Community Group Resources

Discussion Questions

1. Have someone in your group give a brief recap of Sunday’s message, highlighting the primary Scripture points and the main idea of the message.
2. John tells believers to "test the spirits." Why is discernment so important for followers of Jesus today? What makes discernment especially challenging in our current culture?
3. Sunday’s sermon described two tests: the Truth Test and the Love Test. Why do both matter? What happens when someone emphasizes truth without love – or love without truth? 
4. Read 1 John 4:7-12 aloud. According to this passage, what does God's love look like? How is His love different from the way our culture often defines love?
5. When you evaluate your own life, which test comes more naturally to you: standing firmly for biblical truth or consistently demonstrating Christlike love? Where do you sense God inviting you to grow? 

Action Step

This week, spend some time asking God to evaluate your own heart before evaluating anyone else's. As you pray and read the Scripture, consider these questions:

• Am I rooted deeply enough in God's Word to recognize truth from error?
• Are there voices, influences, or teachings that I need to evaluate more carefully in light of Scripture?
• Does my pursuit of truth lead me to become more loving, or more critical?
• Is there someone God is calling me to love more sacrificially this week?
• When others interact with me, do they see both the truth of God and the love of God?

Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen both "wings" of your faith: holding firmly to God's truth while demonstrating God's love. Look for one opportunity this week to intentionally put both into practice.