Study Guide
- Before you begin, take time to pray, asking God to give you guidance and understanding.
- Read 1 John 3:16-18 a few times.
- Note what you believe to be the important statements.
- Answer the questions below.
- Conclude your time of study with prayer for your church.
Overview
Lesson taken from 1 John 3:16-18
“The is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us …”
1. The Love of God Defined
2. Memory Verse
The Love of God Defined
Jesus said that love is the true identification of his disciples. (John 13:34-35)
Love is seen in the Lord giving his life for us. His is a sacrificial love, a self-giving love, a love that seeks the good of others irrespective of the cost.
Question 1: From 1 John 4:7-11 and Romans 5:6-10, what is it that makes the love of God so amazing?
A person’s life is an important possession. To give one’s life for another is the greatest expression of love. (John 15:13) As followers of Jesus, who gave his life for us, we are called upon to imitate his love, ‘And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.’ (1 John 3:16)
Question 2: We know what Jesus did on our behalf. How can we imitate his love in our life? How can we become sacrificial and caring about the needs of others?
In a spirit of love, we share our material possessions with others in need, our time, our talent, etc. We do this in a sacrificial manner looking to Jesus as our example. Love and sharing cannot be separated. Sharing was a feature of the life of the early Christians. (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-35; Acts 11:27-30)
Question 3: What impresses you about the sharing that took place in the life of the early Christians?
Memory Verse
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (1 John 3:16)
End of Lesson 6. Remember to conclude your time of study with prayer for the church.