1 John 4:7-21
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This is the seventh sermon in our series on 1 John: In Real Life. This sermon is “Love & Serving”.
Questions and going deeper resources
Small group questions
Connect How can you show generosity to a fellow Christian this week?
Warm-Up
- What do you think Australians love most? What motivates people in our culture to be loving?
- What do you think is the worldʼs standard of love? How does this compare to Godʼs love?
Read 1 John 4:7-11
- What does John say God is? What does it mean for God to be both the author and source of love?
- In what way is saying “love is God” different from “God is love”? What are the implications?
- If God is love—and we are children of God—how does this compel us to love one another?
- How does the way we love say something both about ourselves and God? Can you think of an example?
- What is the concrete evidence of Godʼs love for us? How is his love proactive, undeserved, and sacrificial?
- Have you experienced this type of love from a fellow Christian? How could you demonstrate it this week?
- Can you think of examples of what it looks like to love in proactive, underserved, and sacrificial ways?
- When do you find it most challenging to love others with a love like this? What are the resources that God has given us to help us love people in such a radical way?
- What helps you to plumb the depths of the beauty of Godʼs love for you? What could help you enjoy Godʼs love more as an everyday part of your life? How about in our community?
Read 1 John 4:12-21
- What has been your most positive experience of Godʼs love in the context of Christian community?
- What does John mean by ʻGodʼs love is made complete in usʼ? How is there an outward (relating to evangelism) and inward (relating to the driving out of fear) effect? How have you known this to be true?
- Outwardly, how have you witnessed the transformative effect of Christians loving other people?
- Inwardly, how can the security of Godʼs love drive out fear and give us confidence in uncertainty?
- Why is hating others incompatible with a claim to love God? What was happening in Johnʼs context?
- Looking back over this section, can you identify all of Johnʼs references to love one another? How can we be of help to one another, that we might be spurred on to love, even as God has loved us?
Apply What is one way this week that you can love someone with a proactive, undeserved, and sacrificial love?
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for your proactive, undeserved, and sacrificial love that brings us life. Please help us to grow in your love and participate more in your love being poured out on our frontlines. Amen.
Going deeper resources
On Your Front Line this Week
How do you remember that your frontline matters to God? If youʼre not sure how it does, ask a friend, and give thanks to God together.
For Families
- Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org
Listen, Watch, and Read
- AUDIO: “Proclaiming the Gospel of God through Evangelism” by Rico Tice
- AUDIO: “Perfected in Love” by Charlie Skrine
- AUDIO: “The Love of God” by Tom Wright
- AUDIO: “Love” by David Bisgrove
Series Resources
- Watch: “1-3 John Overview” by the Bible Project
- Learn: “Introduction to 1 John” by the Gospel Coalition
- Read: “The Letters of John (Tyndale New Testament Series)” by John Stott: St Bartʼs Library, Purchase
- Listen: “Confident Christians” Series in 1 John by St Helenʼs Bishopsgate
- Watch: “Johannine Christianity: the Letters” by Open Yale University
