Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 2
In Pablo’s “pebble in the pond” picture (love flowing from God ? to God ? spouse ? children ? brethren ? neighbor ? stranger ? enemies), where do you see the “rings” breaking down in your own life, and what does that expose about the size of love you think God is offering you?
Another way to ask: In the “pebble in the pond” picture (God → spouse → kids → church → neighbors → strangers → enemies), where does love break down in your life? What might that show about how much of God’s love you think you’re receiving?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript suggests the “rings” break down wherever we stop letting God’s love flow outward—often before it reaches the difficult people. When love doesn’t reach the outer rings, it may expose that we don’t yet believe God’s love in us is “big enough” to carry us to enemy-love.
- Pablo describes love like ripples: first loving God back, then spouse, children, brethren, neighbor, stranger, and “last of all…love our enemies.”
- He insists “the Christian life is a lot more than…God and I,” so a breakdown is not just personal but relational.
- He says God’s love “comes into our hearts and transforms us,” making enemy-love “not impossible.”
- He connects outward flow with spiritual health: love should “flow into our hearts and…flow right back,” and also out through “spigots” to others.
- He gives everyday examples of ring-breakdown: clashing with a brother, conflict with a neighbor, even responding to a spouse’s “slam…with words.”