Vessels: Relationships
Overview
BIBLE READING
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Ephesians 5:25-30 NIV
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.
QUESTIONS
What are some of your “icks” when it comes to dating? (these can be as serious or as funny as you’d like)
What are some of the adjectives you would use to describe love?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This passage is often used when giving dating advice, or for wedding speeches as a checklist for what love looks like.
Do any of the traits on this list surprise you or seem out of place?
Looking at these traits, is there any advice that is contrary to what the world teaches?
Who has a relationship that you look up to? What about their relationship would you want to copy?
Eph 5:25-30 is often used as a “job description” of males and females in relationships, but more than anything it gives us an example of the most loving, committed relationship: God and His Church.
According to this passage, how does God treat His bride (the church)?
What are some other ways God has loved His people throughout history?
If spouses are called to leave each other in the same way, how would this translate to human actions?
For example, what would it look like to wash our significant others through the word? Present them as holy and blameless?
When it comes to dating, how do you detect these traits in someone you’re dating?
Do you believe that our society does a good job of treating each other according to Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians 13?
Call to Action
Overall, scripture tends to teach that love is all about giving. Jesus gave it all for us, and we are called to give love and support to others - strangers and spouses alike. Love is more of an action that we give than something that we receive. What is one way that you can give love better to the people around you?
