Crosscreek Community Church

What does it mean to love your enemy? [Discovering God: Part 4]

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Jesus’ radical example of loving our enemies, even those who betray us, shows us how to experience the transformative power of love over fear and hatred.

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Welcome to Crosscreek Community Church’s Podcast channel! Located in the Pacific Northwest, Crosscreek Community Church offers a welcoming online church community for those on a journey to discover their meaning in life, explore their doubts, ask questions, and discover more about God, Jesus, Christianity, the Bible, and more.

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If you’re new to the Crosscreek community check out our website for some helpful info… https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/

Main Ideas:

The voices around us have been desperately trying to convince us we have enemies all around us.
Loving our enemies seems like the stupidest, most unproductive thing in the world.
Jesus changed the world by insisting on loving his enemies.
Empathy opens the door to love.
Loving our enemies is a conscious choice to purposely do good for them.
Love pursues reconciliation over winning.
Jesus died to love his enemies.
We make excuses and don’t even try loving our enemies because we’re afraid.
When we are free of fear we are free to love our enemies.
When we love our enemies, we become a part of God’s mission of reconciliation.

Invitation:

Read Romans 12:14-21
Pray, “Let me see my enemy(ies) through your eyes.”
Find one way to purposely love an enemy this week.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In what ways do you think our culture encourages us to see others as enemies?
  2. What does empathy mean to you, and why might it be important in learning to love our enemies?
  3. Read Romans 12:14-21 What fears come up when you think about loving your enemies? Why do you think we often resist this teaching?
  4. What is one practical way you could love an “enemy” in your life this week?
  5. How can your group pray with you this week?

    6. __________

    📜 |TRANSCRIPT →

    https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/media/2024-11-10.pdf

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    Crosscreek Community ChurchBy Jon Silva