SERIES: Better Than
Week #2: God’s Love is Better Than You Imagine
John 7:53-8:11
MESSAGE PREVIEW:
This Sunday we continue our series, Better Than, by looking at the story of Jesus and a woman
caught in adultery found in John 7:53-8:11. As we see how Jesus responded to the situation, the
woman, and her accusers, we get a glimpse of an important and powerful truth: “God’s love is
better than we can imagine.”
THE NARRATIVE STORY (John 7:53-8:11)
A. Some highlights and comments:
- Jesus went to the Temple early in the morning, and a crowd gathered to hear from Him.
- As He sat down and taught the crowd, Scribes and Pharisees arrive and drag a woman
into the temple courts who had been caught in adultery. - They were using this situation and the woman to trap Jesus because of their jealously
towards Him. - They reference the Law of Moses and its command to stone such a woman (Leviticus
20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22). They ask Jesus for his opinion. - Question: Where is the man who committed adultery with the woman? His absence
shows us that the religious leaders were really not concerned about the Law, but were
using the woman and the situation to test Jesus to try and find grounds to convict Him. - Jesus draws in the sand – a symbol that He is not intending to debate them.
- John 8:7 ESV “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at
her.” - When they heard this, the religious leaders went away one by one.
- Jesus looks at the woman and says: “Where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
She replies, “No one, Lord.” They Jesus tells her, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and
from now on sin no more.” (John 8:10-11) - Jesus, the only one who was without sin, could have condemned the woman but
instead shows her compassion. He doesn’t condone her sin, but he gives her
forgiveness, value, and dignity. Her sin does not define her or determine hew worth. He
then tells her to go and live in a new way – one of faith and obedience.
B. John 1:17 ESV “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through, Jesus
Christ.”
THREE IMPORTANT TRUTHS
A. The love of God is best understood in Jesus.
- John 3:16-17 ESV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son
into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through
him.”
B. The love of God is better than you imagine. - We know this by looking at Jesus.
C. How does one receive such love? - We humble ourselves, repent of our sin, believe in Jesus, and receive his loving
salvation.
OUR RESPONSE
A. Do you need to be reminded that God’s love is better than you can imagine?
B. Have you received the love of Jesus? Are you resting in the love of Jesus today?
ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION
Opening Discussion:
To get the conversation going this week, take a few minutes and have the group share God stories
of how they are seeing God at work in their lives. Use the following questions to guide the
conversation.
- What are the “God moments” from this past week? How have you seen God at work
that is unmistakably Him? - How did God speak to you through His Word this past week?
- How can we specifically pray for you this week?
Pray as a group and then move to the discussion of the message for this week.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Ask and discuss the following questions.
Q: What was the goal of the scribes and religious leaders in this story? Why were they
pursuing this end?
Q: It’s interesting that the man (who would have also been caught in adultery) is missing
from the scene? What does this reveal about the motive of the religious leaders in bringing
the woman to Jesus?
Q: What do you think the woman was expecting when Jesus finally addressed her? Do you
think his words to her were surprising to not just her but the crowd who was there? How so?
Q: What is so great about the love Jesus shows to the woman in this story?
Q: How does the love of God differ from the love we often see and experience from others
and in the world around us? How is God’s love better than what we just identified?
Q: Read John 3:16-17. How do we best understand the love of God?
Q: How have you experienced the love of God in ways that were better than you imagined?
Q: How can knowing the true goodness of God’s love affect how we respond to sin and
brokenness in our lives?
Q: What can keep us from truly embracing and experiencing the fullness of God’s love for
us? How do we fight against these things?
Q: Who do you know that needs to believe and receive love of God found in Jesus? How
can you help them see that the love of God is better than they imagine?
WRAP-UP
The love of God truly is better than we imagine. Knowing this truth is only just the first step. We
need to take the next step to embrace God’s love in a way that changes how we think and how we
live.
Use the following questions to wrap-up your discussion of today’s message and the series as a
whole.
- What did you hear?
a. What is your one “take-away” from this week?
b. How did God speak specifically to you through this passage and study?
- What do you think?
a. How did this passage and study affirm, challenge, or change the way you think about
the love of God? - What will you do?
a. What is your next step? How will you take the truth of God’s Word and apply it to your
life this week?
Have group members share their answers to the above questions.
As you dismiss, take a few minutes to pray for your group. Pray that God would help them to
remember and rest in the greatness of His love for them. Pray for those mentioned who need to
experience and receive the love of God through faith in Jesus. Pray that God would use those in
your group to show them that God’s love is better than they imagine.
SCRIPTURES FROM THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE:
John 7:53-8:11, Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22, John 1:17, John 3:16-17
UPCOMING MESSAGES: New Series, “Better Than”
March 28, 2021 His Love is Better Than You Imagine
April 2, 2021 His Grace is Better Than You Imagine
April 4, 2021 His Plan is Better Than You Imagine