John 3:16-36 - God's Perfect Love

2/1/2021

Did you grow up with the concept of God being a God of wrath or a God of love? Or did you feel like you had a good balance of both of those theological truths?
Has it been your experience in churches that God’s wrath and condemnation are downplayed or maybe not even talked about at all? If so, why do you think that is? What might be gained by not talking about this attribute of God?
Some people (particularly those who are opposed to God) struggle with God’s wrath because they view it through the lens of human anger. What is different between our anger and Gods? What does it mean to have “righteous anger? Have you ever experienced this?
When we experience anger or impatience, we are often embarrassed afterward. We use excuses like “that wasn’t like me.” Or, “there were a number of factors that played into me behaving like that because that’s not what I’m like.” But maybe, the reason we are embarrassed and feel the way we do is because that is exactly what we’re like, that’s what’s in our heart. For a moment the curtain was pulled back and a part of us we don’t like (for good reason) was exposed. Have you ever thought about your anger or impatience this way? Is it something you struggle with?
Interact with this statement - “Anger or impatience is usually the result of something getting in the way of our ego.”
In what way is God’s wrath an expression of his love for truth and standards?
In what way is God’s wrath an expression of his love for his creation? His people?
In what way did God’s wrath and his love come together at the cross?
Do you find that your sin drives you further from God or nearer to him in thankfulness and confession? John 3:20