The document discusses a Bible study titled 'Beyond Belief: Exploring the Character of God,' focusing on attributes like love, holiness, justice, and faithfulness of God. It emphasizes that God's love empowers believers to love one another, rooted in 1 John 4:7-12, highlighting the necessity of love in faith and community. The study encourages participants to apply God's love in their daily lives by embracing, reflecting, and seeking reconciliation with others.

1. Beyond Belief
Exploring the Character of God
Rhema Christian
Fellowship Bible Study

2. Beyond Belief
Exploring the Character of God
Rhema Christian
Fellowship Bible Study

3. Our Essential Questions

4. Our Essential Questions
What do I believe about my faith?

5. Our Essential Questions
What do I believe about my faith?
How do I know the will of God?

6. Beyond Belief:
Exploring the Character of God
Session 1: God Is Holy
Session 2: God Is Loving
Session 3: God Is Just
Session 4: God Is Forgiving
Session 5: God Is Wise
Session 6: God Is Faithful

7. God Is Loving
Session 2

8. God Is Loving

9. God Is Loving
The Point: God’s love
empowers me to love.

10. God Is Loving
The Point: God’s love
empowers me to love.

11. God Is Loving
The Point: God’s love
empowers me to love.
Intro: The Bible Meets Life

12. God Is Loving
The Point: God’s love
empowers me to love.
Intro: The Bible Meets Life

13. God Is Loving
The Point: God’s love
empowers me to love.
Intro: The Bible Meets Life
Our Passage: 1 John
4:7-12

14. 1 John 4:7-9 (HCSB)
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is
from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God
and knows God.
8 The one who does not love does not know God, because
God is love.
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way:God sent
His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live
through Him.
6

15. 1 John 4:10-12 (HCSB)
10 Love consists in this:not that we loved God, but that He
loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must
love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God
remains in us and His love is perfected in us
7

16. Conduct an Inductive Study
Mark reference to author in one color and
another to the recipient
Identify lists
Mark keywords and synonyms
Mark contrasts
Mark terms of conclusion
Mark comparisons
Mark expressions of time
Double underline geographical locations
Make lists of keywords and key people

18. 1 John 4:7-9 (HCSB)
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is
from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God
and knows God.
8 The one who does not love does not know God,
because God is love.
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way:God sent
His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live
through Him.
9
Conduct an Inductive Study

19. 1 John 4:10-12 (HCSB)
10 Love consists in this:not that we loved God, but that
He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our
sins.
11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must
love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another,
God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.
10

20. ”God Is Love”
(1 John 4:7-8)
We are created to love and be loved
God not only has love and gives love but is
Himself love
Christians are God’s spiritual family, therefore
should love one another (v. 7)
A loving spirit is a “by-product” of being a new
creation in Christ
How does this work?

21. ”God Is Love”
(1 John 4:7-8)
1.When we accept God’s love and trust Him, He
imparts His Spirit into us.
2.The Spirit of God makes us new creations
(reborn).
3.It is by the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit that
His love flows through us.
How is this love manifested in us?

22. God Reveals His Love
(1 John 4:9-10)
God revealed His love (v.9)
When God wanted to inform us about
Who He is
What He is like
He came in person
Jesus was the epitome of God’s love
His death resulted in our atonement
Peace with God
Freedom from sin
The ultimate power over death: everlasting life (with God as
intended)

23. The Greatest Force in the Universe

24. The Greatest Force in the Universe
God’s love is…

25. The Greatest Force in the Universe
(1 John 4:11-12)
The power of God's love gives us the ability
to love the unlovely and the unloveable
Our unconditional love for others…
God's desire: we live in His love and to share
that same love with others
Result: bold witness of unconditional love
draws others to an everlasting relationship
with God through Christ

26. Live It Out

27. Live It Out
How can you let God's love shape your day-
to-day life?

28. Live It Out
How can you let God's love shape your day-
to-day life?
•Embrace God's love.

29. Live It Out
How can you let God's love shape your day-
to-day life?
•Embrace God's love.
•Reflect God's love.

30. Live It Out
How can you let God's love shape your day-
to-day life?
•Embrace God's love.
•Reflect God's love.
•Seek reconciliation.