Message Outline

1 John 2:12-14 (reference)

Children: You have real victory because your sins have been forgiven, and you know the Father. 

Young Men: You have real victory because you are strong in Christ through the Spirit of God in you.

Fathers: You have real victory through Jesus, your first love. 

1 John 2:15-17 

1 John 2:16 

Our battle against sin is rooted in desire and pride. 

James 1:13-15 

We must end our love affair with worldly, sinful things and set our affection on Jesus.

Colossians 3:1-2

Victory is found only in Christ, and only by faith.

John 16:33, Romans 8:37, Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14.  

1 John 5:4

Going Deeper Questions

Ice Breaker Question: have you ever been on a team that had an obvious advantage by having the best player on it? Describe that time.

1 John 2:12-14 12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

What blessings or spiritual truths does John associate with each of these groups: 

Children

 Young Men 

Fathers

How do John’s words encourage YOU as you strive to find real victory in Jesus?

1 John 2:15-17 15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

What are the types of sinful/worldly things fall into each category?

Desire of the flesh (anything that brings comfort or pleasure):

Desire of the eyes (anything that makes us covet what we see):

Pride of life (whatever makes us look down on others):

From the message: We must end our love affair with worldly, sinful things and set our affection on Jesus. Is there a specific area (or a specific thing) that is a very difficult struggle for you?

Passages to consider: John 16:33, Romans 8:37, Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14.   Victory is found only in Christ, and only by faith. What do you think it means to rely on Christ for victory, rather than fighting in your own strength and power?  How easy/difficult is that for you to do?

Prayer: Pray for victory in areas of life where you  find yourself struggling with your desires and pride.

Message Outline

1 John 2:1-11 

1 John 2:3

Ginosko means to know from first-hand experience. 

Real knowledge of Jesus is demonstrated when we keep His commands. 

John 14:15, 21, 23, 24; John 15:10

1 John 3:11

John 15:12

The command that shows we really know Jesus is this: Love one another.

All sin is a violation of love

The evidence someone knows Jesus is NOT perfection; it’s progress. 

QUESTION: Are you moving in the right direction in terms of your obedience and love?

CHALLENGE: Don’t just ALLOW Jesus to work on you however you see fit. ASK Him to work on you however He wants!   

Going Deeper Questions

Ice Breaker Question: who is the most famous person you have ever met/seen in person? Who is the most famous person you actually know in a personal way?

1 John 2:3 talks about really knowing God versus knowing about God. 

How would you distinguish between simply knowing facts about God and truly knowing God in a life-changing personal way? What are some modern-day examples of people who claim to know God but whose lives are characterized by disobedience?

John links knowing God with obeying His commands. How can we guard against separating knowledge of God from obedience to Him?

1 John 2:5 talks about love being perfected in us.  What do you think it means for the love of God to be “perfected” or “made complete” in you through your obedience? What are the implications if our love for God is not expressed in a changed life?

1 John 2:7-8 John describes the commandment to love one another as both “old” and “new.” In what ways is this command old, and in what ways is it new? How does Jesus’s life and death give this ancient command a new meaning for Christians?

1 John 2:9-11 John uses the metaphors of light and darkness to contrast love versus hatred Who are the people easy for you to love? Who are the most difficult?  How do our relationships with others act as a clear sign of our spiritual state?

John says the one who hates his brother “does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” In a practical sense, how can a lack of love lead to spiritual “stumbling” or “blindness” in a person’s life?

The evidence someone knows Jesus is NOT perfection; it’s progress. 

Are you moving in the right direction in terms of your obedience and love?

Prayer: Pray for greater love and less hatred or animosity in your life. Pray you can move beyond selectively “allowing” God to work in you, instead  “asking”  Him to  work in you!

Message Outline

Each Time John revisits a theme it amplifies the idea even more.

1 John 1:5-10 5 This is the message we have heard from him [Jesus] and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.6If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

1 John 2:2:1-2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 

Light represents both Intellectual truth and moral rightness

1John 1:5

1 John 1:6-7             Hypocritical- living a lie

1John 1:8-9              Delusional- believing a lie

1John 1:10               Rebellious – attacking with a lie

1 John 2:1-2

We have an advocate who died to cleanse us and bring us into the light.  

Question: What area(s) of darkness in your life needs to be brought into the light?

Challenge: Talk to a friend in Christ about an area of darkness in your life that needs to be brought into the light.

Going Deeper Questions

Starter/Icebreaker Question: What is the greatest physical experience of darkness you have had in your life? (IE – being without power, deep in a cave, out in the woods at night, etc.)

Can you think of a time when you physically experienced the brightest light?

Review 1 John 1:5-2:2

1 John 1:5 says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” Light represents God’s intellectual truth and moral goodness. 

What do you think it should it look like in daily life to “walk in the light” rather than “walk in darkness”?  On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your level of commitment to walking in the light? Why do you say that?

Think about Walking in Darkness (1 John 1:6, 8,10)

What forms of darkness do you tend to be drawn toward? What steps do you take to keep on track? 

In the message, it was mentioned that we can be hypocritical (living a lie), delusional (believing a lie), or rebellious (attacking God with a lie). Can you think of examples of being affected this way before you came to know Jesus? How do you see it in those around you who don’t know Him yet? Do you see any of it in your life today?

Think about walking in the light (1 John 1:7, 9)

Are there areas of darkness you have been walking in in the past that you now stay away from? How has God brought about that change in you?

What aspects of God’s light have the strongest pull on you toward faithfully following Jesus? Why are they so strong?

Why do you think confession of sin is so central to fellowship with God and with others? Who can you tell about areas of darkness in your life?  Will you be courageous enough to do it?

Prayer: Pray a prayer of thanks and praise for Jesus, who is our advocate. He is the one who brings forgiveness and made a way for us to be right with God through faith.

Message Outline:

1 John 1:1-4
Koinonia (fellowship) means partnership; sharing in participation together.

What does REAL FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS look like?
When we spend time with God, we get the real treasure: God himself!

What does REAL FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS look like?
MY joy can’t be complete without you. And OUR joy can’t be complete without each other.

Challenge 1 find time each day to spend with Jesus just to get to know him better.

Challenge 2 get yourself in a place where you are engaged in REAL FELLOWSHIP with other believers in this church on a regular basis.

Follow Up Questions:

Starter/Icebreaker Question: Have there been any times where something “fake” (IE a post, picture or video on the web) has really fooled you? How did it affect you? What are the implications of people believing in or following an inauthentic version of Jesus?

Read/Review 1 John 1:1-4  1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Verses 1-2 John emphasizes that he heard, saw, and touched Jesus. 

How does the eyewitness nature of his testimony affect your confidence in the gospel message, knowing he experienced Jesus first-hand?

Verse 3 emphasizes fellowship (koinonia) which mean partnership, sharing in participation, and having a common bond.

What does it mean to have real fellowship and connection with Jesus? Do you believe you are fully known and fully loved by Him? Are there past or present sins, failures and struggles that make you doubt that? If so, please share them.

What does it mean to have real fellowship and connection with others? What are the things you don’t want other people to know about you for fear they won’t love you (or even like you) anymore?

What does your fellowship (devotional life) in relationship/fellowship with Jesus look like? When and how much time are you spending with him personally on your own? In a small group context? In an accountability relationship with a friend?

Verse 4 John refers to our joy being complete when we have fellowship in Christ with others. 

Who are those you feel like you are experiencing that with right now? 

In the message you were encouraged to think of a few people you are close with that don’t know Jesus. How does their separation from Christ make you feel? What does it stir up in you?

Prayer: Pray for a deeper personal connection (fellowship) with Jesus, and for courage to get real and go deeper with one another. Pray for the Portico community to grow in this as well.