Read Romans 15
1. Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) to help his listeners see that the person they've judged may have a great deal to teach them. Has there been a time when you've experienced this dynamic and learned something from an unlikely source?
2. Jesus' closest followers were people from different, and even conflicting, walks of life. In what was does the Church today reflect such unity? Where do we have room to grow?
3. Richard shared that his "first lens" for looking at the world was to immediately assess people by evaluating how they were different from him. How does this unity principle of Romans 15 challenge that lens? What new lens does it offer?
4. Psalm 69 reveals that Christ is one who suffers because of love. Why does Paul allude to this Psalm in Romans 15? How does this picture of love challenge popular notions of love in our culture?
5. Richard quoted Dostoyevsky who writes: "The more I love humanity in general, the less I love people in particular."
a. Do you identify with this experience? Richard talked about meditation as being a helpful practice in maturing in his ability to love.
b. Are there practices that have helped you in your ability to grow in love for people who are difficult to love?
6. Love, necessary for unity, requires endurance. What have been the biggest barriers or challenges for you when it comes to loving with endurance?
7. Richard stated, "Hope begins by seeing the image of Christ in another." How does this view of people change how we engage with and love them?
8. When we allow Christ to exist through us, we take "love steps" towards family members, friends, co-workers and even our enemies. What is one step , in love, you might take towards someone in your life this week?