FROM PERFORMANCE TO PEACE
The People Experiment - Part 7 | November 14–15, 2026
Stephen Radie | sradie@westsidemail.com
1. God’s Love IS NOT EARNED
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:7–8
2. God’s Love HAS BEEN PROVEN
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
1 John 4:9–10
3. God’s Love ENDS OUR FEAR
17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
1 John 4:17–18
4. God’s Love SHOWS UP IN US
19 We love each other because he loved us first. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
1 John 4:19–21
You don't have to perform for God's love.
You can live from it.
THE EXPERIMENT...
Where are you now?
What do you want to change?
What could you try?
DIGGING DEEPER: For personal or group discovery
Read John 13:1–17, 34–35 out loud. Then retell the passage in your own words. Then discuss the following questions:
What does this passage teach us about God?
What does this passage teach us about people?
If this is true, what should I do in response?
Who could I share this with?
