THE GOSPEL IS THE GOOD NEWS THAT GOD GOES FIRST
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16
“We love because God first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
Icebreaker: Has there ever been a time in your life where you felt deeply and unconditionally
loved by another person? When was it; who was it; and how did you experience that love?
Has there been a time in your life where you experienced the deep and unconditional love of
another person when you were not deserving of that love – or when you had hurt or wounded or
rejected the other person in some way?
How did it make you feel to be loved in that way?
How would you describe the love of God?
John 3:16 says that “whoever believes in him (Jesus, the only begotten Son of God) shall not
perish but have eternal life.” What does it mean to believe “in” Jesus?
In what sense do people “perish” when they do not receive God’s love by putting their full faith
in Jesus?
What is the “gospel” in your own words? ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
What is the connection between the word “gospel” and the word “evangelism”? Have you ever
thought of yourself as qualified to be an evangelist? What must a person know and do in order to
be an evangelist?
The Bible says: “We love because God first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.
When did you first realize that you are loved by God? How did you come to that realization?
What does it feel like to know that you are loved by God?
What is the proper way for us to respond to (return) God’s love?
Why do some people reject the idea that God loves them?
How can Christians do a better job of “showing” other people that they are loved by God?
In this week’s Bible lesson we learn that God always “goes first” in love. Can you think of some
specific times when God has “gone first” in showing his love, compassion, concern and care in
your life?
The apostle John tells us one important way that we must respond to God’s love. John says:
“Beloved, if God so loved us we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:11
Sometimes loving others is easy; but sometimes it is really hard to love another person. The
Bible tells us that God loves us even when we are unlovable. “God demonstrates his own love
for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Identify some circumstances that make it really hard for you to love other people.
How can understanding and receiving God’s love empower us to show love to other people even
when they are “unlovable”?
God loved us first – before we loved him. What are some concrete ways that we can “go first” in
showing God’s love to others?
John 3:16 tells us that “God so loved the world.” What does the Bible mean when it says that
God loved the world?
The great commission also tells us that we should “Go into all the world and preach the good
news to every creature.” Mark 16:15 and Matthew 28:18. Why are we to take the gospel into
the whole world? What is your part in that great commission?
In light of all that we have learned about the good news that God loves us and wants us to share
his love with the whole world, what should the church be doing?
Wrap it up: Sharing God’s love with others means that we do for others what God does in our
lives. We go first in showing others that they also are loved. That means we put others first.
Putting others first is a very godly thing. A person who makes a habit of putting others first
demonstrates to the world that the Holy Spirit is working in and through him.
Put it into action: 1) Can you identify two or three simple and concrete ways that you can
practice putting “others first” as you go through this coming week?
2) Will you be alert this week for someone who needs to hear that she is loved by God? Will you
be bold enough to tell her that she is loved unconditionally by God? Will you invite her to church
and/or Home Group so she can see God’s love in action in the lives of his people?
Closing prayers: Please close your Home Group and devotional time for this week with a prayer
focused on praising God for the love that he has poured out in your life. Name several specific
proofs of God’s love that you can see in your life. Ask God to open your eyes to ways that you
can share God’s love with your family, friends and neighbors this week.