Download discussion questions:  1-john-2_10-17-children-fathers-young-men

John has been writing to a wide range of people in this letter.  First he seems to address those who may doubt the writer’s credibility, so he establishes himself as a dependable eyewitness to the Gospel events (1 John 1:1-4).  Then he makes sure his readers understand the simplicity of the good news and the forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:5-2:2).  Next he seems to change his tone and talks about behavior and attitudes that should be part of the Christian life, sounding like there is a test we need to pass (1 John 2:3-11).

Who is he writing to?  What kind of Christians would have been reading this letter?  How does John want them (and us) to respond to what he is communicating?  Download the passage for this week, and join us on Sunday to see if we gain any clarity about the intentions behind John’s letter.

Download discussion questions:  1 John-2:1-11 knowing

Table Talk:  Christians talk of knowing God.  How well do you know God?  How do you evaluate how well you know God?
[“Table Talk” is an opening question or topic for discussion at the beginning of our time together.  The intent is to help group members (around tables, with four to six at each table) build connections with each other, as well as to guide thinking in a direction related to the passage.]

Early in our discussion one of the group members pointed out the affectionate language John uses at the beginning of this passage, “My little children” (1 John 2:1).  After the abrupt beginning of his letter with eyewitness testimony (1 John 1:1-4) he changed to second person “we” describing the confession of sin (vv. 5-10).  Now he changes to an even more personal and affectionate tone.  “Little children” expresses the care of a loving father.  Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John-2:1-11-knowing 

Christians often speak of “knowing God” and that our faith is a relationship, not a religion.  John has some things to say about that.  How does the “beloved disciple” understand what it means to know God?  How does that relationship affect our behavior and especially our relationships with others?

Download the passage and see what you can learn that will deepen your relationship with God.   Join us on Sunday to learn together what that relationship looks like.

Download discussion questions:  1 John 2:1-11 knowing

Table Talk:  How would you summarize the Christian message to someone completely unfamiliar with the Bible – and without using common “religious” words like cross, died, believe, have faith, love, eternal, heaven, hell, holy, resurrection, receive, savior, lord, born again, new birth, invite?
[“Table Talk” is an opening question or topic for discussion at the beginning of our time together.  The intent is to help group members (around tables, with four to six at each table) build connections with each other, as well as to guide thinking in a direction related to the passage.]

Since I unfortunately was out of town and did not have the privilege of participating in the discussion of this passage on Sunday, I wanted to offer some of my comments.  I encourage those of you who did join in the dialog about these verses to add your input using the “leave a reply” link on the blog page. Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1john-1_3-2_2-multiple-purposes

In our first discussion we saw at least two reasons John had for writing his first letter:

• So that you may have fellowship with us (1:3)
• So that our joy may be complete (1:4)

As the passage continues, John expresses additional desires for his readers.  Download the passage and see what those goals might be, and how John’s writing moves them (and us) toward those goals.

Download discussion questions:  1john 1:3-2:2-multiple-purposes

In our first discussion we saw at least two reasons John had for writing his first letter:

• So that you may have fellowship with us (1:3)
• So that our joy may be complete (1:4)

As the passage continues, John expresses additional desires for his readers.  Download the passage and see what those goals might be, and how John’s writing moves them (and us) toward those goals.  Come for the conversation about this passage on Sunday morning.

Download discussion questions:  1 john 1:1-4 purpose

Table Talk:  Describe a time when you felt particularly close to the Lord.  How would that experience have been different if He had been physically present?
[“Table Talk” is an opening question or topic for discussion at the beginning of our time together.  The intent is to help group members (around tables, with four to six at each table) build connections with each other, as well as to guide thinking in a direction related to the passage.]

John’s letters are only a part, even the smallest part, of his contributions to the New Testament.  Our first exploration of 1 John began with a discussion of how those letters relate to the Gospel he wrote and the Revelation given to him.  What are our general impressions of all those books?  What can we infer about the relationship of very different works by the same author?  (As I mentioned in the group, our study assumes that the Apostle John was the author of the Gospel, the letters, and Revelation.  For more information about the date, authorship, etc., see The Letters of John – A Brief Introduction.) Continue reading →

The letters (or “epistles”) of John are different from most of the other letters included in the canon of the New Testament.  These letters lack the typical introduction that opens other New Testament letters which followed the common practice of the time: Continue reading →

The beginning of a new Bible study is an exciting prospect.  Maybe it is a book of the Bible you have studied in detail before.  Maybe it is a part of the Bible you have never read.  Most likely the letters of John are somewhere between those two extremes for most of us.  Either way, the richness and depth of the very word of God promises to reward the efforts of a fresh study.  If Scripture is the self-revelation of an infinite creator God, then we always have the opportunity to learn more and draw closer to Him through the text of the Bible. Continue reading →

If you have been a part of previous inductive Bible studies with me (either by attending or by following the blog from the group), I wanted to invite you to another study group.  If you don’t fall into either category, you are receiving this just because I thought you might be interested.

Starting on September 11 at South Fellowship we will be exploring the letters of the Apostle John.  The group will meet at 10:45 on Sunday mornings, and I hope to post a blog entry each week after the discussion, d.v. Continue reading →