Key Thought: God’s love is profoundly relational. This loving relationship with God cannot exist without human response to His loving benevolence.
January 11, 2025

1. Have a volunteer read 2 Peter 3:9, I Timothy 2:4, Ezekiel 33:11.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What does this teach us about God’s desire to save everyone?
3. Personal Application: How can we unconditionally show our love and respect for every human being? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Some people are beyond saving. They are paedophiles, mass murderers, hateful, rude, selfish, and prideful people who have no care or concern for others and may actually torment or kill those who follow God. Does Jesus actually love these despicable characters as well? Am I supposed to love them even though I hate their evil attitudes and sins?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 7:6=9..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does this teach about the relationship between God’s loving kindness and His covenants?
3. Personal Application: How does our relationship with God change how we behave and act with people from our family, work, and neighborhood? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “I want to help people who really need help, but those who have wasted their time, money, and energy in drugs, alcohol, gambling, and debauchery don’t get any sympathy from me. If they are starving, I’ll feed them. If they are dying, I’ll save them. But I refuse to enable them or make them feel good about their stupidity.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read I John 4:7-20.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does this tell us about the priority of God’s love?
3. Personal Application: Think about what you have done and been forgiven for. What should this tell you about forgiving others? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “I can never forgive my uncle for what he did to my family. It is beyond forgivable. I can’t let go of my utter loathing for him and his actions.” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read John 15:12, I John 3:16, I John 4:7-12.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What do these verses teach us about God’s love, our love for Him, and our love for others?
3. Personal Application: What can you do to show your love for God to show His love for others? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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