Promised Savior – Wk 2

John 1:14 (NLT)

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

1 John 4:7-16 (NLT)

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

1. Jesus is proof of God’s unfailing love.

2. Jesus loves imperfect people.

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (NLT)

1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

3. The Holy Spirit helps imperfect people love three types of imperfect people.

– Love your neighbors.

– Love your enemies.

Matthew 5:43-45a (NLT)

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.

– Love yourself.

COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE

Where your faith intersects with real life!

Reconnect:

Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.

Explore:

Review the message notes.

Big Idea: Jesus entered a self-centered world to reveal God’s unfailing love.

Consider:

Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.

▶ Read 1 John 4:11-12. Share a time when you felt the love of God through another person.

▶ Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-7, then read verses 4-7 substituting God for Love. How have you experienced God’s love in one of the ways mentioned?

▶ Read John 1:14. What does it mean to see God’s glory?

▶ Read 1 John 4:7-10. What motivated God to send Jesus?

Activate:

Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.

Read 1 John 4:11-12 again. Ask God if there is someone specific you could love with his love in this holiday season.

Prayer:

Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.

Pray together that God will soften people’s hearts and draw them to himself in this season.