1 John. Deeper Bible Studies. Life Changing, Life Application

Transcription

1 1 John Deeper Bible Studies Life Changing, Life Application Copyright 2008 DBS Company. All Rights Reserved. Need more copies?

2 Copyright Copyright 2008 by DBS Company. All rights reserved. This publication, or any part thereof, may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of DBS Company. If you chose electronic delivery of this publication, you are authorized to print up to the quantity purchased. If you chose physical delivery of this publication, you are not authorized to scan, print, or photocopy additional copies without additional purchase and/or the written permission of DBS Company. Trademark Acknowledgements Deeper Bible Studies and the DBS Company logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of DBS Company. Disclaimer This publication is provided without any warranty whatsoever, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or Þtness for a particular purpose. Deeper Bible Studies ofþce@deeperbiblestudies.com Copyright 2008 DBS Company. All Rights Reserved. Need more copies?

3 Page 1 Study Guide Organization: Each Deeper Bible Studies study is organized the same way for the same reason... to provide context for the reading, to provide study questions to deepen your understanding of the bible, to help you apply the bible readings to your daily life, to help you memorize God s word, and to help put each study into action. We want you to change your life through the study, according to God s grace and perfect will. This is accomplished through the following sections found in each study: Make it Relevant Make It Relevant: The beginning of each study includes a Study Background. It provides context for the reading, such as who the letter was written to and what life was like when the verses were written. Context helps avoid misinterpretations and deepens your bible understanding. Read It Read It: This is the reading for the week. You will grow in knowledge and faith as you read God s word. You should be able to progress without feeling overwhelmed. We occasionally recommend additional readings in the Study It section to compliment, reinforce, and/or expand on a topic. These additional readings are optional, but encouraged to help you grow deeper in your study. Study It Study It: This section has questions to make you think and engage in the readings. We provide additional bible references that help clarify a question or add insight. By completing the questions, you will gain a richer understanding of the reading. During your group session, we don t expect you to address every question. However, during your personal study time, attempt to answer each question. Make It Personal Make It Personal: It s crucial to personalize each study. What can YOU take away from the study? How might this message apply to YOUR life? What can YOU learn from the reading? This is where you start turning head knowledge into heart knowledge. A personal relationship with God is only possible by making it personal. Copyright 2008 DBS Company. All Rights Reserved. Need more copies? Product: Study Guide

4 Page 2 Study Guide Memorize It Memorize It: Getting God s word off the page and into your heart and mind is key. You ll have an opportunity to share the verse with your group, so go for it! Remember, expressing the meaning of the verse is more important than getting every word right. So, if all you can do is paraphrase a verse, then paraphrase it. If you can completely memorize it, fantastic! Either way, make a good faith attempt to internalize God s word. Put It Into Action Put It Into Action: If you do a study and don t allow it to penetrate your life, then you are just spinning your wheels. Open your heart and allow yourself to change, even if it s a little change. You will Þnd examples of steps to take, and have an opportunity to craft your own I Will... statement. Your group should support, encourage, and help you be accountable to God and each other. Use these tips to craft a good I Will... statement: Your action step should be simple, speciþc, measurable, observable, and achievable between each group session. Avoid action such as I will be a better person, or I will read the entire bible. A better action step would be I will call John this Wednesday and tell him how much I appreciate his friendship. Notice it s simple (make a call), speciþc (John, express appreciation), measurable (one call, this Wednesday), observable (someone could see you make the call), and achievable (not dependant on another person s involvement). Be realistic. If the action step takes longer than 30 minutes to fulþll, you should scale it back to something more manageable. Here is the key: Do It! Allow God to mold you into Christ-likeness. Leaders: We recommend you start each session with a spiritual song Þtting the study to allow each member to calm their mind and open their hearts to God. Open and close each session with a prayer. Invite God to be part of your study. Don t feel compelled to answer every question or make every point. Select the most relevant questions and be open to discussing others of interest to the group. Encourage group discussion and balanced participation. Have everyone share their I Will... statements. Write them down and distribute them so your group can help each other fulþll their commitment. Save some time during your group session to collect Prayer Requests and have your group pray over these requests (either now or post-session as time allows). Lastly, HAVE FUN! Bible studies aren t supposed to be boring. God Bless Copyright 2008 DBS Company. All Rights Reserved. Need more copies? Product: Study Guide

5 Page 3 1 John Study Background Make it Relevant Who was this letter written to? This letter was written to people, just like you and me, who had not personally witnessed Christ s life, teachings, cruciþxion, and resurrection. What was life like when these verses were written? 1 John is believed to be written around AD 90-95, after John wrote his Gospel. There were many false teachers during this time rejecting the idea that we were all sinners. They rejected the notion that we needed a savior. 1 John refutes this false teaching and attempts to redirect us back to the truth of the gospel. Make It Personal What does this mean to me TODAY? One thing that s important in today s time is there are many people who simply believe if you are good person and try to do nice things that you will be saved. This is a nice thought. However, it contradicts Christ s teaching as taught in the bible. John makes this very clear in his arguments.

6 Page 4 Read It 1 John 1 Read the Study Guide Read 1 John Study Background Read 1 John 1:1-10 Study It Background: What false teaching do you see in our present day culture? 1: As if testifying before a jury about his witness of Jesus Christ, John presents his case. What three forms of evidence does John have? 2-4: What is John s purpose in presenting his testimony about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? 5-6: John draws a distinction between what we say and how we act. Unless you walk the talk, you are not living in truth. Can you give an example from another book of the bible where saying one thing and doing another is condemned? (Example: Read Matthew 15:7-9) 7: If you put your faith in Jesus Christ, he puriþes you before God; through the shedding of His blood. Read Leviticus 4:27-31 for an explanation of old testament sin removal. Draw a comparison between the old testament animal sacriþce and the new testament sacriþce of Jesus. Why was there a need to replace the Old Testament sacriþcial rituals, with the sacriþce of Christ for our sins? Why do you think God started with the Law of Moses as a means to forgive sins, instead of starting with the sacriþce of his Son? 8-10: Why was Christ s sacriþce necessary for us to establish a relationship with God? Make It Personal 7: Do you feel there is any sin in your life that Christ s death and resurrection is not capable of covering? Explain. 7: How does it feel to know that God forgives you of all sin, through faith in his son Jesus Christ?

7 Page 5 1 John 1 9: Do you believe that you are forgiven of your sins only if you confess them to God? (why/why not?) 9: Tell us about a time when you offered forgiveness to another person, similar to how Jesus forgives us for our sins. How did it feel? How did it affect your relationship? 9: Share an experience when asking God to forgive your sins led to a deeper relationship with Him. Memorize It Memorize 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (NIV). Would anyone like to share this verse, or another verse you found compelling, with the group from memory? Put It Into Action Share one thing with your group members that you can commit to doing between now and your next group session to apply this study to your daily walk. Read the Study Guide for tips on crafting a good I Will... statement. Here are a few examples to get you started: I will confess my sin of and ask God s forgiveness. In my heart, I will forgive for hurting me. Write your action step below. I Will

8 Page 6 1 John 2 Read It Read 1 John 2:1-29 Study It 1-2: When John says that Christ is the atoning sacriþce for the sins of the whole world, does this include non-christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists, and agnostics? Is there a limit to this Grace? 3-6: John writes about acting out our faith, walking as Jesus did, following his ways, and obeying his commands. If we do these things, what does it say about our relationship with Jesus? 7-8: Christ s command to love one another is not new. (Read Leviticus 19:18 and John 13:34-35) Jesus Christ was a living example of this command in action. What is the difference between the old command and the new command to love one another? 9-11: With the Apostle John, there is not much grey area. John intentionally uses stark contrasts, such as light and dark, to make the truth of Christ s message known. Can you claim to be a Christian and have hate in your heart for others? 12-14: What does it take to overcome Satan? 15-17: What examples of loving the world do you see around you, in our culture? 18-22: John speaks of many antichrists, or false teachers, around us. What evidence is there of the presense of these false teachers or false churches in our present time? John says that these are the last days. But he said that over 2000 years ago. Was he wrong, or how do you deþne the last days or last hour? 23: John is trying to help you indentify ßash teachers of his time that were spreading two lies; 1) that Jesus was not the Christ (savior) and 2) that the Son and Father were not one in the same. John clearly defends the teaching that God and Christ are one. Read John 10:30 (hint: not 1 John) for Jesus Christ s testimony of this : What should we do with the Good News of Jesus Christ when encountering false teachers?

9 Page 7 1 John 2 What is the beneþt to us for this obedience? 28-29: What is John s Þnal call to action? Make It Personal 9-11: Is there anyone in your life that you hate, or otherwise withhold love from? 15: John says to NOT love the world. When it comes to worldly things, what is your most signiþcant weakness? 16-17: Share a time when you were successful in rejecting this world; a time when you consciously said NO to a worldly desire and said YES to God. 26: Have you ever been enticed by the false teachings of another faith? 28: If Christ returned today, this hour, would you be able to stand tall before God conþdent of your salvation? Memorize It Memorize 1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (NIV). Would anyone like to share this verse, or another verse you found compelling, with the group from memory? Put It Into Action Share one thing with your group members that you can commit to doing between now and your next group session to apply this study to your daily walk. Read the Study Guide for tips on crafting a good I Will... statement. Here are a few examples to get you started: List someone you love in words or appearances, that you need to start loving in action. What can you do to take a conscious small step AWAY from loving the world? What can you do to start rejecting the temptations and evils of this world? Write your action step below. I Will

10 Page 8 Read It Read 1 John 3: John 3 Study It 1: John says that as Christians, we are Children of God. Who doesn t know or understand us if we are Children of God? Why? 2-3: As God s children, what 2 things will happen to us when Jesus appears (e.g. the Second Coming)? (See also Philippians 3:20-21) 4-5: John speaks of the Law of Moses. If you sin, you break the law. No one is good enough for the law, since we all sin. Why did Christ come to us? 6 (and also v. 9): Now here is a tough teaching: anyone who knows Christ will no longer sin and if you continue to sin, then you don t know Christ. This seems to contradict the common Christian belief that we are all sinners, even after accepting Christ. The paradox is understood by understanding the deþnition of sin. Biblical dictionaries most often deþne sin as the intentional, recurring, and unrepentant acts of rebellion against God s will and word. So, anyone who knows Christ will no longer continue to intentionally, repeatedly, and unrepentantly do wrong. 7-8: Do not be deceived (by false teachers). If you do what is right, you are a Child of God. If you do what is wrong, you are of the Devil. What were false teachers of the day saying instead? What is another reason for Christ coming to us? 9: Compare v. 9 with 1 John 1:8. At Þrst glance, these verses contradict one another when it comes to the subject of sin. What do you think John is really trying to convey in 1 John 3:9? (That, as Children of God, we never sin? Or something else?) 11-15: What is a good litmus test of a Christian s faith and obedience to God s word? (e.g. What does obedience to Christ s teachings look like when put into action?) 16-18: Also read John 15:12-13 (hint: not 1 John). What are 3 ways John deþnes Christian love? 21-24: If you have peace of mind and heart, then you know you are walking closely with God and He is pleased with you. It pleases God when we obey his commands. In v. 23, what two commands does God give us?

11 Page 9 1 John 3 Make It Personal 1-3: What does being a Child of God mean to you? 7-8: If your actions indicate you have been saved by Christ, would others around you know you are saved? What would they see? 11: How has your love for others changed either since you have been saved or as you have progressed in your Christian walk? Can you provide an example? 16: What does it mean to lay down your life for your brother (in modern terms)? 16-17: Have you ever received the gift of selßess service/love from another person? How did this experience impact you? Memorize It Memorize 1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth. (NIV) Would anyone like to share this verse, or another verse you found compelling, with the group from memory? Put It Into Action Share one thing with your group members that you can commit to doing between now and your next group session to apply this study to your daily walk. Read the Study Guide for tips on crafting a good I Will... statement. Here are a few examples to get you started: I will not tell any inappropriate jokes, or listen to others tell inappropriate jokes, as it does not glorify God and degrades the gracious title of Child of God given to me. The next time I go to get a coffee, I will buy one for my coworker Fred with a heart of giving and no expectation of being repaid. Write your action step below. I Will

12 Page 10 Read It Read 1 John 4: John 4 Study It 1 John 4 has two signiþcant themes: 1) Test the spirits around you the ones that believe that Christ is our savior 2) We need to love others as God loves us 1 John 4:1-6: Know who the true spirits are 1: John suggests that there are many false spirits (prophets) out there trying to lead us in the wrong direction. Can you provide an example of a false teacher or prophet from the Bible or from today? 2: Why does John stress that the spirits must acknowledge that Jesus came in the ßesh? 5-6: False prophets are from this fallen world, and thus Godly people won t listen to them, and they won t listen to Godly people. Have you ever experienced this? Describe the experience. 1 John 4:7-21: How does your love compare to the example set by God? 7-9: We should love each other since God has shown us his standard of love. What is God s standard or example of love? 12: No one has ever seen God. John is really saying that no one has ever seen or been able to comprehend the complete essense of God. Why does John make this point? 13: Does giving us his Spirit mean the Holy Spirit, his spirit of love, or something else? 14: John says he was a witness to the fact that God sent his Son to be the Messiah. What is the signiþcance of John s testimony at this point?

13 Page 11 1 John 4 Make It Personal 1: Has anyone attempted to lead you astray from the faith you have in Jesus Christ? If yes, describe the experience. 2-4: Do you have any discomfort with either of the following statements? Explain: a) Jesus is God b) Jesus was also a real man (ßesh and blood) 7-8: How well do you display your love for God in the choices that you make and the actions that you take? 9-10: What could you do to show love to one another that would even come close to the type of love God showed us? Memorize It Memorize 1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (NIV) Would anyone like to share this verse, or another verse you found compelling, with the group from memory? Put It Into Action Share one thing with your group members that you can commit to doing between now and your next group session to apply this study to your daily walk. Read the Study Guide for tips on crafting a good I Will... statement. Here are a few examples to get you started: I will pray that God will soften my heart and help me to love others as myself. I will visit my Grandmother who spends most of her days home alone. Write your action step below. I Will

14 Page 12 Read It Read 1 John 5: John 5 Study It 1 John 5 has two signiþcant sections: a) John s Þnal assertions about God s witness to Jesus being the Messiah and savior of the world b) Concluding remarks about our salvation, and the effectiveness of prayer to achieve victory over sin and the evil one 1 John 5:1-12: God as witness to our savior Jesus Christ 1: John continues his letter convincing us that all who believe in Jesus Christ are born of God (e.g. Children of God). John makes it clear that loving God and loving Jesus Christ are one in the same. In essence, loving One without loving the Other is not possible. Read John 8:17-19 (hint: not 1 John). How are these verses similar to 1 John 1? 2-3: John keeps hammering the point home about loving each other, and obeying God s commands as being a true witness to our love of the Father and the Son. If God commands us to love one another, how is obeying this command an act of love toward the Father? Why does John make the point about God s commands not being a burden to us? 6-8: John again reminds us that in Jewish law a testimony must be afþrmed by two or three witnesses to be accepted. John states that the testimony about Jesus Christ is witnessed by 1) the Spirit, 2) water, and 3) blood. The Holy Spirit speaks directly to our hearts about the truth of Jesus Christ, if we have faith. What do the testimonies of water and blood represent? 11-12: John states what the testimony of God is in this matter: that we have eternal life through God s Son Jesus Christ. Compare these verses to Jesus witness about himself in John 14:6. (hint: not 1 John). 1 John 5:13-21: John s concluding remarks 16-17: John says our best tool in helping a brother or sister who is living in sin is to pray for them. However, he also suggests that there is one sin that leads to death, that we should NOT pray for. Read Mark 3: What is the one sin that leads to death and why does John suggest that we not pray in this case? 18: Anyone who puts his faith in Jesus Christ is protected from the evil one. In what way CAN the evil one harm us? In what way are we protected?

15 Page 13 1 John 5 19: What evidence is there that the whole world is under the control of Satan? Make It Personal 4: Every Child of God has overcome the evil world, through faith. Do you feel like you have overcome this evil world? Explain. 14: John makes an incredibly important point about a prerequisite of effective prayer that whatever we ask for in prayer must be in accordance with God s will to be answered. Can you give an example of this principle at work from your own prayer life? 14: If you could pray to God asking for only one thing (according to his will), what would you pray for? 21: What idols in our culture most tempt you or take your focus off of God? Memorize It Memorize 1 John 5:14 This is the conþdence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (NIV). Would anyone like to share this verse, or another verse you found compelling, with the group from memory? Put It Into Action Share one thing with your group members that you can commit to doing between now and your next group session to apply this study to your daily walk. Read the Study Guide for tips on crafting a good I Will... statement. Here are a few examples to get you started: I will pray for my friend who is suffering from a gambling addiction. I will read the bible for 30 minutes, during lunch, three times this week, instead of shopping for material possessions on the internet like I normally do. Write your action step below. I Will

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17 Page 15 1 John Make it Better Study Evaluation We are constantly seeking to improve our studies and help you achieve a deeper relationship with God. Completing this evaluation will help us greatly. Please answer the questions below and then submit your evaluation online at: 1. How likely are you to recommend this study to a friend, your church, or another small group? (circle one) Not At Extremely All Likely Likely What are your main reasons for your answer to this question? 3. If your answer to Question 1 was a 9 or 10, what would you tell your friend, your church, or another small group about the study? 4. If your answer to Question 1 was between 0 and 8, what would it take to move your score to a 9 or 10?