Let Us Love One Another
Jeremy Bell
1 John 4:7-12
May 3, 2020
Sermon Audio & Video
Main Idea: God is love, and receiving His love will produce genuine love for others.
“God’s love is like an ocean; you can see its beginning but not its end.” – C.H. Spurgeon
I. What is God’s love like?
A. God’s love is eternal
B. God’s love is outward looking
C. God’s love is costly
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – hat you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” — Ephesians 3:17-18
D. God’s love is life-giving
II. What are the Effects of Receiving God’s Love?
A. Eternal Effect
“Father…I have made known to them Your name…that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” — John 17:26
B. Outward Effect
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” — John 13:35
C. Costly Effect
D. Life-Giving Effect
III. Application:
- Meditate on the Love of God this week!
- Act on the love of God this week!
Questions For Discussion/Application:
- Re-read the text, 1 John 4:7-12. What initial observations and insights do you have from reading this text?
- What is the Apostle John’s point when he says, “whoever loves has been born of God and knows God (verse 7)” ?
- “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love (verse 8).” What is John saying here?
- According to verses 7 & 8, love is the defining mark of a Christian. What are the implications for how we live?
- What does it mean that God “sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” See this article by Kevin DeYou.ng on propitiation.
- Re-read verse 11. An implication of God’s love for us in Christ is “we also ought to love one another.” If we are struggling with showing love to another person, how can prayerfully meditating on the gospel help us?
- Question for personal reflection: Who is God calling you to demonstrate Christ-like love to? What practical steps do you intend to take in order to show them love?
- Consider taking time to pray as a Care Group, thanking God for His love and then asking for His help to show others Christ-like love.