Icebreaker Question: Share a time when you felt truly loved by someone. What made that moment memorable?

Discussion Questions:
Understanding God's Love

1. Dr. Jerry Root mentioned that "neglect of God's love" might be at the base of all sin, rather than pride. What do you think about this perspective? How does neglecting God's love lead to other sins in your life?
2. Read 1 John 3:1-3. What does it mean to you personally that you are called a "child of God" right now, not just in the future?
3. The sermon used the movie "The Notebook" to illustrate how we live "as if we have dementia"—forgetting God's love. When are you most likely to forget or drift away from the reality of God's love for you?

Responding to the Father's Love

4. Dr. Jerry shared that his father didn't tell him "I love you" until he was in college, but after that, their relationship changed. How has understanding God as a loving Father changed the way you relate to Him? If you've had a difficult relationship with your earthly father, how does that affect your view of God?
5. Read Mark 12:28-31. Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God with everything we have. How is this different from trying to earn God's love through good behavior?
6. The sermon mentioned four diagnostic questions the pastor asks himself daily:
   • If Jesus came back today, would I be disappointed?
   • Can I say thank you in the midst of my present circumstances?
   • Am I out of sorts with anybody?
   • Do I love Jesus, or do I just want to want to love Him?
7. Which of these questions resonates most with you? Why?

Living in Response to Love
8. Dr. Jerry illustrated bearing the stain of those we love (the father with his crying child, the mother with her baby). How does understanding that God "bears our stain" because He loves us change your perspective on your sin and struggles?
9. Read Romans 5:8. God proved His love while we were still sinners. How should this truth affect the way we treat others who are struggling or sinning?
10. The sermon mentioned that when Peter could only say "I like you a lot" to Jesus, Jesus accepted him at that level and still gave him ministry. Where are you right now in your love for God? How does it feel to know He accepts you wherever you are?

Closing Reflection
Read together as a group:
"See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are... Beloved, now we are children of God." (1 John 3:1-2)

Closing Question: How has this discussion changed or deepened your understanding of God's love for you?