August 9, 2009, 1 John 4:13-16
August 9... "Where God Lives" 1 John 4:13-16
Icebreaker: Share an example of a phase or fad that you went through when you were an adolescent
1 John 4
13By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
The indwelling presence of God is a reality in the life of a believer. There are characteristics of one who is indwelt by God and the proof of belonging to God that is evident in the life of one in whom God dwells
V13 - Galatians 5 teaches us about the fruit of the Spirit. Are there any qualities that God needs to work on in your life? What barriers get in the way of these fruits being matured? Think about forgiveness, false expectations, possible idols and distractions that may hinder
V14 - What made John so qualified to testify about Christ? See John 12
Share an example where confession has followed experimental knowledge and confident trust of a particular thing in your life?
V15 - Another idea of confessing is being in agreement. What is manifested in the life of a Christian to demonstrate that they are in agreement that Jesus is the Son of God? Consider attributes of Christ, who He spent time with, how He treated people, what was important to Him?
How do you think the enemy has created confusion on our understanding of where God actually lives? (Consider popular notions about Heaven)
John gathers up the whole argument that one who is abiding in love is abiding in God and shows that God is abiding in him. How have you seen God's love manifested towards you in the last week? How have you seen love exhibited in you last week?