A Walk Thru Love (Walk Thru the Bible Discussion Guides): Loving God, Loving Others

By Baker Publishing Group

Christians all over the world trust Walk Thru the Bible to help them deepen their spiritual lives through a greater understanding of God's Word. The Walk Thru the Bible small group Bible study series uncovers the richness of the Scriptures. Each guide explores a book of the Bible, a prominent Bible character, or an important biblical theme, offering rich insights and practical life application.

These discussion guides are perfect for Bible study groups, Sunday schools, small groups, and individuals who want a deeper understanding of the Bible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781441235473

Book preview

© 2010 by Walk Thru the Bible

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-3547-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture marked NKJV is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.

Contents

Introduction

Session 1 The Greatest of These

Session 2 The Source of Love

Session 3 Loving God

Session 4 Love for Others

Session 5 Love In Christ

Session 6 Love Outside the Family

Conclusion

Leader’s Notes

Notes

Introduction

Sam was a model of loyalty and love. He never abandoned Frodo, even when he had every reason to do so. He chose to follow Frodo on his perilous mission to destroy the ring of power, even though hobbits always preferred the quiet life in the Shire. Along the way, Sam dove into raging waters at the risk of his own life. He singlehandedly slew the giant spiderlike Shelob that nearly killed Frodo, and then he rescued his friend from an Orc-infested tower. He thwarted an attack against Frodo by the relentlessly ring-seeking Gollum, carried Frodo up Mount Doom on his back in order to help him complete his mission, exhorted Frodo to do the right thing by dropping the ring into the fire, risked his life to pull Frodo up from the ledge of a fiery chasm, and implicitly forgave him for doing the wrong thing even as he thought both of them were dying in the fires of the mountain. He demonstrated a generous heart, a willing attitude, and a selfless spirit. He endured hardship and rejection and sacrificed himself repeatedly to prove his loyalty and assist his friend on a vital task. He did exactly what love is supposed to motivate a person to do.

At one point near the end of The Return of the King, the final installment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sam and Frodo lay exhausted on the slope of Mount Doom. They had come so far in their quest to destroy the evil ring, but the last few steps of the journey seemed to be the most difficult. Frodo could go no farther. But Sam, in his determination to help, wouldn’t give up. I can’t carry it for you, he told Frodo, who alone could complete the task. But I can carry you.

That scene—in fact, that entire relationship—is a picture of what it means to love someone selflessly. Sam was willing to go to enormous lengths to do what was right for someone else. He was motivated by his affection and respect