? And why?

  • Interpretation: What was the author's original intent in this passage?  What main point(s) was the author trying to communicate? Why is it important?

  • Application: What is one key takeaway or insight you had from this passage? How can or should you apply it to your life?

  • Questions: What questions/tensions do you have from this passage that you would like to discuss?

Discussion Questions:

  • Pastor Jimmy told the story of how he met Amanda; how did you meet your spouse?

  • What is one thing that you remember from your wedding day, good or bad?

  • Both the culture of performance and the culture of me affect marriages. Why do you think these have such a detrimental effect on marriages?

  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 lists what love is and what it does. Which one of these is the hardest for you to practice at times?

  • 1 Corinthians 13:7 says what love does. Which one of these is most encouraging to you and why?

  • Matthew 18: 21-22  shares a record of when Peter asks Jesus about forgiveness. Why do you think Jesus responded as he did to Peter? What should forgiveness look like in your relationship?

Break off into couples for these questions:

  • What is one way that Agape Love is succeeding in your marriage?

  • What is one area of Agape Love that you need to work on in your marriage?

  • What is one next step you can take this week in your marriage to practice agape love with your spouse?

To watch or listen to Sunday’s sermon, visit our Sermons page.