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The Real Thing: Real Love (1 John 4:7-21)

1 John 4:7-21

1 John 3:1 

God loves you. You are loved.

If we know God’s love we will show God’s love. (1 John 4:7, 11)

Real Love SURRENDERS (1 John 4:9)

Real Love SACRIFICES (1 John 3:16) 

Real Love STRETCHES (Matthew 5:43-45)

Real Love SPEAKS. (1 John 4:14) 

Real Love SERVES. (1 John 3:17)

Real Love STAYS (1 John 4:13) 

We can live fearlessly in Jesus’ love. (1 John 4:18)

Question: Are there relationships where you’ve allowed fear to limit your love?

Challenge: What is one step you can take to move beyond fear and show them God’s love?

Going Deeper Questions

Ice Breaker Question: Have you ever been repelling? What do you think is (or would be) the scariest part of the experience?

God loves you. You are loved. When are the times you are most confident in God’s love for you?   When do you struggle to really believe it? 

If we know God’s love we will show God’s love. 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

The following statement sums up some key aspects of real love:

Real Love SURRENDERS to God’s will, SACRIFICES for others’ sake, STRETCHES when things are difficult, SPEAKS the truth in a loving way, SERVES when others are in need, STAYS or remains faithful despite the challenges.

Which aspect is the easiest for to live out? Which one is the hardest?

We can live fearlessly in Jesus’ love.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 

Are there relationships where you’ve allowed fear to limit your love Who are they? What happened? What fear is holding you back? 

Prayer – Pray for a heart that fearlessly loves others, and for courage to take the next step in any relationship where fear has limited your love for someone.

What is one step you can take to move beyond fear and show them God’s love?

Always Be Ready: The Struggle Will Be Real

Luke 21:5-36
What will be the signs of the temple’s destruction (and when will it happen)?
Luke 21:12-19
Luke 21:12
Matthew 24:9

Persecution of Christians is a very normal thing in the context of God’s movement in the world.
John 15:18-21
1 Peter 4:12-14, 16, 19

Luke 21:20-24
Josephus Quote
Be ready for whatever comes next by learning and responding to Jesus’ teachings.

This Is Us: We Are Kingdom People

Our Focus is Jesus
The Gospel is Central
We are a Family
We is Greater than Me
Worship is a Lifestyle
Generosity is Normal

We are Kingdom People
Colossians 1:13-14
Philippians 3:20-21
We live for something more.
Matthew 6: 19-21, 33
We look different than the world around us.
Colossians 3:1-17
We are part of something bigger than us.
Acts 1:8
We Endure with Hope
1 Peter 1:3-9

Love is Our Greatest Asset
Love is a Command
John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Love must be learned
John 13:35
Love Can Change the World

We can Rest When We’re Dead
John 9:4-5
Acts 1:8

1 Samuel 14 Saul’s Downward Spiral Continues

1 Samuel 14: 1-10


If I’da listened to the odds, woulda never made it through. Every time they told me stop it was the last thing I would do. Instead I left it up to God, and I watched the mountain move. If I’da listened to the odds, woulda never met you. ~Mat Kearney, Odds

The odds don’t matter at all when God matters most.

1 Samuel 114:11-13
Video Clip: Come Up Here
1 Samuel 14:13-30
MAP: Aijalon
1 Samuel 14:31-52

Saul was operating in fear and walking in the ways of the world. Jonathan was operating by faith and walking in the way of the Lord.

Where in life are you operating in few like Saul instead of faith like Jonathan?