1. 1 John 3 16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister [a] in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?a

2. 1 John 3 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

3. 1 John 3 21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

4. 1 John 3 23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

5. Feelings and Emotions Action and Truth Rick Wright 4 th Sunday of Easter (B) Church of the Nations

6. Season of Easter The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central fact of Christian devotion and the ground of all Christian thinking. The Spirit of Early Christian Thought by Robert Louis Wilken Christian faith based in historical reality Shapes our life and work together

7. 1 John 3 This is how we know what love is. That he (Jesus) laid down his life for us. And we should lay down our lives for one another.* – Greek adelphon = brothers Historical reality Jesus (God the Word) died for us So we give up ourselves for each other “Easter is not only great joy but transformed life of shared caring”

8. 1 John 3 Resurrection empowers us to risk and give If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his heart against him – how does the love of God remain in that person? Give of what we have At very least show compassion Love = action (that helps the other in need)

9. Conclusion “John seems to hate speech (even true theological speech) without willingness to act in love toward another believer. Love is not just a special way of feeling. It is a direction of life and action” (D Moody Smith) Church = community of love-as-action Little children – let us love. Not with words of talk. But with actions and in truth… And this is his commandment. That we believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another.