Faith Talk – October 12, 2025
Faith Talks are designed to help you keep the conversation going beyond Sunday morning. Use this guide with your family or friends to reflect on the sermon and Life Group lesson, pray together, and put God’s Word into practice. Think of this guide as a starting place—then let God shape the conversation.
Sermon
Title: A Forbidden Love
Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17
Overview: John warns believers not to love “the world”—the rebellious, anti-God value system opposed to the Father. He names its ingredients (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride in one’s possessions) and reminds us that this world is passing away, but those who do God’s will remain forever.
Main Points:
Discussion Questions:
For Kids
For Students & Adults
Application: Name one worldly pull you will resist this week and one God-centered practice you will embrace instead. Share it with someone who will pray for you.
Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17
Overview: John warns believers not to love “the world”—the rebellious, anti-God value system opposed to the Father. He names its ingredients (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride in one’s possessions) and reminds us that this world is passing away, but those who do God’s will remain forever.
Main Points:
- The “world” is a hostile system ruled by the enemy, not the created order or the people God loves.
- The world’s allure shows up as sensuality (doing), materialism (having), and pride (being).
- The world is temporary; obedience to God endures.
Discussion Questions:
For Kids
- What does it mean to “love the world” in kid language? What are some examples at school or online?
- Which is easier for you: wanting things, wanting to fit in, or wanting to be first? Why?
- How could you show this week that you love God more than those things?
For Students & Adults
- What habits or inputs (media, spending, comparison, approval) are shaping your loves? What needs pruning?
- What concrete practices help you love the Father more—this week, not someday?
- Where might your public Christianity be solid but your private affections be drifting?
Application: Name one worldly pull you will resist this week and one God-centered practice you will embrace instead. Share it with someone who will pray for you.
Life Group
Scripture: Jonah 1-4
Christ/Gospel Connections:
All of Scripture points back to Jesus. In our study each week, every age group’s lesson includes a note about how the message connects to Christ. Use these Christ/Gospel Connections as a springboard for meaningful discussion about who Jesus is and what He has done for us.
Preschool – God wants everyone to turn away from their sin and trust in Him. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to save us.
Kids – Jonah spent three days in a fish so that the people of Nineveh could hear God’s message, turn from sin, and be saved. Jesus was in the tomb for three days so that we could hear and trust the gospel, turn from sin, and be saved.
Students – Jonah was a prophet who rejected God’s call, ran from his enemies, and eventually obeyed grudgingly. Jesus followed God’s call, loved His enemies, and obeyed joyfully (Hebrews 12:2). While we are sinners, Christ willingly died for us.
Adults – God is compassionate and will forgive when people repent. All who believe in Jesus Christ and repent of their sin will be saved.
Discussion Questions:
For Kids
For Students & Adults
Christ/Gospel Connections:
All of Scripture points back to Jesus. In our study each week, every age group’s lesson includes a note about how the message connects to Christ. Use these Christ/Gospel Connections as a springboard for meaningful discussion about who Jesus is and what He has done for us.
Preschool – God wants everyone to turn away from their sin and trust in Him. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to save us.
Kids – Jonah spent three days in a fish so that the people of Nineveh could hear God’s message, turn from sin, and be saved. Jesus was in the tomb for three days so that we could hear and trust the gospel, turn from sin, and be saved.
Students – Jonah was a prophet who rejected God’s call, ran from his enemies, and eventually obeyed grudgingly. Jesus followed God’s call, loved His enemies, and obeyed joyfully (Hebrews 12:2). While we are sinners, Christ willingly died for us.
Adults – God is compassionate and will forgive when people repent. All who believe in Jesus Christ and repent of their sin will be saved.
Discussion Questions:
For Kids
- Why did Jonah run away? What should he have done instead?
- When you do something wrong, what does it mean to repent? How does Jesus help us?
- Who is someone you can forgive the way God forgave Nineveh?
For Students & Adults
- Where do you see yourself in Jonah—avoiding a hard call, angry at God’s mercy, or asleep to others’ need?
- What does real repentance look like beyond words (habits, restitution, new direction)?
- Who is your “Nineveh”—a person or group you struggle to believe God can reach? How will you move toward them this week?
Pray Together
- Thank God for His patience and mercy that pursued Jonah—and us.
- Commit to obeying God’s call promptly and to practicing repentance quickly.
- Ask God to expose worldly loves, deepen love for the Father, and use us to carry His message to our “Nineveh.”
Activity
Trade-Up: Lasting vs. Passing
Supplies:
Instructions:
- Bible
- 2 containers labeled “Worldly (Passing)” and “Eternal (Lasting)”
- sticky notes
- pens
Instructions:
- Read 1 John 2:15-17 aloud. Briefly define “world” as a value system opposed to God.
- Invite everyone to write 2-3 items on sticky notes—things we’re tempted to love (e.g., popularity, new gear, likes, comfort).
- As a group, decide whether each item is primarily “Worldly (Passing)” or “Eternal (Lasting)” (e.g., generosity, prayer, truth, people’s souls). Place the notes in the matching container.
- Discuss: Which “worldly” notes have the strongest pull on you? What is one “eternal” practice you’ll “trade up” to this week?
- Pray over the “Worldly” container, asking God to loosen our grip, then over the “Eternal” container, asking God to anchor our loves in what lasts.
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