Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, January 11, 2025.

Main Theme: We must respond to God’s love in order for His love to be relational.

Read in Class: 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:4, and Ezekiel 33:11. Ask the class to identify the common thread of these passages.

Study: What do these passages teach us about God’s desire to save everyone?

Apply: How should we show our love and respect for every human being?

Share: Your friend asks, if God’s love is unconditional then why will some people be lost?

Read in Class: Deuteronomy 7:6-9. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: What do these verses teach about the relationship between God making covenants and God’s lovingkindness?

Apply: What are ways that you can constantly keep the reality of God’s love in your thoughts? Why is it important to do that?

Share: Your friend says a certain man keeps coming by the church asking for money to buy food for his family, but only uses it for his drug addiction. How can we help free people from their bondage and addictions when they won’t even help themselves? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: 1 John 4:7-20. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does this tell us about the priority of God’s love?

Apply: Think about what you have been forgiven and what it cost you to be forgiven by Jesus. What should this tell you about forgiving others?

Share: Your friend says she can never forgive her aunt for what she did to her and her family. It is beyond forgivable. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 15:12, 1 John 3:16, and 1 John 4:7-12. Ask the class to identify the common thread of these passages.

Study: What do these passages teach about the relationship between God’s love, our love for God, and love for others?

Apply: What specific steps can you take to love God by loving others? What could you do today and in the coming days to show people God’s love and (eventually) invite them to enjoy what it means to have the promise of eternal life?

Share: Can you think of someone in your community who needs to be shown unconditional love? How can you show them God’s love this week?