Make Love Your Aim Lesson Two

MAKE LOVE YOUR AIM SEMINAR
Written by Denise A. Runge-Let Love Lead Kenya Trust © 2020
LESSON TWO—WHAT DID JESUS TEACH ABOUT LOVE? How did Jesus
demonstrate love?
In the gospel of John, the word love is used 39 times-more than all the other gospels
combined. From John chapter 13 to 17, the word love is used 20 times as Jesus teaches
His disciples the essentials of following Him. In John, chapter 13, Jesus teaches us what
an active love is to look like.
Read John 13:1-5
Discussion questions:
1.Visualise: When you meditate on this passage, what comes into your mind?
2. Explain: Rephrase what the passage is saying. (In your own words)
3. Application: Does this happen in our lives? Why or why not?
4. Application: If it does not happen, what can we do to make it happen?
Jesus used this opportunity to demonstrate what biblical love actively looks like-
servanthood. For love, He took off His clothing and, in humble service, washed His
disciples feet. For love, Jesus laid down His life and for love, rose from the dead to make a
way for us to be united with God the Father in heaven.
The Bible has a great deal to say about servanthood because the central theme of the
Bible is the Servant of all—Jesus Christ. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
So, based on what Jesus did in this passage, what are we to do?
1. WASH FEET
Jesus served His disciples on their last night together by washing their feet. What does
Jesus have in mind by setting the example of foot washing? Notice he does not say to do
“what” he did but “as” he did. The foot washing is symbolic of the humility of Jesus. He is
demonstrating a pattern for His disciples in this act. Instead of desiring to conquer worldly
authorities, He chose to demonstrate a willingness to serve. We are to pass on the same
teaching that He, Jesus, has done by conveying as He has the sel ess love of God. In
addition, by washing Judas Iscariot’s feet, He also taught us that we are to serve our
enemies in the same manner as our friends.
2. SERVANT LEADERSHIP
Thomas a Kempis said, "He who would learn to serve must rst learn to think little of
himself."
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Read John 13:12-17
What are the attributes of a servant leader?

1. A servant is humble. Philippians 2:3-4
“Do nothing out of sel sh ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others
above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests
of the others.”
“The 12 pairs of feet Jesus washed belonged to hairy men who walked rough roads
shared with all manner of livestock, in a time before regular road cleaning or daily
showers. Cleaning them would be the job of a servant, and a lowly one at that. The
disciples resisted the idea that their master and teacher should stoop to such a
thankless task, but Jesus persisted.” Brad Archer, Seven Marks of a Godly Servant
2. A servant prepares. 1 Tim 4:7b

“Train yourself to be godly.”
We do not wake up the day after becoming a Believer and have all the answers and
can readily share our faith with those around us. It takes months and years of
diligent study and walking in the Truth that prepares us to be a servant of Jesus.
3. A servant perseveres. James 1:3-4

“. . . the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance nish its
work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
It is a narrow path and there are many temptations to give up and to choose a
different life. There are pressures from family and friends who do not understand
and want us to be like we were before we became believers. That is why it is
important to surround yourself with like-minded people who help you stay on the
narrow path-who hold you accountable. In addition, we are given the Holy Spirit to
work in us and through us so that we can continue.
4. A servant serves where needed 1 Cor 9:22

“I have become all things to all people . . . “
Jesus did what He needed to do to advance the Gospel-walking hundreds of

kilometres, sleeping on the ground, serving alongside sinful disciples and
coworkers, dealing with the hate of the religious elite. Paul travelled far and wide to
share about the love of Jesus. We should have no limits on our willingness to serve;
whether that means staying where you are and being salt and light at work and in
your home, or serving overseas.
5. A servant serves (or not) as God directs– 1 Peter 5:6

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“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in
due time.”
King David wanted to build the Temple but God did not allow him to do it. (1 Chron
28). It was for Solomon, David’s son, to build it. David accepted this and made as
much ready for Solomon as he could. Sometimes we may be redirected in our path
to serve. We trust and obey God knowing that He works all things for His good.
(Romans 8:28)
True leadership is servanthood, and the greatest leader of all time is Jesus Christ.
Servanthood is an attitude exempli ed by Christ “who, though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form
of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7). The ve words in the New Testament translated “ministry”
generally refer to servanthood or service given in love. Serving others is the very essence
of ministry. All believers are called to ministry (Matthew 28:18-20), and, therefore, we are
all called to be servants for the glory of God. Living is giving; all else is sel shness and
boredom.
3. LOVE
Jesus is showing his disciples the full extent of His love. Love is the laying down of one’s
life and therefore to love completely means to love right up to the end. At the end, in the
cruci xion, we will see the ultimate revelation of that love, its full extent. When Jesus
removed his outer garments and put on the servant’s towel, He was performing the work of
a Gentile slave. In this act, He gave us the example of how to love our neighbours. Jesus
taught us that love is an act of service. Laying down our expectations of respect and
adulation. Laying down our demands for more power, more money, more earthly glory.
Love is laying down our lives at the foot of the cross. Picking up our cross daily and
following Jesus. When we have that servant’s heart, the Lord promised, we will be greatly
blessed (John 13:17).
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION LESSON TWO

1. What are some practical ways to wash the feet of those around us?
2. As a group, choose ONE of the below attributes of a servant and write your own
de nition of a servant leader.
1. A servant is humble. Philippians 2:3-4
2. A servant prepares. 1 Tim 4:7b
3. A servant perseveres. James 1:3-4
4. A servant serves where needed 1 Cor 9:22
5. A servant serves (or not) as God directs– 1 Peter 5:6
3. Point to ponder: What changes will you make in your life, school, job and ministry after
this study?
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MAKE LOVE YOUR AIM SEMINAR

Written by Denise A. Runge-Let Love Lead Kenya Trust © 2020

Read John 13:1-5

What are the attributes of a servant leader?

2. A servant prepares. 1 Tim 4:7b

3. A servant perseveres. James 1:3-4

4. A servant serves where needed 1 Cor 9:22

Jesus did what He needed to do to advance the Gospel-walking hundreds of

5. A servant serves (or not) as God directs– 1 Peter 5:6

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION LESSON TWO

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