BLESSED
Scripture
1 John 4:13-19
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Sermon Recap
This week, Pastor Pete continued our Blessed series with a message on Assurance from 1 John 4:13–19. Many believers know the gospel in their heads yet struggle to live in the confidence of God’s love. We often doubt whether we’re good enough, fear failure or rejection, and focus more on our inadequacies than on God’s grace. But Scripture reminds us that assurance is not based on our performance—it’s grounded in God’s character. We can know that we abide in Him because He has given us His Spirit, sent His Son as our Savior, and sealed us with His promise. The Holy Spirit confirms our adoption as children of God, and our confession of faith is both a declaration of belonging and a source of strength.
John goes on to show that assurance flows from God’s very nature—God is love. His love is not just an emotion or an act, but His very being. This love, hesed (faithful covenant love) and agape (sacrificial, unconditional love), gives us confidence to stand before God without fear. Perfect love casts out fear because fear is rooted in punishment and shame, and Jesus bore that punishment for us. Across generations, we try to manage shame in different ways—by hiding it, reframing it, joking about it, or seeking validation—but only God’s love can truly heal it.
When we rest in His unfailing love, we are set free from the fear of failure and the need to prove ourselves. We become people who love because He first loved us. The
One Thing: We are blessed with God’s assurance so that we can boldly go deeper and wider.
Discussion
Questions
Connecting
- What’s something recently that made you feel uncertain or anxious, and how did you respond?
- Can you think of someone in your life whose quiet confidence in God has encouraged you? What stood out to you about them?
Considering
- According to 1 John 4:13–19, what gives believers assurance that we abide in God and He abides in us?
- What does it mean that “perfect love casts out fear”? How does that truth change how we view failure, shame, or judgment?
Confessing
- What fears or insecurities make it hardest for you to trust that God truly loves and accepts you?
- How have you tried to manage shame or seek approval apart from God’s love?
Committing
- What’s one step you can take this week to rest in God’s assurance rather than your own performance?
- How can you reflect God’s confident, unconditional love to someone else in your relationships, workplace, or community?
Next Steps
As part of our annual theme, Deep & Wide, we invite our church family to go deeper in relationship with God so that we can be the greatest blessing to one another and the world around us. Each week, we will follow up from the sermon with simple, practical steps to help us receive God’s blessing and apply the truths of the gospel more deeply into our lives.
Part 4: Assurance (Oct 19, 2025)
- What’s one step you can take this week to rest in God’s assurance rather than your own performance?
- How can you reflect God’s confident, unconditional love to someone else in your relationships, workplace, or community?