Icebreaker:
- What’s something you’re irrationally afraid of – or used to be?
(ex. spiders, heights, public speaking…)
Observation
Read 1 John 4:7–21 together.
- What is John trying to tell us about God’s love in this passage?
- What reasons does John give for why believers should love one another? What reasons do we tend to use in determining how we treat one another?
- Read verse 18 again. What do you notice about the relationship between fear and love?
- How do you see the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) at work in this passage? Does this give you any insight into the Trinity?
Application
“Fear is a signal designed to keep us safe.”
- How might emotions be used as signals in our life?
- How can fear serve as a helpful signal rather than simply something to avoid?
- When has fear served as an unhelpful signal in your life? What did you do about it?
Which of these responses in relationships do you most identify with?
- Defensiveness (afraid to be wrong)
- Pretense (afraid to be vulnerable)
- Control (afraid to trust)
What is a truth either from or about God that can counteract this response?
Jesus says in John 15, “Remain in my love.”
- What do you think it practically looks like to remain in Christ’s love day to day?
- How might believing more deeply that you are completely loved by God change the way you respond in your closest relationships?
Close in prayer
