Having a Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver
Week 10: Chapter 9 — Living Loved
Read Chapter 9 of Having a Mary Spirit. Key passages: 1 John 4:19; John 11:5; Romans 8:38–39.
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Weaver turns to Mary of Bethany—the woman who sat at Jesus's feet, anointed Him with costly perfume, and was called His friend—to show us that transformation flows from a felt sense of being loved by God, not from performing for Him.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.John 11:5 says simply, "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." Weaver lingers on that verse. How does the specificity of Jesus's love—named individuals, named families—affect how you read statements about God's love for you? Does knowing He loves "you" feel abstract or personal?
2.The author argues that many of us serve God more out of a fear of losing His approval than from a security in His love. Which posture more accurately describes you—a daughter who serves from security, or one who performs to earn? What evidence from your own behavior supports your answer?
3.Weaver draws on Mary of Bethany's act of anointing Jesus with costly perfume (John 12:1–8). She observes that extravagant love looks wasteful to observers but makes perfect sense to the one who has been truly loved. When did you last do something "wasteful" for God—time, money, energy given freely with no practical return? What made it possible?
a.What is the connection between receiving love deeply and giving it extravagantly?
b.What would it look like for you to love God extravagantly this week?
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