TODAY:

Letters of John #6: Perfect Love

BIG IDEA:

We are meant to be conduits of God’s perfect love

SCRIPTURES:

1 John 4:7-21, Luke 10:25-37, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a,13,

Galatians 5:16-26

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Q: How would you explain the meaning of “love” to a child?

Q: How do the Scriptures/concepts from this week help you grow as a disciple

who loves God, loves people & serves the world (lives on incarnational

mission) in everyday life?

Q: Based on these Scriptures, how can you move from unbelief to belief, from

just knowing to actually doing in your life?

Connect with God (UP)...

Q: Read 1 John 4:7-21. What does it mean that “God is love”? What does it

mean for God to be both the definition & standard of love?

Q: What are some ways the world & culture twists & distorts “love” & how can

it affect faith?

Q: How does Jesus perfectly reveal God’s love? Why is the cross such an

important example of God’s love?

Q: Have you given your life to God’s love? Why or why not?If so, what

difference has it made in your life?

Connect with Others(IN)...

Q: Why do you think John is so insistent on Jesus’ followers loving others like

Jesus loves them?

Q: Is there anyone that you have a hard time loving? Why? How can you ask

Jesus to help you love them?

Connect with the World (OUT)...

Q: Christlike love is going, giving (sacrificial) & restoring (forgiving, redeeming).

What are some ways you can live out Christlike love in the world around you?

NOTES & QUOTES:

“Forgiveness of sin is at the heart of atonement and is the dearest expression

of God’s love.” (Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

“The command to love is not a demand for forced intimacy or shallow

sentimentality. It is a command to meet the needs of others when we

encounter them.” (Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

“If we’re not loving, then the world’s not seeing!”