Small Group Leaders Guide
August 24, 2008
What Is Love?
1John 5:11-12

Getting Started:
1) How does your spouse/pet/significant other, "know" that you love him/her?

Going Deeper:
2) Read 1John 5:1-5. What does it mean to overcome the world?


3) Read 1John 5:11-12. This statement seems pretty straight-forward. Do you think God has made Christ the one and only condition on which He gives eternal life or are there other ways to get it?

• If there are other ways to get it, this verse must be wrong. There seems to be no room for anything but having the Son to have life. This should not be surprising at all since the life is in the Son.

4) According to 1John 5:13, these things are written so that you may know that you have eternal life. Is there any question in your mind about whether you have eternal life? What are some of the things John has told us we can "know" and how?

• 1John 2:3
• 1John 3:5
• 1John 3:14
• 1John 3:24
• 1John 4:13
• 1John 5:1
• 1John 5:5
• 1John 5:12
• 1John 5:18
• 1John 5:20

5) In the book of 1John, the word, know is used 33 times. The word, believe is used 4 times. Do you think knowing and believing are different? How so? How are they related/similar?

• Belief can exist in the absence of knowledge.
• Knowledge entails belief. For example, you wouldn’t say that you know something but don’t believe it.

6) In 1John 5:9-11, John refers to the testimony from God about Jesus. Where else in the Bible could you find "testimony" from God about Jesus?

• Matthew 17:5
• Matthew 3:17

7) As we complete our study in the book of 1John, what stands out to you the most? How has John helped you to know more about your faith and the assurance of your salvation?

8) In what way does knowing you have eternal life in Christ, free you up to obey what Christ commands? Is there a direct connection between being convinced of your faith and your ability to live it out?

9) In 1John 5:21, John closes his letter by saying to keep yourselves from idols. What is the connection between this statement and the rest of the letter?
False belief about God is no better than idol worship.


Putting it into practice:
10) How has studying 1John impacted your desire to show love to others in real life ways?

11) How has showing this type of love been most difficult for you? Pray about this in your groups.

Quote Of The Week:
"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
--A man whose son was healed by Jesus in Mark 9:24