Series: Faith & Family
Title: Love At Full Stretch
Text: 1 Peter 4:7a, 8

When those who matter to us do not respond according to our desires, we may feel unheard, unappreciated or offended. How can we continue to love as a family in the midst of disappointments and frustrations? 

General Questions:

1. Someone once said that unmet expectations is a ‘silent killer’ in relationships. Would you agree? Why?

Perspective Questions:

1. To Peter, believers prepare for Christ’s return as King and Judge by living right before God and with one another in the present (1 Pet 4:7a, 8). How would keeping the end in mind affect or change the way we serve or relate with one another, especially when our expectations are not met?   

2. What may happen if we do not handle unmet expectations well? Conversely, if we respond with the deep love that Peter calls for (1 Pet 4:8), what may happen?

Application Questions:

1. It can be tempting to hold grudges against those who have let us down. Yet the Bible challenges us to respond with a love that keeps no record of wrongs (1 Cor 13:5). How can we practically live this out?

2. Perhaps we should expect to have unmet expectations in our relationships because we are all works in progress. How can we manage our expectations?