(5 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will read 1 John 2:4–6 to understand what becomes of us when we do and don’t do what God expects of us.
(5 minutes, easy set-up)
Provide a dry erase board and dry erase marker.
Learning Goal: Students will understand that God has called them to live up to His own standard of holiness.
Remind students that Peter told his readers that they could no longer live in ignorance of what God expected of them. Divide students into two groups at this time. Instruct the first group to read 1 John 2:4–6 to discover what we become when we do not do what God expects of us. Instruct the second group to read the same passage to discover what we become when we do what God expects.
After two minutes, call for the members of the first group to share their findings. As they respond, write the phrases “a liar” and “has no truth within him” on the dry erase board. Then call for the second group to share. As they respond, write the phrases “God’s love is complete” and “must walk as Jesus” on the board. Ask: What makes a believer a liar if he doesn’t do what God expects? (Answer: His or her faith is based on words without accompanying action.) Why is it important that God’s love becomes complete within us? (For those who don’t know God, their understanding of Him is based on what they see in us.) Encourage students to examine their lives to see how God’s truth is demonstrated to others.