March 5: Perfect Love (1 John 4:7-19)

To begin the session:

Point out that this week launches a new quarter in which every lesson pertains to God’s love. Tapping in to the topic of love, begin your meeting by having group members answer one or more of the following ice-breaker questions.

1. Who was your first crush?
2. What do you know about your parents’ “love story”?
3. If you are married, share something interesting or humorous about your courtship or love story.

To engage the learners in a study of the Scripture text:

Read 1 John 4:7-12 and discuss the following questions with your group.

1. What does it mean to be “born of God”?
2. What is the evidence of that reality?
3. What does it mean that Jesus is “an atoning sacrifice for our sins”?

Read 1 John 4:13-16a and discuss the following questions with your group.

4. What additional evidence is noted here regarding a person’s being “born of God”?
5. What must happen for God to live in a person?
6. What does that acknowledgment really involve?
7. How do we see the Trinity in action in the verses up to this point in the passage?

Read 1 John 4:16b-19 and discuss the following questions with your group.

8. What picture does John paint about love and about fear?
9. When have you felt motivated to love God and/or others because of gratitude for God’s love for you?
10. When has God’s perfect love cast out your fear—particularly your fear of his judgment?