Read Together: 1 John 3:11–18
As Pastor Jerry reminded us on Sunday: those who worship God care for the poor and needy. This passage in 1 John teaches us that a true care for the needy arises out of a Christlike love for others. From the beginning, Jesus has taught his followers to love one another (John 13:34). In fact, a life of love is a key evidence that we have passed from spiritual death to spiritual life (v. 14).
We see in 1 John 3:16–18 that this love is not simply a warm fuzzy feeling for a vague group of people. It is easy to say you love “everyone”. It’s easy as Christians simply to say that we love people. Yet, as author G. P. Lewis put it, “It is easier to be enthusiastic about Humanity with a capital ‘H’ than it is to love individual men and women, especially those who are uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or otherwise unattractive. Loving everybody in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular.”*
So, when it comes to loving and caring for the poor and needy among us, it is all about concrete, practical action for individual people with real needs, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ who have needs. We are called to love with our actions not just our words, even when it means sacrificing our own possessions and comfort. This is what we are called to as a church as we seek to care for the needy.
John tells us that we know this kind of love through experiencing Jesus’ sacrificial love for us (v. 16). So, if we want to grow in caring for the poor and needy, an essential first step is to stand at the foot of the cross and behold the dying love of Jesus for his people. How can we who have experienced such love hold onto our possessions and comfort with clenched fists? Those who worship God care for the poor and needy because we know that we are poor and needy before God, and yet he has so loved and cared for us in sending his own Son to give his life for us.
Discussion Questions
- According to John, how do we know love? What does this mean for how we love others?
- What does it mean to love in deed and in truth?
- What are some practical, concrete ways you can love and care for others this week?
Ideas for Younger Kids
- Read “Who Is My Neighbor? (Luke 10)” in The Biggest Story Bible Storybook (pages 368–74). This is the story of the Good Samaritan and should provide a good opportunity to talk about showing love and mercy to those in need, just as God has showed us love and mercy.
- Alternatively, simply read the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37 (reading it in the NIrV may be helpful for younger kids). Ask your kids: who showed love to the hurt man? How did he show love to the hurt man? Again, use this as an opportunity to talk about showing love and mercy to those in need, just as God has showed us love and mercy.
Memorization: “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
Song: Reflect on God’s love revealed in Jesus by listening to “Here is Love Vast as the Ocean”. (This is a classic Welsh hymn by William Rees in a modern arrangement recorded by Nathan Drake.)
Pray Together
- Praise God that he is Love and that he cares for us.
- Confess to God our neediness and our lack of love and ask him to increase our love for Him and for others.
- Give thanks to God for Jesus and his love displayed on the cross. Praise him for meeting our needs time and time again, especially through the church.
- Pray that God would give us wisdom and grace to see needs and help meet them with loving care.
Go Together
- Plan a time to volunteer as an individual or family at a place like Good Samaritan Family Services that seeks to meet needs in our community.
- Make a card and bake some cookies for someone who is in need of encouragement.
*Quoted in John Stott, The Letters of John, vol. 19 of TNTC, p. 145.
If you have any questions, comments, or ideas related to this Family Faith Talk guide or future guides, please let us know by leaving a comment!