Prayer (5 Minutes)
- Have everyone share one thing they were thankful for in the week.
- Have everyone share one prayer request.
Song (5 Minutes)
Catechism (5 minutes)
Have everyone read aloud simultaneously or allow everyone to try to answer before revealing the answer.
Q24: Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die?
A: Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. (Colossians 1:21–22)
A: Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. (Colossians 1:21–22)
Questions from: https://newcitycatechism.com/. Go there to start from beginning or to read more.
Scripture (3 Minutes)
1 John 4:7–21 (NLT)
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
Discussion (5-10 Minutes)
You can lead through a teaching or use the following questions to start a discussion:
- What did you learn in this passage about God’s love for you?
- What do you think is the difference between how the world defines love and how God defines love?
- The passage mentions fear and love—do you ever feel like fear holds you back from loving others? What kind of fears?
- What's one practical way you could show love to someone this week?
Closing Prayer (3 Minutes)
From Psalm 136:1 and Zephaniah 3:17.
Lord, your love endures forever. Thank you for being the Mighty Warrior who saves us and delights in us. Teach me to rejoice because in your love you rejoice over us! Your love never fails. Help me accept your love and share it with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Lord, your love endures forever. Thank you for being the Mighty Warrior who saves us and delights in us. Teach me to rejoice because in your love you rejoice over us! Your love never fails. Help me accept your love and share it with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.