Sermon Discussion Questions | Garden Ridge Church

Love God; Love People; Follow Jesus--Lesson 4--The Greatest Command

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you suppose the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) speaks of the LORD our God as well

as the LORD your God? What significance does this hold for your walk with God?

2. Do you agree that loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is impossible

without Jesus? What does this teach you about the difference in Law and grace?

3. Is Jesus more of your teacher or your savior? Why is it dangerous to settle for Jesus being

a teacher or example only?

4. Do you have any fear of being close to the Kingdom of God, but not being in it? Why is

that an unnecessary fear if you recognize Jesus as a teacher, an example, and a savior?

5. Do you know the love language of God? How does the Greatest Command reveal His love

language? Of the areas of obedience, loving others, and being on fire in commitment, in

which of these do you feel strongest, and in which do you hope to grow?

Discussion Questions:

1. What kinds of things tempt you to go “but first” in your walk of faith with the LORD? What

kinds of seasons or situations are you/have you waited through before becoming more

committed to Him and His ways?

2. Why is it tempting to look backward? What makes this a hindrance to faith? How did

looking backward influence the Israelite’s experience in the wilderness?

3. Why do you think James & John wanted to call down fire upon the Samaritans? What kinds

of things make you feel like calling God’s judgment down upon people? What are some

ways to overcome these feelings?

4. Why did Elisha burn his farming equipment and slaughter his oxen? What kinds of things

from your past need to be destroyed so you can move forward?

5. How is Jesus’ commitment to us even more important than our commitment to Him? How

did His commitment to us provide life and a second chance?

Discussion Questions:

1. How often do you find yourself having eyes that look rather than eyes that see? What

difference does this make for your daily living?

2. How many persons do you think gather for worship with conditions or situations hindering

their ability to grow in the LORD? What can you do to notice the hindrances persons face?

3. What kind of situations move you to treat persons as “its” rather than persons? What

would help you see persons more clearly?

4. How does it help you when others see potential in you, rather than gauging things

according to your past? How can you do this for others?

5. What does it mean to you that love is emphasized twice, and things are done for the glory

of God when Jesus waits for Lazarus to die? How does this apply to the unpleasant

situations in your life and what God might be doing with it?