Looks Like Love - 1 John 5:1-5

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 

www.knowgrowshow.ca

 

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The Passage: 1 John 5:1-5

The One Thing: Brand Spanking New Life

Know

• K1 According to 1 John 4:15 – God lives in us, and we live in God. Bit confusing, isn’t it? How can this be? How can we use this as an encouragement?

Grow

• G1 Read verse 1: “…everyone who loves the father loves his child as well”. Does this refer to Jesus (God’s child) or us (God’s children)? Look at what comes before and after to help you figure this out. Do you think it matters?
• G2 Being “born again” is a bit of a tired and worn phrase. Why is being “born again” such an important Biblical concept? And why has it become such a cliché? Think of ways we can inject fresh life and meaning into it.
• G3 Dan said “If Satan was to do a paternity test on you it would come back 100% that you are God’s. In other words, in God’s kingdom, there are no bastards”. Should we reclaim slightly dodgy terms like “bastard” or do you think it does more harm than good?
• G4 Verse 2 says that we know we love God’s children by (a) loving God and (b) carrying out his commands? How can these two acts lead to confidence that we are loving each other right? Why isn’t it enough simply to say “I know I love God’s children because I love God’s children?”. What do we make of verse 3 where love is actually defined as keeping God’s commands?
• G5 Verse 3-4: Have you ever felt that God’s commands are burdensome? If so, what do you make of verse 3? What is the connection between obedience and overcoming in v 3-4?

Show

• S1 Dan said that
  • Right belief (verse 1a) leads to
  • Right relationship (verse 1b) leads to
  • Right affection (for God and others) (verse 2)
  • Right action (or obedience) (verse 3) which leads to
  • Right outcome (verse 4 and 5)

Why is it not wise to start with “right action”? What is one area of your life that you need to start developing some “right belief” about?