god started it.

MEETING AGENDA:

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to Open the meeting in prayer. 
  1. DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Development Questions. 
  1. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the SG Attendance System. 
  1. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s SG lesson. 
  1. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.  

Development Questions

Question #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

Question #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon? 

Question #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

This Week's Passage:

1 John 4:7-21 (NIV) 
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. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Connection Question:

Why does John connect our love for others so directly to our knowledge and relationship with God? 

Truth #1:

God Is the Source and Definition of Love 

Discussion Points:

  1. Loving others is evidence of being born of God  (1 John 4:7)  
  2. Lack of love reveals a lack of true knowledge of God  (1 John 4:8) 
  3. God demonstrated His love by sending His Son  (1 John 4:9) 
  4. Jesus’ sacrifice reveals the depth of God’s love (1 John 4:10)

Growth Question:

How does knowing that love comes from God change your approach to difficult relationships? 

Truth #2:

God’s Love Is Made Complete in Us as We Love One Another  

Discussion Points:

  1. We are obligated to love because God first loved us  (1 John 4:11)  
  2. The Spirit affirms our connection to God (1 John 4:13)
  3. We rely on God’s love as our foundation (1 John 4:16) 

Growth Question:

In what practical ways can you rely more deeply on God’s love? 

Truth #3:

Perfect Love Drives Out Fear and Demonstrates Authentic Faith 

Discussion Points:

  1. Love gives confidence before God (1 John 4:17) 
  2. Our love flows from God’s prior love for us (1 John 4:19) 
  3. Our relationships with people reveal the truth of our relationship with God  (1 John 4:20–21)

Growth Question:

What relationship in your life currently needs the transforming work of God’s love? 

GO THEREFORE QUESTION:

How is God calling you to embody His love in your relationships this week? 

PRAYER:

Question #1

Who are you praying for  
to be saved? 

Question #2

Who can you invite to Church and/or to Small Group?  

Question #3

What are your prayer requests?