Wired for Community 5 - Spiritual Love Languages!

This week's cell is the penultimate in the series of 6 on community. The aim of the series has been to help us reach beyond the obstacles for a tangible vision of cell groups as communities of purpose.

This week we have an opportunity to consider how we can maintain a lifestyle of love towards those in our cell group. Love that is expressed in measurable ways.

Possible icebreaker: describe one person who loves you and how you know that they love you...

Word:
Read together 1 Peter 4:7-11

1Pet. 4:7 ¶ The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
1Pet. 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1Pet. 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1Pet. 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
1Pet. 4:11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)

7-11Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes! (The Message)

Is there anything you don't understand from this passage? any questions?
From v9-11, list some of the ways that we can love each other deeply.
From this list, which of these 'love languages' have you used this week to demonstrate God's love to other cell group members?
Of the expressions of love listed, which would you characterize as 'physical' concerns and which as 'spiritual'?
Do you find it easier to talk about spiritual or physical things with other members of cell outside of church/cell mtg? [Discuss together whether you would like the balance shifted]
1 Peter 4:8 should perhaps be read from the Greek as 'keep on loving each other deeply'. In order to keep doing this how much is dependent upon our own effort and how much on God working in us? How are you challenged on this at the moment?

[pray for one another]

Robin Plummer, 13/11/2007