SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018 – PALM SUNDAY
Liturgical Colour: RED
8.00 A.M: Pre-Service Bible Study 12
Conductor: The Revd Charles Ezeh
SUB-THEME/2: How to live a God-pleasing life.
TOPIC: Loving your enemies.
TEXTS: Matt. 5: 43 – 48; Luke 23: 34; Acts 7: 57 – 60.
AIMS:
- To understand the stipulated biblical attitude toward an enemy;
- To learn from the fact that we too were once enemies of God;
- To appreciate why we should love our enemies.
INTRODUCTION:
An enemy is one who deliberately opposes or mistreats another basically out of hatred and may go any length to harm if able or opportuned. Incidentally, there is undue attention paid to enemies today probably out of fear. The desire in many of such cases is to wish them evil, or “suffer not a witch to live” (Exod. 22: 18). The NT seems different from the OT on this matter perhaps because of Jesus’ declaration in Matt. 5: 43 – 44. We too were once enemies of God (Col.1: 21 – 22); how did He treat us then? The enemies to be overcome today are primarily spiritual and not physical in nature, Eph. 6: 12.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
-
- (a) Who is an enemy? Exo. 15: 9 ; Matt. 13: 25; Rom. 8: 7; Jam. 4: 4.
- (b) Who is the real enemy of any Christian? 1 Cor. 15: 26; Eph. 6: 12; James 4: 4; 1 Pet.5: 8
- (c) Should a Christian be in enmity with any person? Matt.5:43-48
- Should Christians pray for enemies to die? Matt.5:44; I Peter 3:9.
- Why are Christians to love their enemies? Matt. 5: 45 – 48; Luke 6: 32 – 36; Rom. 12: 17 – 21
- In a world full of evil, oppression, hatred and intimidation, what should be Christians’ attitude to enemies and their activities? Psa.37:1 – 9; Isa. 50: 7-9; Rom.8:31
CONCLUSION:
A genuine relationship with Christ will be evident in our personal relationships with others including our enemies. We are to obtain grace from God to love them, pray for them, bless them, learn to live peaceably with all and repay evil with good; and wait patiently on God and trust Him.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
By loving your enemies, God will put them under your feet.
MEMORY VERSE: Matthew. 5: 44.
But I say to you, love