God is Love: Test It
1 John 4 emphasizes the inseparable connection between God, love, and the believer’s life. The chapter teaches that love is the ultimate proof of true faith and the evidence of the believer’s relationship with God, while also providing a clear warning against the dangers of false teaching and the spirit of deception.
God is Love: Test It
1 John 4:1-6
Sermon Outline
1. Test the Spirits
2. Know Your Identity
3. Listen and Know
Discussion Questions
1. In verse 1, John warns believers not to "believe every spirit" but to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God." Why do you think it's important for Christians to actively test what they hear and believe?
2. How do you personally discern whether a teaching or belief aligns with Scripture? Do you have any methods or habits that help you evaluate truth?
3. In verses 2-3, John says that the true Spirit of God will confess that "Jesus Christ has come in the flesh." Why is this such a crucial test for identifying false teachings?
4. In verse 3, John mentions the "spirit of the antichrist," which is already present in the world. What do you think John means by this? How do you think the "spirit of the antichrist" manifests today in society or in different belief systems?
5. How does knowing that the Holy Spirit is greater than any opposing force affect the way we face challenges, temptations, or deception in our faith?
6. John says that true believers "listen to us" (the apostles’ teachings). How do you stay rooted in the truth of Scripture amid the competing voices of our culture?
God is Love: Test It
1 John 4:1-6
Sermon Outline
1. Test the Spirits
2. Know Your Identity
3. Listen and Know
Discussion Questions
1. In verse 1, John warns believers not to "believe every spirit" but to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God." Why do you think it's important for Christians to actively test what they hear and believe?
2. How do you personally discern whether a teaching or belief aligns with Scripture? Do you have any methods or habits that help you evaluate truth?
3. In verses 2-3, John says that the true Spirit of God will confess that "Jesus Christ has come in the flesh." Why is this such a crucial test for identifying false teachings?
4. In verse 3, John mentions the "spirit of the antichrist," which is already present in the world. What do you think John means by this? How do you think the "spirit of the antichrist" manifests today in society or in different belief systems?
5. How does knowing that the Holy Spirit is greater than any opposing force affect the way we face challenges, temptations, or deception in our faith?
6. John says that true believers "listen to us" (the apostles’ teachings). How do you stay rooted in the truth of Scripture amid the competing voices of our culture?