Life WITH Love | October 22, 2023

Bob Schwahn | Lead Pastor

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us…
For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.” — A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (New York: HarperCollins, 1978)

“I read in a periodical the other day that the fundamental thing is how we think of God.By God Himself, it is not! How God thinks of us is not only more important, but infinitely more important. Indeed, how we think of Him is of no importance except in so far as it is related to how He thinks of us…
To please God . . . to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness . . . to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is.”
— C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (1941)

Which is more important?
- Growing in our love for God
- Growing in our understanding God’s love for us

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (NIV)

1 John 4:7-19 (NIV)

NO FEAR:

1 John 4:17-18 (NIV)

Roadblocks:
PROJECTION of your thoughts onto GOD…
CONFUSION of WHY God loves you…
MISUNDERSTANDING of how God shows His love…

Romans 5:6-11 (NIV)

Why do you love me?
What are your thoughts toward me?
What do you see in me?
What do you want from me?
What do you want for me?
What about me brings you delight and joy?
What are your hopes for me?

Reflection Questions:
1. Which is more important? Growing in our love for God or growing in our understanding of God’s love for us? Explain your answer…
2. What words would you use to describe how God thinks/feels about you? Why did you choose those words?
3. Read 1 John 4:7-19. What observations do you make about love? God’s love for us and our love for God?
4. Have you ever noticed that you have projected your views of yourself onto your belief of how God views you? Share an example?
5. Do you truly believe in the depths of your soul that God loves you? Why does God love you? Explain your answer.
6. Read Romans 5:6-11. What words does Paul use to describe us before putting our faith in Jesus? Have you ever viewed yourself as once being the enemy of Jesus? Why is understanding this important to understanding the love of God?
7. Write a letter from God to you about you. Answer these questions from God’s perspective:
Why do you love me?
What are your thoughts toward me?
What do you see in me?
What do you want from me?
What do you want for me?
What about me brings you delight and joy?
What are your hopes for me?

Do these answers line up with what the Bible says God thinks?
Share this with someone else? Ask them to the same?

Next Steps:

Complete the Connect Card to receive more information, have us pray for you, or to ask us any question: http://journeybozeman.com/connectcard

Want to worship through giving and support the ministry of Journey Church: https://journeybozeman.com/give
Download our app: https://journeybozeman.com/app
Join our Facebook Group to stay connected throughout the week: https://facebook.com/groups/JourneyChurchBozeman
Get your children connected to our children's ministry, Base Camp: https://journeybozeman.com/children
Our Student Ministry is for High School and Middle School students: https://journeybozeman.com/students
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneyChurchBozeman
Notes Page: https://journeybozeman.com/sermons/notes/2023.10.22.pdf