TOPIC
Love – What does the Bible say about love? We know about the Love of God…or do we? We are familiar with the Greek terms and types of love mentioned in the Bible and literature. Can anyone name them and define them? What are some famous scriptures about love? Everyone is encouraged to look for one and find one in advance. Are there any unusual ones that are beautiful but not as ready to mind? Who can find the most unusual one? Some great verses can be found by searching the phrase “love one another.” Here are a few good ones to introduce the ideas:
John 3:16
John 15:12
1 John 4:8
The last verse here comes from our primary passage of study today.
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE FOR STUDY
Read 1 John 4:7-21
7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 ¶ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 ¶ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (KJV)
Notice the paragraph markings and study those sections together – we always want to keep Scripture in its own context.
Discuss together what this passage means.
Define the word Propitiation (verse 10) and see how it fits in its verse and in the larger passage.
Again, teens and children should be encouraged to participate.
Ultimately, what does this passage teach us? How does it practically apply to our lives in the year 2018? How should we live the commands of this passage? Are they OPTIONAL?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What does it mean when it says “God is Love?” Is love God?
- How did God show His love for us?
- Why should we love one another?
- How does this passage relate to John 13:34? (Hint…it is interesting that verse 21 is the last verse of this section)
- Why does the Apostle John talk so much about love?
- Verse 12 is deep – does anyone want to tackle it?
- What is the significance of verse 13 as we talk about loving God and loving each other? What is the fuel for that engine to run?
- What is one of the benefits of living in love highlighted in verse 17?
- How big of a deal is verse 18?
- In this passage, which verse speaks to your heart the most today?
- Can anyone think of a story in their own life or a person in their own life that exemplifies truths from this passage?
