LEADER’S GUIDE

– The Power Up Series – 
HOLY SPIRIT  .  BREATHE  .  LOVE BY FAITH  .  TELLING OTHERS

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Student Notes

The BIG IDEA

The Holy Spirit gives us power to relate to people with the love of Christ.

The PROBLEM
We don’t love others because we try to love them in our own power.

Our RESPONSE
Draw on the Spirit’s power to love others by faith.

I WANT MY STUDENTS TO:

• KNOW: How to love others in the power of the Holy Spirit.
• EXPERIENCE: God’s supernatural love for others.
• DO: Learn to love people by faith.

The idea box is a place where you can find some creative ideas for leading this study. You might find videos, activities, or great illustrations that really bring the main point home. The ideas come from small group leaders like you, so if you have an idea that isn’t in there, click below to share it with the community!

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*WHAT DO YOU THINK?

It’s felt like a war zone in Pete’s family for the past several months. The whole family has been on edge because his parents just got divorced. There’s been enough yelling and ugliness to last a lifetime. Now Pete is left with constant anger and hurt toward both his parents for the part they played in breaking up their family. If Pete came to you for advice on how to love his parents, what would you tell him?

*WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT THIS?

*1. Read John 13:1–5. What is Jesus doing as this story begins?
Jesus and his followers are having supper together when Jesus begins to wash their feet. When it says in verse 1 that “Jesus knew his hour had come,” it means he knows he’s about to die on the cross for our sins.

2. In the first century, people wore sandals on dusty, dirty roads. The lowliest servants were in charge of washing people’s feet when they entered a house. Of all the ways to display love, why do you think Jesus chose to wash his followers’ feet?
Allow the group to discuss. Lowering yourself physically and figuratively to wash dirty, stinky feet takes great humility, which is a key part of love. It’s the same kind of love Philippians 2:5-11 describes of Christ when he laid aside his privileges and came to earth to live and die for us.

*3. Judas is the disciple who betrayed Jesus and turned him over to his enemies to be killed. Judas was there, and Jesus even washed his feet. What does it say about Jesus’ love that he even washed Judas’ feet (see verse 2)?
It shows how far Jesus will go to show his love to people. Jesus loved people he had every reason to hate.

*4. How would it feel to you to wash the feet of someone who had hurt you deeply?
Allow the group to discuss.

5. How does Jesus washing his followers’ feet point to the ultimate love he showed when he died on the cross and washed away our sin?
Jesus washing his followers’ feet is a picture of the humble, sacrificial love he showed when he washed away the sins of people like us who have betrayed him and done him wrong.

*6. Read John 13:34–35. How does Jesus’ command summarize this story and the love he showed when he died for us?
Jesus calls his followers to love each other with the same love he has for us.

*7. Love like this is unusual. Where do we find the strength to love like Jesus did? (see Romans 5:5)
Jesus calls us to love others as he loves us. The love of God poured out in our hearts through his Spirit is the power source for loving people with Jesus’ love.

*HOW DO WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES?

8. The picture at the top of the page is of two guys on rival soccer teams and they don’t like each other at all. What advice would you give them from this lesson?
If Jesus could love His enemies, we can love ours. God’s Holy Spirit lives in us and helps us to love even the people we don’t want to love.  

9. Tell about a time in your life when this undeserved, overflowing love of God became real to you.
Allow the group to discuss.

*10. Think about someone in your life who’s hard to love. What difference would it make for you to let Jesus love this person through you in the Spirit’s power instead of trying to love this person in your own power?

Allow the group to discuss. Take a few minutes to silently pray for the hard to love people in your life. If you have time, talk through the practical suggestions below.  

*Practical Suggestions to love those who are hard to love:

• Pray for them. (Matt 5:44)
• Pray that God would help you want to love them. (Mat 21:22)
• Recognize that God loves them and died for them.
• Recognize that you are sinful too.
• Act lovingly toward them. (John 13:34)
• Read this short article and tell someone about it: https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/transferable-concepts/love-by-faith.html

Our review cards are an excellent way to review your past lessons with your students before each study. Not every lesson has one yet but if we have them, you can find them on the PRINT page. Check them out and use them each week to help your students grab hold of the truths in these studies.

What ideas do you have that could improve this study? Are there creative things you do to bring this topic home to your students? Please share with the community clicking the FEEDBACK button or leaving a comment below.