Lent 3: Lawful Love
1. Icebreaker – Start Light
When you play a board game, which type are you?
The “read every rule first” person
The “let’s just start and figure it out” person
2. Observation — Seeing the Story
In John 9, three groups see the same man but interpret the situation very differently:
The disciples see a theological problem to explain.
The religious leaders see a rule violation to investigate.
Jesus sees an opportunity for restoration.
The sermon called this Jesus’ “sanctified imagination.”
What do you think it means that Jesus sees potential where others see problems?
As anointed apprentices of Jesus we have restored imaginations - do you see this playing itself out in your daily lives?
Where do you notice that difference most clearly in the story?
3. Personal Reflection — How We See People
The message suggested that followers of Jesus are invited to develop this same sanctified imagination.
Instead of immediately asking:
“Who’s to blame?”
or“What rule was broken?”
we begin asking:
“How might God restore this?”
Who is someone in your life right now that is difficult to see this way?
What usually prevents us from seeing people with that kind of hope or imagination?
4. Challenge from Jesus — The Narrow Way of Love
The sermon described two ditches we can fall into:
Protecting the rules more than loving people (legalism)
Defining love for ourselves while ignoring the wisdom of Jesus (self-defined love)
Jesus invites us into a narrow way between those two.
Why do you think it’s so tempting for people (and churches) to drift toward one of these extremes?
What do you think it actually looks like to let Jesus define love rather than rules alone or feelings alone?
5. Practical Next Step — Practicing Christlike Love
Jesus didn’t just see potential—he moved toward people with restoring love.
Think about your week ahead.
Where might Jesus be inviting you to practice this “sanctified imagination”?
A person you’ve written off
A relationship that feels complicated
A situation you’ve been judging
What might one small step of Christlike love look like this week?
Closing Reflection:
You might end by asking everyone to briefly respond to this sentence:
“This week I want to ask Jesus to help me see ______ the way he sees them.”
Close in prayer.
