1. Grasping the commandments of love
2.  Manifesting the commandments of love
3.  Confidence in discipleship
4.  Abiding with the Spirit of God

Reflection Questions:

There are similarities between 1 John and the Gospel of John. What similarities can you identify? What images appear in both 1 John and John’s gospel? What parts of John’s gospel does our text (1 John 3:16-24) reflect? Where do these themes appear in the Pauline writings?

In your own words, define “love.” How does your definition fit the context of John’s letter

According to John, how do we know what love really is?

How has God’s love affected you? How is your life different because of the love of God?

How does this text connect the lives of Christians to the cross of Christ? What does this mean for 21st century Christians? If you were to put these verses into practice, what would it look like here in Clearwater, KS?

Verse 16 grounds the commandment to love one another in the example and reality of Jesus’ death on the cross. How does this help us to understand the call to love one another “as I hav loved you” (John 13:34)?

How do we know if we’re keeping the commandments of God, as John explains them in thi letter? What are some ways we can examine our lives to identify if we’re loving according the way of Christ or loving by our own definitions of love?