Lesson Summary:

John encourages believers to practice God’s love and to be assured by the proofs of God’s love in their lives.

Focus Passage: I John 4.

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Outline and Lesson Goal

Principles and Applications

I. Stand Firm on the Truth (I John 4:1-6)

Principle: Believers in Christ are always ready to discern and to stand for the Truth.
Application: How ready are you to discern error in the teaching available today?
Scripture Reference

¹⁵I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
¹⁷Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
John 17:15-17

II. Abide in God’s Love (I John 4:7-14)

Principle: Believers in Christ abide in the ultimate reality of God’s love.
Application: How are you abiding in God’s love? Are you growing in the knowledge of the One who is love?
Scripture Reference

⁹Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
¹⁰If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
John 15:9-10

III. Live Out in Truth and Love (I John 4:15-21)

Principle: Believers in Christ live out their lives from the glorious intersection of truth and love.
Application: How is your life evidence that you have both the truth of God and the love of God?
Scripture Reference

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
²and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Ephesians 5:1-2