Love is a Lifestyle

One of the most inspiring parts of being a Christian is the impact you make on the lives around you. Religion can become a set of rules or guidelines for being a good person, but the Bible describes Christians as people who changed lives by doing good for others.

Love is a Lifestyle

There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.

Acts 9:36

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Acts 10:38 

Jesus and his disciples worked to do good wherever they went. It was a lifestyle rather than something that was conditional. People were moved by the way that Jesus cared for others everywhere he went.

• What motivated them to live this way?
• What drove them to live in a way where they were looking out for others?

Love Stands Out

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

John 13:34-3

Our love is supposed to stand out to others. We prove to the world that we are Christians by the way we love others, rather than by the rules we follow or trying to look like a good person. Jesus and the disciples were motivated to do good for others because they saw it as a way to have an impact on the people around them.

• What is stealing your love for others? (Matthew 24:12)
• Who can you influence through love?
• How does your love stand out at home, community, and at school?

Impact at Home

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” ³² And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. ³³ Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.³⁴ He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

Acts 16:31-34

The changes that the jailer made impacted his family. The jailer’s decision to believe led to changes in his entire household.

• What is one thing that if you were to change would impact your entire family?

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Luke 15:20

Another way to have impact at home is the way that you impact relationships at home. The father was filled was willing to forgive his son even after he had damaged the relationship.

• What relationships in your family or home do you need to mend?

Impact in Community

Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. ⁸ He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

Acts 3:7-10

Peter healed the man at the gate of the temple for everyone to see. The whole community was astounded and praised God for what he did. When we are doing good within our community it shows what God is capable of doing.

• What is something thatyou can do to impact your community?

Impact at School

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:36

At school it is easy to want to go along with the crowd. Jesus was someone who did not try to fit into the crowd; he had compassion on people around him. He saw past the image on the outside to see what was going on inside.

• How can you go into the school year focused on doing good for others?