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Jesus Fills Our True Need
(Mark 2:1-12)
The story pivots us from the introductory days of Jesus' ministry to the controversial ones. We know Jesus wasn't popular with all people at all times—he was, after all, crucified. And most of us know that Jesus became disliked by the religious leaders of his day. So, his popularity must have become mixed with opposition at some point. (10 Minutes/3000 Words)
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The Origin of Truth and Love - 3 Tests for Messages You Hear
(1 John 4:2-6)
Last week we considered the importance of not believing every message we hear, but testing them to see if they are from God (1 John 4:1). Today we will look at three questions we can ask of the messages we hear. Each question is a test designed to see if the message is from God. (6 Minutes/1500 Words)
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The Test of a True Believer -- Love God's People
(1 John 2:6-8)
Here, we have the next claim. "Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked"(2:6). In this assertion, the person who said they were abiding in God should live a life resembling the life of Christ! It is astounding to think of living like Jesus, but John believes it possible. (9 Minutes/2300 Words)
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The Test of a True Believer -- Keep God's Word
(1 John 2:4-5)
In 1 John 1, John ordered his writing by recording three claims. He started each with the phrase "if we say," followed by the claim. Here, in this passage, he does something similar. Three times John will write: "whoever says." Each claim is erroneous, necessitating apostolic intervention. (4 Minutes/1200 Words)
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The Test of a True Believer – An Overview
(1 John 2:3)
At this point in John's letter, the readers may have felt he was singling them out. He had written about those who were walking in darkness, denying the presence of sin in their lives and excusing sin that was there, all while claiming friendship with God. (6 Minutes/1500 Words)
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Goal #3 of First John: Produce True Joy
(1 John 1:4)
One thing I love about John's writing is his willingness to directly state his reasons for writing. One reason this is beautiful is that his letters, especially this first one, are spiraling in nature. (5 Minutes/1200 Words)
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Goal #1 of First John: Proclaim the True Jesus
(1 John 1:1-2)
As we saw in last week's introductory 1 John post, false teachers had crept into the early church. John could not stand idly by and let these deceivers talk about Jesus as if they knew Him. John had to step up to the plate and defend the historical and actual Jesus and share about His Master, Friend, Teacher, and Savior. (8 Minutes/2000 Words)
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