The Greatest Love

Theme: God is love

Scriptures:

• 1 John 4:7-19
• Psalm 40
• Ephesians 2:1-10
• Romans 5:6-11
• John 3:16-17

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: God’s very nature is love, and His actions demonstrate what love is like.

Think: View love for God and love for others as the guiding principles of my life.

Do: Follow God’s example of love and demonstrate love as a way to draw near to Him.

A1 Love

B1 Love is a choice, not an emotion.

B2 It is seen by its actions (private and public): 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn't brag about itself, is not haughty, Doesn't behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn't easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, Doesn't rejoice in injustice, but rejoices with the truth, Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…

C1 Does these verses describe God’s love?

C2 How would you explain the difference between God’s love for believers, the love of spouses, parent’s love for their children, love to a neighbor, and love to an enemy?

C3 What is people’s greatest failure to understand what love is?

C4 Why do some people love their dog more than their wife (or husband)?

C5 Does God love everyone equally?

C6 Does God hate?

D1 Consider: Romans 9:13 Just as it is written, "Jacob, I have loved; Esau, I have hated."

E1 The context shows this to be nations.

E2 Esau, the person, never served Jacob, the person.

E3 The word hate is hate as in Luke 6:22 NKJV - Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake.

D2 Consider: Amos 6:8 NKJV - The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, The LORD God of hosts says: "I abhor the pride of Jacob, And hate his palaces; Therefore I will deliver up the city And all that is in it. Thus, there are reasons for God to hate something.

D3 Some things God hates

E1 Pride: Proverbs 8:13 (GNT) To honor the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and false words.

E2 Sin: Revelation 21:8 NIV - But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

E3 Rebellion: Jude 1:11 NKJV - Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

E4 Unbelief: Mark 16:14 NLT - Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.

E5 Evil: Amos 5:15 NKJV - Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

E6 Six things: Proverbs 6:16-19 CSB - The LORD hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.

E7 If God hates these things, what are we to do?

D4 Some things we are to hate:

E1 Hate what is evil: Romans 12:9 (GNT) Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good.

E2 Three things to hate: 1 John 2:16 NKJV - For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.

E3 These evil things: Matthew 15:19 CSB - For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander. This is why a new heart is needed, for the original one cannot be fixed. The heart is the deepest unconscious or conscious desire.

E4 Arrogant, narcisstic pastors: 3 John 1:9-10 CSB - I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive our authority. This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church. The Lord Jesus hates these things, too. How do we avoid Diotrephes type pastors? Have you ever met one?

E5 Our former life: 1 Peter 4:3 NKJV - For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

F1 What does God think about our past?

F2 Does the former lifestyle lead us to heaven, forgiveness of sins, and fellowship with God?

F3 How can we hate these things?

E6 Name some others things we are to hate.

B3 Questions

C1 If God hates these things, what are we to love?

C2 If we see our brother or sister doing these things, how are we to love?

C3 If we see ourself doing these things, how are we to love?

A2 1 John 4:7-19,

B1 1 John was given to help us discern if we are Christians.

B2 What is the source of true love?

B3 How did God show (demonstrate His love)?

B4 How do Christians show true love to each other?

C1 ...to our spouse?

C2 ...to our children?

C3 …to our parents?

C4 ...to our fellow Christians in the assembly?

B5 How does God’s love affect us and the judgment?

A3 Psalm 40,

B1 Of all the good things taught in this Psalm, we will ask a few questions about these verses: Psalm 40:6-11 NIV - Sacrifice and offering you did not desire-- but my ears you have opened-- burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-- it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart." I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, LORD, as you know. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly. Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD; may your love and faithfulness always protect me.

C1 You have opened my ears has the idea that we cannot understand God’s truth without God’s grace. If He doesn’t give us understanding (opening our ears), we will not understand. Sacrifice and offering is required according to Mosaic Law. The Psalmist understood that this is ineffective.

D1 1 Samuel 15:22 NIV - But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

D2 Jeremiah 7:22-23 NIV - For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.

D3 The obedience required today is to repent and believe the Gospel. Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, Saying, "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent! Believe the gospel."

C2 I desire to do your will, my God. Your law is within my heart. Most consider this to be Messianic. The Lord Jesus said: John 4:34 NKJV - Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

B2 What are some things we learn from this?

A4 Ephesians 2:1-10,

B1 Why does God love?

B2 What is the difference between God’s love and human love?

B3 What does grace and mercy have to do with love?

A5 Romans 5:6-11,

B1 How does this verse help understand agape love: 1 John 3:18 - Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

B2 Why did the Lord Jesus die for His enemies?

C1 It is His character: 2 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV - Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. And, 1 John 4:8 NKJV - He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

C2 For fellowship. Note, God does not NEED to have fellowship, but He does want to: 1 John 1:3 NKJV - that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

C3 Because He is merciful: Nehemiah 9:17 NKJV - They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.

A6 John 3:16-17,

B1 How is giving up your only begotten son showing love?

B2 What is the Lord Jesus saying to Nicodemus?

C1 “I am the Son of God.”

C2 “If you believe in me, you will be forgiven and be reborn.”

C3 Our good works are not even mentioned, because they cannot save.

B3 Why was the Lord Jesus sent into the world?

B4 How can seeing God’s love help us to love others?

A7 Next week:

B1 Holy! Holy! Holy!

B2 Theme: God is holy.

B3 Scriptures:

• Exodus 15:1-21
• Revelation 4:8-11
• 1 Samuel 2:1-3
• Isaiah 5:13-25
• Isaiah 6:1-6
• Joshua 24:19-28
• Ezekiel 39:1-24
• Leviticus 19:1-4
• Psalm 99
• Proverbs 9:7-12
• 1 Peter 1:14-21