Grow Guide | July 10, 2022
Word of Life
1 John 4:7-11, 17-19
Connecting Questions
What are situations/actions/attitudes that help you feel loved most deeply? Do you have an example?
What are some situations/actions/attitudes that produce fear in you? Do you have an example?
Context
We continue our summer Sermon Series: Word of Life – reflections on some of our favorite Bible passages. In this series each preacher will preach on their favorite Bible passage, talking about what it means to them and why. We invite you to find scripture that speaks to you in your life and consider its meaning.
This week we look at a passage from 1 John 4. This document is a personal letter, and/or possibly the manuscript of a sermon, that was delivered to a particular group of people regarding a particular situation.
To be completely honest, we don’t know who wrote the document or to whom it was written. Unlike most letters, the author does not identify him/herself or the audience. Most scholars think it was written by the same person who wrote the Gospel of John, or at least someone from that school of thought, because it is extremely similar to the language and message of that Gospel. From the text itself, it seems that the people to whom this was written were suffering great persecution because of their trust in Jesus, they were being tempted to turn away from Jesus out of fear of execution, and they were being tempted to trust in idols rather than Jesus.
Look at the Book
Read 1 John 4:7-11, 17-19.
List all the ways love is described in this passage.
How is God’s love revealed among us?
This passage requires some definitions, because the English translation can be somewhat misleading:
the phrase “atoning sacrifice” translates the Greek word hilasmos. It simply means mercy.
the term perfect and perfected is translating the Greek word teleios. It means mature, or having reached an intended outcome. How might mature be different from perfect in our culture?
The term judgment is translating the Greek word krisis. It denotes the process of investigation, the act of distinguishing and separating. It does not automatically means condemnation. In this context it probably refers to the extreme persecution and suffering the people were facing.
What is the relationship between fear and love?
read verse 16. How do we know if we are abiding in God, based on this verse? What does that look like?
read verses 19-21. What is a sign that we have not understood God’s love? How is the love of people connected to the love of God?
Taking it Home
The original audience of this letter was struggling with deep fear. The author says, “mature love drives out fear.” When you think about the things that make you afraid, how might genuine, mature love help you to manage your fear?
The author gets very direct in this text and says, “those who say ‘I love God,’ and hate their siblings, are liars, because you can’t love God if you don’t love people.” Do you agree with this statement? Why do you suppose the author would say this?
This is a deep, personal question that you may or may not want to share with the group. Do you feel loved by God? Do you feel worthy of God’s love? Know this, God loves you, and because of God’s love and mercy for you, you can show mercy and love for others. What work might you need to do in your life to 1) allow yourself to be loved by God, 2) allow yourself the freedom to love someone you would rather hate?