In this powerpoint, we explore the biblical canon in general, 1 John's placement within the canon, whether John is the original author, and the occasion for which the letter is written.

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In this powerpoint, we consider how 1 John informs our worldview as Christians and we consider the major themes found in letter.

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Exploring the original intent of John surrounding the deity and ministry of Jesus, apostolic witness, and apostolic testimony.

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In this lesson, we are faced with the first set of practical truths: To walk with God is to live a life of confessing sin, agreeing with God about our sin, and living in the light of his word. To do otherwise is to challenge our profession of faith in Jesus Christ's atonement for our sin.

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In this lesson, we reflect on the theological truths of God more generally and see how they both form our worldview as Christians and provide a powerful apologetic as a witness to the glory of Christ and a sense of confidence in the faith.

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In this lesson, we explore the major themes of sin and forgiveness. We then put these two key themes together to begin toward a theological formulation. Specifically, we explore why John refers to Jesus as our "paraclete" and the implications that has to the "whole world."

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In this lesson, we explore the primary theme of love and how love is the ultimate vision of change in the life of the one who claims to walk with God. Similarly, we see how the theme of love combats the Greek philosophical views during the day in which John writes his letter.

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In this lesson, we took a detour by diving into what John means when he refers to the "Command" that is both "old" and "new." We discuss the Law in relation to the Christian and the New Covenant, the Christian conscience, and Christian freedom.

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In this lesson, we continue our discussion of the "new" and "old" command John gives to his readers. In this command, we consider how we as Christians are called to love each other and how that love serves as an evidence of our genuine faith in Christ and being cleansed from sin.

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In this lesson, we explore John's pastoral intuition to minister to his readers. After spiritual challenge at every turn contrasting people who are walk in the light or walk in the darkness, John assures his readers that he believes that they are truly forgiven of their sin and that they know the father, the son, and have overcome the evil one as they mature in the faith. This lesson is for our encouragement, also, as we examine our own lives.

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In this lesson, we examine John's exhortation and imperative, "Do not love the world or the things in the world." This challenge to John's readers, and to us, causes us to consider what value system we are placing our affections and allegiance upon: The world or the Father.

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At this point in our 1 John Study, we are going into a "mini-series." This week, the A portion of vv. 18-27, we study through the continued contrast of light and dark but now through the lens of so-called "antichrists." Specifically, in this lesson, we identify who the antichrists are, in this "last hour," as well as what it is these antichrists believed/denied about the Christian faith -- the call for us is to examine ourselves and what we believe about the Lord Jesus Christ!

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In this lesson, we continue our mini series entitled Remain in Truth During the Last Hour. Here, we examine the nature and work of the "anointing" contrasted to the antichrists, and see John's call upon all Christians, both in his original audience and us today, to remain in the teaching of the person of Christ and the Gospel according to the Apostolic tradition- for in it, we have the truth which the Spirit works to confirm within us toward true truth.

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In this lesson, we summarize 1 John 2 while drawing on the foundational truths established in chapter 1. We then “work out” the Christian worldview with the help of John Frame’s Three Perspectives model (Triperspectivalism), exploring how our understanding of God, the world, and ourselves is grounded in God’s self-revelation rather than our own perspective devoid of God.

Through this framework, we see how the Apostle John’s teaching gives us confidence in the truth we have received about Christ, distinguishes the Christian worldview from the false teaching of the antichrists, and shows that obedience to God is not legalism but a faithful response to who God is and what He has revealed.

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This is one part of a three part mini-series within our study. The big question this three part mini-series is concerned with is, "How do I know if I am a child of God?" We will identify three "marks" of a child of God or someone who has been "born of God." In this part, that mark is the ongoing act of sanctification or what John refers to as "purifying" oneself.

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In this lesson, we identify the second “mark” of one truly born of God. John makes the striking statement that the one who remains in Christ “does not sin” (v. 6), raising an important question: What exactly does John mean? As we wrestle with this tension, we will see how John’s words point beyond sinless perfection to the transforming work of God in the life of His children and how a growing pattern of righteousness reveals this second​​​​ “mark” of those who belong to Him.

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In this lesson, we complete our three-part mini-series asking the question, “How do I know if I am a child of God?” This Sunday, we fleshed out the third “mark” of those born of God: they “do what is right, ”recognizing God’s moral authority and willingly orienting their lives around His commands and standards. Taken together, 1 John 2:28-3:10 presents the true child of God as one who (1) actively pursues purification and sanctification, (2) willingly submits to God’s authority rather than disdaining His commands, and (3) continually reorients their life according to God’s standards for righteous living.

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In this lesson, we examined the contrast between the hatred that characterizes the children of the evil one and the sacrificial love that characterizes the children of God. John points us to Cain as an example of hatred—a disposition that ultimately manifests itself in opposition to God and resentment toward God’s people. While such hatred may not always result in physical violence, it can be seen in the rejection of God’s truth, the denial of sin, the distortion of Christ, and the pursuit of the world and its desires.

In contrast, those born of God are called to model the self-giving love of Christ, who “laid down his life” for us (v. 16). This means that Christian love is not merely an emotion or sentiment, but a sacrificial willingness to give of ourselves for the good of our brothers and sisters. We lay down our lives by giving our time, energy, resources, patience, and encouragement by God's revealed truth so that we may biblically meet the material and spiritual needs of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

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In this lesson, we continued from John’s call to sacrificially love our brothers and sisters by considering the confidence we can have before God when our own hearts condemn us (1 John 3:19–24). The command to love as Christ loved us is weighty, and John recognizes the temptation toward self-condemnation when we realize how often we fall short. Yet our confidence does not rest upon our ability to love perfectly. God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. For the Christian who seeks repentance, forgiveness, and restoration when they fail, God’s grace is greater than their failures.

This confidence produces a growing alignment between our desires and God’s will as we continue to believe in Christ, obey His command to love one another, and remain in Him. We concluded by examining the work of the Holy Spirit, who brings about our transformation and continually moves us toward perseverance, faith, obedience, and love. Ultimately, our confidence—even in the midst of our failures—is not found in our own continued performance, but in the faithfulness and work of the Triune God.

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In this lesson, we begin by reviewing the message of 1 John 3: God’s children are marked by a transformed life, sacrificial love, and growing confidence in God’s grace and faithfulness. From 1 John 3:24, John points us to the Holy Spirit as the evidence of God’s abiding presence in His people. We then develop a biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit by examining His deity, personhood, divine attributes, divine works, and participation in the identity of the Father and Son. From there, we trace John’s witness throughout his Gospel, letters, and Revelation, seeing that the Spirit gives life, communicates God’s truth, bears God’s testimony, mediates God’s presence, and participates in God’s work of redemption. Finally, we consider how the doctrine of the Holy Spirit brings confidence to the Christian life.

Because the Holy Spirit has been given to us, we know that we abide in God. Christ accomplished our redemption, and the Spirit applies that work to us, bringing us into fellowship with God and progressively transforming us into the likeness of Christ.

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