John Ortberg S Love Beyond Reason Group Study Guide

John Ortberg’s Love Beyond Reason Group Study Guide

Before your group study: Read the chapter(s) assigned to your group for the upcoming study. Make notes of the words, phrases, and stories that resonate with you. Write discussion questions that come to mind.

As a group: 1. Begin in prayer. Thank Him for the opportunity to gather as sisters in Christ. Ask His Spirit to shine light and understanding on your discussion. 2. Ask women to share the words, phrases, and stories that jumped from the chapter(s) they read. 3. Discuss the questions below or use the discussion questions women jotted during their personal study time. 4. Share thanksgiving and prayer needs. Close with group prayer.

Chapter 1: Love Beyond Reason 1. Did the illustration of the rag doll change your understanding of God’s love for you? If so, how? 2. Describe God’s love for you and the girls in your club. 3. How is forgiveness a form of expressing love? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?

Chapter 2: Love Pays Attention 1. What does it mean that God pays attention to us? 2. What does it look like for us to pay attention to God, to one another, and the girls in our club? 3. Read Psalm 131. Have you learned to still your heart before God? If so, how? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?

Chapter 3: God Touches the Untouchable 1. Are you becoming more or less approachable? Why does that question matter so much? 2. Who does our society define as untouchable? What can we learn from Jesus about touching the untouchable? 3. How can your club become more approachable to girls and families without a church home? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?

Chapter 4: The Lord of the Second Chance 1. What is the hardest part about asking for and receiving forgiveness? 2. What does it mean to you to be loved by the Lord of the second chance? How can you model this for the girls in your club? 3. What can we learn from Peter’s story about God’s love? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people? Chapter 5: Jesus the Teacher 1. What inspired you to serve as a counselor/teacher at club this season? 2. Have you accepted Jesus as your Teacher? Explain. 3. We are all building a house—a life. And Jesus tells us how to do it! What are some of His building instructions? Are you following His advice? Why or why not? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?

Chapter 6: The Contentment of Being Loved 1. Why is it that we are so frustrated—so discontent? 2. Has a spirit of complaining infected/affected you or your club? If so, what steps can be taken to make a positive change? 3. Do you intentionally practice gratitude? If so, how? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?

Chapter 7: The Roundabout Way 1. What does it mean to be loved by the God of the roundabout way? 2. Have you ever experienced a season in the desert, or maybe that time is now? If so, share your experience. What did you learn about God and yourself? 3. When girls in your club experience tragedy and hardship, what is the most loving way to respond? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?

Chapter 8: Love and Grace 1. Grace is the one thing the church (and your GEMS Club!) has to offer that the world cannot get anywhere else! How do girls experience love and grace at your club? 2. What are the best ways to remind yourself and one another that you are loved this day by grace? 3. To live in grace is to stay close to the cross. What does it mean to stay close to the cross? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?

Chapter 9: Being Loved Means Being Chosen 1. What does it mean to be chosen by God? 2. How does envy destroy us or our relationships? 3. What is the best thing to say to girls in your club who are miserable with envy? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?

Chapter 10: Safe in God’s Love 1. What does it mean to you to be safe in God’s love? 2. Ortberg writes, “Living in Jesus’ peace means I must come to think about and see the world as Jesus Himself did.” How did Jesus see the world? 3. Trust and faith in God is strengthened in song. Think about your time of worship at club. Is it strengthening hearts? If so, how? If not, why? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?

Chapter 11: God Searches for Hiding People 1. Do you find it unnerving or comforting that we cannot hide from God? Explain. 2. Why do we, and the girls at club, hide? 3. What can we learn from Zacchaeus’ story about coming out of hiding? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?

Chapter 12: The Ragged God 1. What do we learn about the glory of God from Moses’ story? 2. Ortberg writes, “The most glorious aspect of His being is that He would take our raggedness upon Himself before He would give us up.” What does being loved by The Ragged God mean to you? 3. Where is God in our pain? What’s the best way to communicate that to the hurting girls at club? 4. How has this chapter shaped the way you love God and love people?