How To LOVE One ANOTHER

Romans 12:9-10; Selected Scriptures
By
D.Z. Cofield, Th.M., D. Min.
January 29, 2023

Responsive Reading – John 15:12-17 (ESV)

Leader: 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Congregation: 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for
his friends.

Leader: 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Congregation: 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what
his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my
Father I have made known to you.

Leader: 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should
go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in
my name, he may give it to you.

Everyone: 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

1. You need to realize GOD wants your LOVE to be REAL.
Romans 12:9 (ESV) – Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is
good.

Love –

Genuine –

Romans 12:9 (NLT2) – Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is
wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) – The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and
a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Peter 1:22-23 (ESV) – Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a
sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have
been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and
abiding word of God;

1 John 3:18 (NLT2) – Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us
show the truth by our actions.

2. You need to realize GOD wants your LOVE to be LIVED.

A. Your love is REAL when it hates EVIL.
Romans 12:9 (ESV) – Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is
good.

Romans 12:9 (NLT2) – Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is
wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

Abhor –

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (ESV) – Abstain from every form of evil.

Psalm 34:14 (ESV) –Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 97:10 (ESV) – O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his
saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

B. Your love is REAL when it is COMMITTED to what is GOOD.

Romans 12:9 (ESV) – Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is
good.

Romans 12:9 (NLT2) – Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is
wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

Hold fast –

Luke 6:35 (ESV) – But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in
return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is
kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Galatians 6:10 (ESV) – So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,
and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Hebrews 13:16 (ESV) – Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for
such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

C. Your love is REAL when it is SHOWN to others.

Romans 12:10 (ESV) – Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in
showing honor.

Romans 12:10 (NLT2) – Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in
honoring each other.

Brotherly affection –

John 13:34-35 (ESV) – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 John 3:14 (ESV) – We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we
love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

D. Your love is REAL when it intentionally HONORS others.

Romans 12:10 (ESV) – Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in
showing honor.

Romans 12:10 (NLT2) – Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in
honoring each other.

Outdo –

Honor –

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV) – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility
count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own
interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Corinthians 10:24 (ESV) – Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his
neighbor.

1 Corinthians 10:32-33 (ESV) – Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church
of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own
advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Galatians 6:10 (ESV) – So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,
and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

L.I.F.E. Group Questions

1. Who do you know who’s known to have problems getting along with other
people?
2. What advice would you give to someone who wanted some practical wisdom on
how to get along with others?
3. What’s the difference between real love and fake love?
4. What, or who, tests and challenges how real your love is? Explain
5. What does the Bible say we as believers should hate? (Rom. 12:9)
6. Is there a difference between hating evil and hating evil people? Explain
7. In what ways can you honor someone more than yourself?
8. Is it easy or difficult to treat others as more important than yourself? Explain
9. What’s the biggest obstacle to you loving another believer?
10. What’s the biggest obstacle to another believer loving you?