God hates sin because sin hurts people, and God loves people.
REVIEW: Obedience protects my relationship with God.
- READ: 1 John 3:5-6 “And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.”
- DISCUSS: What do you do regularly to strengthen your relationship with God? What do you think is a possible next step to growing closer to him?
REVIEW: Obedience protects my relationships with people.
- READ: Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’”
- DISCUSS: Share some examples of relationships that have changed and been strengthened as you have followed Jesus. How has God’s work in your heart changed how you relate to others?
REVIEW: The motivation to obey comes from a growing experience with God’s goodness, wisdom, and love.
- READ: Romans 8:32 “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”
- DISCUSS: How has your perspective or understanding of God changed over the last few years, and how has that affected your willingness to trust him?
ASK:
What else did you get from this week's sermon? What actions or next steps can you take to apply it to your life?
PRAY:
For a clear and fresh vision of who God is and what he is like so that, as a result, we can follow him more honestly and confidently.