Love In Action Week 4: TableTalk Assurance in Christ

Announcements:

Offering box is on the wall near the coffee table

Bible reading plan is on the church website. If you would like a paper copy of the reading plan, please let me know I will be happy to get one for you.

March 14th from 9AM-1:45PM: Pursuit Equip Tour in Morganton $15 per person (church will cover) for those helping with media, kids church, nursery. If have any questions or are interested, please see me after service. We have transportation so we can all travel together! (Come ready to: Collaborate with leaders like you, Exchange practical ideas you can implement immediately, Be sharpened through Spirit-led conversation, and Leave encouraged, equipped, and refocused.)

Opening Moment (5 Minutes) – “Raise Hand”

Say: “I’m going to read a few statements. If it’s true of you most days, raise your hand. If not, don’t raise your hand.”

I sometimes wonder if I’m really saved.

I struggle with doubt.

I don’t always feel close to God.

I’m afraid I won’t measure up spiritually.

I want stronger confidence in my faith.

Let the room feel the honesty.

Then read 1 John 5:11–13 slowly.

1 John 5:11–13 CSB

11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Remind them:

John wrote this so believers could know — not guess, not hope, not assume.

Ground the Conversation

Briefly connect this final week to the whole letter of 1 John:

Throughout the book, John has shown that real love:

Is obedient (1 John 2)

Is relational (1 John 3)

Is active (1 John 4)

And now — is confident in Christ (1 John 5)

Love in action begins with assurance in Christ.

Interactive TableTalk Discussion Flow

1. Why Can Believers Be Confident? (10 Minutes)

Read verse 11 again:

1 John 5:11 CSB

11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Ask:

Where does eternal life come from?

James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”

Romans 6:23 – “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Titus 3:5 – “He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy.”

Discussion Truth: Salvation originates in God’s mercy, not human effort.

Is eternal life earned or given?

1. It is given as a gift.

Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For you are saved by grace through faith… not from works…”

Romans 4:4–5 – Righteousness is credited by faith, not wages earned.

2. It was purchased by Christ, not achieved by us.

John 19:30 – “It is finished.”

Hebrews 10:14 – “By one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.”

Discussion Truth: If salvation were earned, assurance would always be fragile.

What is the foundation of our assurance?

Guide them toward this truth:

Our confidence is not based on:

Feelings (Jeremiah 17:9 “9 The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?” )

Performance (Galatians 3:3 “3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?” )

Consistency

Spiritual highs (2 Corinthians 5:7 “7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.” )

It is based on:

The finished work of Christ

Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking to Jesus…”

1 Peter 3:18 – “Christ suffered once for sins…”

The faithfulness of God

2 Timothy 2:13 – “If we are faithless, he remains faithful.”

Philippians 1:6 – “He who started a good work… will carry it on to completion.”

The testimony of Scripture

1 John 5:13 – “So that you may know…”

John 20:31 – “So that you may believe… and have life.”

You may briefly connect this to: First Epistle of John Gospel of John

John’s Gospel says these things were written so you may believe.

John 20:31 CSB

31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Belief leads to life. Life leads to assurance.

2. The Doubt Exercise (Interactive Moment – 10 Minutes)

Ask: “What does doubt do to obedience?”

Let them respond.

1. Doubt weakens confidence in approaching God.

Hebrews 4:16 – We are invited to approach boldly.

James 1:6–8 – The doubter is unstable.

2. Doubt produces fear.

1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love…”

Romans 8:15 – We received the Spirit of adoption, not slavery to fear.

Then ask:

When you doubt your salvation, do you feel more bold or more hesitant?

Proverbs 28:1 – “The righteous are as bold as a lion.”

Does doubt make you joyful or fearful?

Psalm 51:12 – “Restore the joy of your salvation.”

Does it move you toward mission or inward toward self-examination?

Matthew 28:19–20 – The Great Commission flows from Christ’s authority and presence.

Acts 4:31 – Confidence led to bold proclamation.

Write two columns if you have a board:

Doubt Produces:

Fear

Hesitation

Insecurity

Isolation

Performance-based striving

Assurance Produces:

Joy

Peace

Confidence

Freedom

Bold witness

Make the Big Truth clear: Assurance in Christ gives confidence for faithful living and bold witness.

3. Anchor Promises Activity (5–7 Minutes)

Ask: “What promises of God anchor your assurance?”

Let people share Scriptures.

If needed, suggest and maybe have them repeat:

John 10:28 “28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” (Jesus’ sheep are secure in His hand)

Romans 8:1 “1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,” (The verdict has already been declared)

Romans 8:38–39 “38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (nothing separates)

Encourage them to speak the promises aloud.

Philippians 3:9 – Righteousness through faith.

Hebrews 7:25 – “He is able to save completely…”

Jude 24 – “Able to protect you from stumbling…”

Assurance grows when truth is declared.

4. Mission Flow Discussion (10 Minutes)

Read verse 13 again.

1 John 5:13 CSB

13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Then ask:

Why would John want believers to know they have eternal life?

1. So they would not live in fear.

1 John 4:17 – Confidence on the day of judgment.

2. So they would live in obedience.

John 14:15 – Love expresses itself in obedience.

3. So they would remain in Christ.

1 John 2:28 – “Remain in him…”

What happens when a church is confident in Christ?

1. It becomes bold in witness.

Acts 4:13 – They recognized boldness.

2. It loves sacrificially.

1 John 3:16–18 – Love in action.

3. It prays expectantly.

1 John 5:14 – Confidence in prayer.

How does assurance fuel mission?

Guide towards this:

When you know you are secure:

You stop proving → 📖 Galatians 1:10 “10 For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

You start serving → 📖 Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

You stop hiding → 📖 Romans 1:16 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.”

You start sharing → 📖 2 Timothy 1:7–8 “7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. 8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.”

Assurance does not produce laziness.

Titus 2:11–14 (“11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.”) – Grace trains us toward godliness.

Series Wrap-Up Reflection (15 Minutes)

This is where you bring the whole Love in Action journey together.

Ask them to reflect quietly for one minute:

As they reflect on growth in love:

1 John 4:19 – “We love because he first loved us.”

John 13:35 – Love marks disciples.

Colossians 3:14 – Love binds everything together.

Love is not effort-driven but identity-driven.

“How has your understanding of love grown over these four weeks?”

Then ask:

What has God challenged in you?

Where has love become more practical?

What change do you sense God calling you to continue?

If your setting allows, invite a few testimonies.

Closing Commissioning Moment (5–7 Minutes)

Say: “If you have the Son, you have life.”

Pause.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (“17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”) – New creation.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (“20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.””) – Ambassadors for Christ.

1 Peter 3:15 (“15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”) – Always be ready to give a defense for the hope you have.

Then ask:

“Who needs to hear your story this week?”

Challenge them:

Share a brief testimony of what Christ has done in your life with someone this week.

Make it simple:

2–3 minutes

What your life was like

How you met Christ

What He’s doing now

Remind them:

Assurance fuels mission.

Corporate Prayer Time

Pray in three movements:

Thanksgiving: “Father, thank You that eternal life is a gift.”

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Confidence: “Root our assurance in Christ’s finished work.”

Hebrews 10:19–23 “19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— 20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.”

Boldness: “Give us courage to share the hope we have.”

Acts 1:8 “8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””

If appropriate, invite people to pray out loud short prayers of gratitude.

Final Closing Statement:

Assurance is not arrogance. It is resting in Christ’s sufficiency.

Hebrews 4:9–10 – We rest from our works.

Psalm 62:1 – “I am at rest in God alone…”

“Love in Action is not about trying harder. It’s about living from confidence in Christ. When you know you are secure, you are free to love boldly.”