Love; Life and Death - 1 John 3:11-18; 4:7-12

1 John 3:11 - 18; 4:7-12
3:11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 

Sermon Questions:
1. When was a time you've felt overwhelmingly aware of God's love for you?
2. How does your heart tend to twist the definition of 'being loved'?
3. Who have you closed your heart to? (don't beat yourself up, return to the love of God TO YOU)
4. What are some everyday deaths God has put infront of you that could bring life to others?
5. What are some simple, everyday ways you can remind yourself, and beleive, that God loves you?