2.14.21 HUDDLE

Zach Below   -   February 14, 2021

INTRO QUESTION

  1. Being that it is Valentine’s week, what is the best and worst candy of all-time?

 

LESSON INTRO

This past Sunday was Valentines day. Some people absolutely love Valentine’s day while others wish it could just past unnoticed. Valentine’s day can give us a false idea about what love consists of, equating it to nothing more than hearts, chocolates, and flowers. However, Scripture gives us a more complete and accurate picture of what love is, and challenges us over and over again to love one another well. This week we will look at 1 John 4:7-10 and discuss what Biblical love requires.

 

BIBLE ENGAGEMENT—1 JOHN 4:7-10 CONTEXT

  • First John is anonymous, though the early church consistently ascribed it to the apostle John. In fact, the early church never suggested anyone else as its author. Evidence of John’s authorship is strong and consistent, with these as some key facts to remember.
    • The author claimed to be an eyewitness of Jesus.
    • First John displays numerous similarities with the Gospel of John in terms of theology, vocabulary, and syntax.
    • Early church leaders Papias, Polycarp, Irenaeus, and Clement of Alexandria all affirmed John the apostle as the author.
  • First John was written to a group of churches in crises—churches being attacked by false teaching. John wrote to combat the propaganda of the false teachers, as well as to reassure and encourage believers.
  • One of the main purposes of this letter was to address the issue of disunity in the church and remind believers that following Jesus means being a person of love.

 

READ 1 JOHN 4:7-10

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

 

  1. What stands out to you from the text?

 

  1. How does this text help inform our understanding of love?

 

  1. On Sunday, Pastor Ryan said, “God’s love for us defines what true love requires.” What do you think this means?

 

 

WHAT LOVE REQUIRES—3 IDEAS FROM THE TEXT

In his message, Pastor Ryan identified 3 ideas from the text on what biblical love requires. Biblical love requires intentionality, sacrificial, and grace/forgiveness.

 

INTENTIONALITY

  1. Where do you see this idea in the text?

 

  1. What does it take to be intentional in loving others?

 

Group Activity

Part of being intentional when it comes to loving others is knowing them. Give everyone the following link and have them take the love language test (it will only take 5 minutes). Discuss the results with your group. Does it seem accurate? Way off?

 

https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/

 

 

SACRIFICIAL

  1. Where do you see this idea in the text?

 

  1. What does sacrificial love look like when it comes to friendship?

 

  1. When you look back on your life, who stands out as modeling sacrificial love to you?

 

  1. One example of sacrificial love is celebrating others when you don’t feel like celebrating. What is one way you celebrated others over the last year?

 

 

GRACE AND FORGIVENESS

  1. Where do you see this idea in the text?

 

  1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement . . . “one of the biggest causes of conflict in relationships is unmet expectations.” Do you have an example?

 

  1. Do you think offering grace and forgiveness is something that you can grow in? How has that journey expressed itself in your life over the years?

 

 

APPLICATION

These questions may be more reflective questions to end. Encourage group members to write them down somewhere where they will see them this week.

 

  1. Who is one person that you can be intentional about showing love to this week?

 

  1. This week, what do you need to sacrifice for the good of a relationship?

 

  1. Have you been holding on to any anger or resentment? Who do you need to offer grace and forgiveness to this week?

 

 

CLOSE IN PRAYER