Study Material

Chapter 2 - Demonstrating Christ

Chapter Two

LOVE IN ACTION

"To love the whole world
For me is no chore;
My only real problem's
My neighbor next door "

How is love described? (Rom. 13:10)

What are the characteristics of genuine love? (I Cor. 13:4-7)*

"Faults are thick when love is thin."

What things are useless without love? (I Cor. 13:1-3)

*Love is translated "charity" in many New Testaments.

The two great chapters on love are I Corinthians 13 and I John 4.

What is the surest evidence that we are followers of Christ? (John 13:34, 35) (Select correct answer.)
Our ability to speak forcefully for Christ.
Our zeal and self-sacrificing church work.
Our love toward other Christians.
Our diligence and fruit in witnessing.

What are some commands about love?
1. I John 4:7, 21
1. Rom. 12:9
1. I Cor. 16:14

"People need love, especially when they don't deserve it."

How does this love become ours?
1. I John 4:10, 19
1. Rom. 5:5

Whom should Christians love?
1. Mark 12:30
1. I Thess. 3:12
1. Luke 6:27, 28
1. Eph. 5:25, 28
1. Titus 2:3, 4

How should love be demonstrated?
1. I John 3:18
1. Eph. 4:2, 3
1. I Peter 4:8, 9

"Leading health authorities have determined that the deeper cause of much illness is in the emotional reactions to life. Prolonged bitter hatred can damage the brain, and can cause heart disorders, high blood pressure and acute indigestion—all severe enough to kill a person!

"To hate is to willfully sabotage the fine mechanism of the human body. How we all need a God-sent dose of this thing called LOVE."
—Robert D. Foster

DOING GOOD WORKS

For whose sake should we do good works? (Heb. 6:10)

In Titus 3:8
1. Who is commanded to do good works?
1. Why should they do them?

Why else should we do them?
1. Matt. 5:16
1. Eph. 2:10
1. Titus 2:14
1. Rev. 14:13
1. Eph. 6:8

How does Scripture describe the lives of:
1. Jesus (Acts 10:38)
1. Dorcas (Acts 9:36)
1. Phoebe (Rom. 16:1,2)

What are some good works God wants?
1. I Cor. 10:24
1. I Tim. 6:18

"It is far better to do well than to say well."

Romans 12:6-21 lists over 30 good works and standards of Christian service and character. Which two or three of these do you most need in your life?

Other passages to consider are Matthew 25:35-40 and Christ's Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5,6,7.

How are we empowered to do good?
1. Phil. 2:13
1. John 15:4

How should we serve?
1. Col. 3:17
1. I Cor. 10:31
1. Heb. 10:24

"Surely it ought not to be true that we, who have power with God to obtain by prayer and faith all needful grace, wisdom, and skill, should be bad servants, bad tradesmen, bad masters."
—George Muller*

Write out Galatians 6:9, 10 in your own words.

What should we guard against?
1. I John 3:17, 18
1. James 2:15-17
1. Tit. 1:16

*A. T. Pierson, George Muller of Bristol, Fleming H. Revell Co.

THE PRACTICE OF HUMILITY

"Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is never to be irritated or sore or disappointed. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed and despised…"
—Andrew Murray

What was the supreme demonstration of humility? (Phil. 2:5-8)

What does God want in His people?
1. Micah 6:8
1. I Pet. 5:5
1. Rom. 12:3
1. Prov. 27:2

What does God promise?
1. James 4:10
1. Prov. 29:23
1. Psa. 25:9

In Luke 22:24-27, during Christ's last time with the disciples before His death
1. What were they arguing about?
1. How did Jesus demonstrate His humility?
1. How should Christ's followers conduct themselves? (verse 27)

In the account in Luke 14:7-11
1. What was the evidence of pride?
1. What is God's principle of exalting a person? (verse 11)

What warnings are given us about pride?
1. Prov. 11:2
1. Prov. 16:5
1. James 4:6

Write out Philippians 2:3, 4 in your own words.

"Humility does not consist simply in thinking cheaply of one's self, so much as in not thinking of self at all—and of Christ more and more."
—Keith L. Brooks

1. What is the best summary verse for love?
1. for good works?
1. for humility?
1. Which of these three subjects is the greatest need in your life? What can you do about it?

"This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience—
it looks for a way of being constructive.
It is not possessive:
It is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish
inflated ideas of its own importance.
Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish
advantage.
It is not touchy.
It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the
wickedness of other people.
On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when
truth prevails.
Love knows no limit to its endurance,
no end to its trust,
no fading of its hope:
It can outlast anything."
—I Corinthians 13:4-7*

*J.B. Phillips, The New Testament in Modern English, The Macmillan Co.