Sermon Guide

March 2, 2024: 1 John 3:11-18

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Share one thing that challenged or encouraged you.

Key Takeaways:

1. Love is a decision of the will accompanied by action, not just a feeling.
2. We are called to love one another as evidence of being Christ's disciples.
3. True love meets needs when given the opportunity, even at great cost.
4. God has blessed us with wealth and resources to be used in loving others.

Discussion Questions:

1. If love is a decision of the will accompanied by action, how does that differ from popular cultural understandings of love?
2. Reflect on the story of the Good Samaritan. How does this parable challenge our notions of who our "neighbor" is?
3. What are some practical, everyday ways we can "lay down our lives" for others instead?
4. How does understanding God's love for us impact our ability to love others sacrificially?
5. The sermon highlighted several ways the church has been generous. Share a time when you've experienced or witnessed sacrificial giving. How did it impact you?
6. Discuss the statement: "Wealth is a gift from God." How can we cultivate a healthy perspective on our resources?

Practical Applications:

1. This week, identify one person in your life who has a need (emotional, physical, spiritual) and take action to meet that need, even if it's costly or inconvenient.
2. Evaluate your use of time, talents, and treasure. Are there areas where you could be more generous in loving others? Make a specific plan to adjust one area.
3. Pray daily for God to give you opportunities to demonstrate His love to others, and for the courage to act on those opportunities.
4. Consider supporting a local or global ministry as a group. Research options and discuss how you can make a collective impact.
5. Practice "the ministry of presence" by dedicating uninterrupted time to listen to someone who needs support or encouragement.

Sermon Guide

March 9, 2024: 1 John 3:19-24

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Share one thing that challenged or encouraged you.

Share a time when you experienced doubt in your faith. How did you handle it?

Key Takeaways:

1. Doubt is not a sin, but it can lead us down a path of questioning God's love and presence.
2. God's love is unconditional, but our confidence in His approval is conditional on our fellowship with Him.
3. Confidence in God is a direct result of abiding in Christ.

Discussion Questions:

1. Once we start to doubt, it can spiral quickly. Have you experienced this? How did it affect your relationship with God?
2. How does the idea that "God is greater than our hearts" (1 John 3:20) impact your view of your own shortcomings and doubts?
3. What does abiding in Christ look like in your daily life? What challenges do you face in maintaining this connection?
4. Discuss the difference between following your heart and following Christ. How can we discern between the two in our decision-making?
5. People are confused about Christians because many times we don't love well. How can we improve in loving others as Christ commanded?
6. How does the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives serve as evidence of our salvation? How have you experienced the Spirit's influence?

Practical Applications:

1. Abiding Challenge: Commit to a specific practice this week to help you abide in Christ (e.g., daily Scripture reading, intentional prayer times, worship).
2. Love in Action: Identify one person or group you struggle to love well. Brainstorm practical ways to show Christ's love to them this week.
3. Doubt Journal: When you experience doubt, write it down along with the truth from Scripture that counters it. Review these entries regularly to reinforce your faith.
4. Accountability: Partner with someone in the group to check in regularly about your efforts to abide in Christ and grow in confidence.

 Sermon Guide

March 16, 2024: 1 John 4:1-6

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Share one thing that challenged or encouraged you.

Key Takeaways:

1. Deception is prevalent in our world, from scams to false teachings within religion.
2. We need to be prepared to face spiritual deception.
3. God is greater than any deceptive force in the world.
4. We must test teachings against Scripture and their view of Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some deceptions you've encountered personally or observed in our culture?
2. How does understanding that deception has a spiritual component change your perspective on false teachings?
3. Don't freak out when you see deception. Why is this important, and how can we maintain calm in the face of widespread deception?
4. Discuss the illustration of the blind men and the elephant. How does this relate to modern views on religious pluralism? What are the flaws in this perspective?
5. John stressed the importance of testing spirits by their treatment of Scripture and view of Jesus. How can we practically apply this in our daily lives when encountering new teachings or ideas?
6. Reflect on the different "versions" of Jesus in culture (e.g., fortune cookie Jesus, Santa Jesus, social media Jesus). Have you encountered or been tempted by any of these distorted views? How can we maintain a biblical view of Jesus?
7. How does the gospel message of God coming down the mountain to rescue us differ from common misconceptions about salvation? How does this impact your understanding of grace?

Practical Applications:

1. This week, pay attention to messages you receive (in media, conversations, etc.). Practice testing the spirits by evaluating how they align with Scripture and their view of Jesus.
2. Choose a passage from the Bible that speaks about Jesus' identity or mission. Meditate on it daily to strengthen your understanding of who He truly is.
3. If you encounter a teaching that seems questionable, commit to researching it further using trusted biblical resources before accepting or rejecting it.
4. Practice humility by being open to correction from fellow believers when it comes to your understanding of Scripture or theology.

 Sermon Guide

March 23, 2024: 1 John 4:7-21

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Share one thing that challenged or encouraged you.

When you think about how God sees you right now, what is the primary emotion that comes to your heart? Why do you think you feel this way?

Key Takeaways:

1. We are commanded to love others, but we cannot do this in our own strength.
2. The answer is not to "try harder, be better," but to remain and abide in God's love.
3. God's love for us is demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice, not our own efforts.
4. Understanding and anchoring in God's love drives out fear and gives us confidence.

Discussion Questions:

1. We all have people in our lives that are difficult to love (neighbors, coworkers, family members). Who do you find most challenging to love in your life? Why?
2. How does the idea of "remaining in God's love" differ from simply trying harder to be a better person?
3. As you think about the illustration of a cup being filled and spilling over to others, how have you experienced this in your own life? When have you felt "empty" trying to love others on your own?
4. Discuss the concept of God's love being "as high as the heavens are above the earth" (Psalm 103). How does this vast scale impact your view of God's love for you?
5. Read Luke 15:11-32 and focus on the father's prodigal love. How does this perspective change your understanding of God's love?
6. How might focusing on God's love for us change the way we approach difficult relationships or situations?

Practical Applications:

1. Daily Reflection: Spend 5-10 minutes each day this week meditating on a specific way God has demonstrated His love for you.
2. Love in Action: Identify one person in your life who is difficult to love. Commit to praying for them daily and finding one tangible way to show them love this week.
3. Scripture Memory: Memorize 1 John 4:19 - "We love because he first loved us." Reflect on this verse throughout your day.
4. Group Accountability: Share with a partner one area where you struggle to accept or believe in God's love for you. Pray for each other in these areas.
5. Prayer: Thank God for His prodigal love and asking for His help to remain in that love, allowing it to overflow to others in your life.