“What’s Love Got To Do With It?”

Announcements:

Worship:

Introduction:

Briefly introduce the theme of love and its significance in our lives

Share a personal or relatable anecdote about the impact of love

Transition:

Body:

I. The Command to Love (1 John 4:7-8)

Read 1 John 4:7-8

Emphasize the divine origin of love

Explain the command to love one another

Illustration: Share a story of someone who exemplified sacrificial love, drawing inspiration from 1 John 4:7-8

Questions to ask:

Transition:

II. God's Love Manifested in Christ (1 John 4:9-10)

Read 1 John 4:9-10

Explore how God's love is revealed through the sending of His Son

Emphasize the sacrificial nature of Christ's love

Reference John 3:16 as a parallel passage

Illustration: Use the story of Jesus' crucifixion to illustrate the depth of God's love

Questions to ask:

Transition:

III. Our Response to God's Love (1 John 4:11)

Read 1 John 4:11

Discuss our responsibility to love one another in response to God's love

Emphasize that our love for others is a reflection of our love for God

Reference Matthew 22:37-39 to reinforce the connection between love for God and love for others

Illustration: Share a personal testimony or a story of someone who responded to God's love by loving others selflessly

Questions to ask:

Transition:

IV. The Incompleteness of Unloving Lives (1 John 4:12)

Read 1 John 4:12

Explain the concept that God's love is perfected in us when we love one another

Emphasize that our love serves as a testimony to the world

Illustration: Share a real-life example where the absence of love had negative consequences, highlighting the transformative power of love

Questions to ask:

Transition:

Conclusion:

Summarize key points from each section

Challenge the congregation to embrace the divine invitation to love

Close with a prayer for God's help in cultivating and expressing love in their lives