Light of the world 12th Street Baptist Church 3911 South 12th Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan church 269-353-8133 or pastor cell 269-362-1074 Pastor Thaddeus Stout Worship Services Sunday School............ 10am Sunday Worship............ 11am Wednesday Evening Children. 6pm Wednesday Evening Adult.. 6:30pm visit www.12thstreetbaptist.net for all upcoming special events Will you accept Christ as your personal Savior today? For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Dear John, During World War II many of the soldiers left girlfriends behind. They swore their love to each other promised to write and then headed off for war. Many of the soldiers received letters from their sweetheart at home that were Dear John. They were the break up letter. No soldier wanted to get the dreaded Dear John letter. The apostle John writes to us from the evidence he had seen. He was the disciple whom Jesus loved. He sat next to Jesus at the Lord s Supper. He was one of only three disciples invited to the mount of transfiguration and the garden of Gethsemane. John was one of the Sons of thunder. He writes the second most content in the New Testament, five books in all. The entire book of 1John is written so that we may know that we have eternal life. He gives tests to us throughout the book. There are eight distinctions that will mark our lives in this book if we are saved. If we fail but one of these tests, the encouragement is to Know that you have eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we are saved it isn t about what we do to be saved. If we did the right things said the right words. The key is what did God do in us that proved to us that we are saved? When He saves us there are things that happen. We will spend the next seven weeks examining our lives and determining whether or not we have we said Dear John to the things that need to go. But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. lessons on Breaking Up Romans 3:23 There is none righteous no not one. Romans 3:10 Romans 6:23 Romans 5:8 Dear Darkness, Dear Self Righteousness, Dear World, Dear Hate, Dear Sinful Help, Dear Self Helps, Dear Doubt
Dear John Small Study Group Contents Dear Darkness - part one.......................... 1 Dear Self Rightness - part two....................... 3 Dear World - part three............................ 5 Dear Hate - part four.............................. 8 Dear Sinful Self - part five......................... 11 Dear Self Helps - part six.......................... 13 Dear Doubt - part seven.......................... 15
1John 1:1-7 Dear John Lessons in Breaking Up part 1 Dear Darkness During World War II many of the soldiers left girlfriends behind. They swore their love to each other promised to write and then headed off for war. Many of the soldiers received letters from their sweetheart at home that were Dear John. They were the break up letter. No soldier wanted to get the dreaded Dear John letter. (Read 1John 1:1-7) The apostle John writes to us from the evidence he had seen. He was the disciple whom Jesus loved. He sat next to Jesus at the Lord s Supper. He was one of only three disciples invited to the mount of transfiguration and the garden of Gethsemane. John was one of the Sons of thunder. He writes the second most content in the New Testament, five books in all. The entire book of 1John is written so that we may know that we have eternal life. He gives tests to us throughout the book. There are eight distinctions that will mark our lives in this book if we are saved. If we fail but one of these tests, the encouragement is to Know that you have eternal life. When we are saved it isn t about what we do to be saved. If we did the right things said the right words. The key is what did God do in us that proved to us that we are saved? When He saves us there are things that happen. We will spend the next seven weeks examining our lives and determining whether or not we have we said Dear John to the things that need to go. 1. What does it mean that God is light? 2. How do you describe darkness? 1
3. What are the correlations between physical and spiritual Light and Darkness? 4. There are principles about Spiritual Light and Darkness explain how they work in your life. a. If we walk in Darkness we do not belong to God. vs. 6 b. Darkness does not understand light. vs 5 Have you had this Dear John experience of breaking up with darkness? You can t do it by yourself. Only the cleansing power of Jesus Christ and His gift of life allows for your life to have light. Where do you walk? 2
Dear John Lessons in Breaking Up part 2 Dear Self Righteousness 1John 1:8-10 This comes on the heels of being told if we walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth. It is easy for us to pretend that we have no sin. Self Righteousness convinces us that we have got it all going on. We are all right and don t need anything else. The whole time the Holy Spirit is trying to keep an ongoing conversation alive within us. Self Righteousness excuses our spirit to tune out the Holy Spirit. We say we have no sin when we lose sight of our true self. The breaking up with self righteousness is a guilt be gone remedy. You ve heard of grease be gone, stains be gone, dent be gone, and scratch be gone, well if we can grasp what John says we can have the Guilt be Gone formula. 1. We cannot say I have no sin vs. 8 Why can t we say that? 2. We cannot say I have not sinned vs 10 Why can t we say that? 3. What is the difference between saying I have no sin and I have not sinned? 4. Confession of sin is the only way to experience the removal of guilt that sin causes. If we confess, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from all unrighteousness. Confession and forgiveness are linked. a. Is it possible to confess but not be forgiven with God? Explain 3
b. Can a person who does not accept forgiveness truly confess their sin to God? Explain. 5. There are many people living in unforgiveness, not because God hasn t forgiven them, but because they haven t forgiven themselves. Confession for sin to God is different than coming clean, it is asking for pardon from and removal of the sin s effects and accepting God s forgiveness that is based on Jesus work for us. If we do not forgive ourselves for the wrong we do, then we do not accept God s forgiveness and so Confession has not really taken place. Do you confess by coming clean or by accepting God s forgiveness? Breaking up is hard to do, especially with our self righteousness. Today we need to pen a letter to self. Dear self, you re a sinner. I confess my failures, shortcomings, faults, my sins to Christ. If you confess your sins. Future actions are not polluted by present misconduct. You are forgiven. Guilt be gone. 4
Dear John Lessons in breaking up part 3 Dear World 1John 2:1-6, 12-17 We are being given a test by John through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This test is to help us understand whether or not we have Salvation from Jesus Christ. Question number: 1. Are you walking in light or darkness? 2. Do you say you have no sin? 3. Are you of the world or of God? What you do, not what you want to do or hope to do, what you do tells on you and is the key to the test. Read 1John 2:1-6 If you are in God you will walk even as Christ walked. Vs. 6 There is a relationship that forms when you are of God. A bond forms. Things begin to happen. The reason John is giving these tests lies in the fact that he wants us to understand things should be happening. When we are saved we will go through some phases of growth: Read 2:12-17 1. Children your sins are forgiven. 2:12 a. God does not intend for anyone to have this as the only marker of their life. b. My sins forgiven does not express the ultimate joy of Christianity. (1John 1:4 wrote so that our joy may be full.) 2. Young men overcome the wicked one. 2:13, 14 a. The word of God abides in them. This enables them to have new affections and love. b. My flesh, the worldly part of me, is crucified; I am able to overcome the wicked one, because of Christ. 1. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 2. Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 3. Fathers know Him. 2:13, 14 a. It takes maturity to know Him. 5
b. To know God is to understand what He expects and desire to please Him There needs to be something that sparks inside of us as time goes on. A moment where it clicks, God is more than just a Spiritual emblem and presence that I believe in. He is the giver of victory in this life. And then, as I fight the wicked one and gain victory after victory through Christ because I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me (Philippians 4:13); I finally know Him closely. 1. How well do you know God? 2. The first phase of the Christian life only knows the forgiveness of sins. What does the forgiveness of sins mean to you? 3. The second phase is that you overcome the wicked one. You are able to say NO to sin. How have you seen this play out in your life? 4. The third phase is that you Know God. You have an intimate knowledge of how God works and the victories that He gives. You understand Why you live the way you do and have a sincere desire to please God. How have you experienced this in your life? 6
5. How would you describe the term world as it pertains to the context of this passage? vs. 12-17 6. How does one know if they love the World or love God? 7
Dear John Lessons in breaking up part 4 Dear Hate 1John 2:7-11, 1John 3:11-24, 4:8-21 The Old Commandment was always darkly seen. The Commandment did not shine light. It described to people how they were helplessly in darkness. The Old Commandment pointed to the people s failures and shortcomings. It gave them a goal to live up to; something they could never fully accomplish. But something wonderful happened; the Old Commandment written in stone tablets by the hand of Moses shines in a new light under the cross of Christ. What Moses Commandments could not communicate because there had never been an example of perfect love, Jesus command communicates perfectly in a way that is easily understood. 2:9 He that saith he is in the light (Test Number One), and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now (Answer to test One is Test number 4). 10 He that loveth his brother abideth (Remains Stays) in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. Hate is a symptom that you are in darkness. You may not know what it is like to be in the light, because you may have blinded eyes. This test gives you a concrete answer to your light verses darkness predicament. If I hate then I am not in the light. The new commandment is not just about the outward actions. The Old Commandment allowed for the appearance and outward actions to be the standard that you looked to. This new commandment (which really isn t new, but now is shown in the light of Jesus Christ) concentrates not on what we are able to abstain from outwardly, but what we are inwardly. Our inner self is our real self. Love and hate on the inside will work themselves out in our actions. Love and hate are not just feelings. They are inward attitudes that relay the core of our being. 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth (REMAINS STAYS) in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 8
It is easy to find yourself with the same exasperation that Cain felt, he did wrong and Abel did right. He killed his brother because he couldn t live up to his brother. How many times do we do that? We don t live up to someone else or feel they don t live up to us and so we assassinate them with our words. We kill them in the opinions and estimations of others. John is teaching the exact same message that Jesus taught. Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Jesus goes on to say in the same message called the sermon on the mount, If you look on a woman to lust you have committed adultery, you are to love not just your brother but also your enemy, you are to do good to them. If we only love those who love us then we have no reward. We are to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect. This is a new light shining on the law. It is not about doing the right things, rather the Commandment of Christ is all about being the right person. You cannot be the right kind of person if you are not in Christ and you cannot be the wrong type of person if you are in Christ. 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world s good (TEST NUMBER THREE), and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. Love lays its own life and good down. Hate withholds help and compassion. What is love? It is silence--when your words would hurt. It is patience--when your neighbor s curt. It is deafness--when a scandal flows. It is thoughtfulness--for other s woes. It is promptness--when stern duty calls. It is displaying courage on behalf of another --when misfortune falls in their life. 9
If you are religiously minded but not able to open up and give of yourself. If you do not have love then I beg of you to fall before the mercies of Jesus who will shine his light on you and transfer you from light to darkness. The love of God will be given to and you will love, because those who are born of God love. 1. Hate and indifference are equal partners, because they are both absent of love. To feel hostility toward someone is hate. Are there any examples of hate in your life? 2. How would you explain your love for your brothers and sister in Christ? 3. What is the source for love in a Christian s life? 4. Try and explain how God loves. 5. Try and explain how God s love transfers to us and flows to others. 10
Dear John Lessons in breaking up part 5 Dear Sinful Self 1John 3:1-10 The test: Continually Sin. Because of Christ in you, you can and should STOP SINNING! You stop it by confessing your sin as sin and then replacing it with something else. The affection and desire for your sin needs a commitment to stop followed by a dependence on God. Bible reading and prayer should replace your sinful behavior. Asking God for help should replace your dwelling on evil. Stop sinning because Christ is in you. Start serving, praying, reading, and meditating. Maybe the way you can stop it, is to remove the distractions from your life. Go on a TV fast for one week. Go on an internet fast. Spend one week without saying anything about another person. Spend one week only using your tongue to speak positive things. Christ has saved us through paying for our sin on the cross. His remedy for sin in our life was not just for when we get to eternity, but for us as we live out this life. You need to say goodbye to your sinful self. Having said all of this, there is no amount of effort we can put in to stop sinning that will work without the Lord Jesus Christ empowering us. 1. How do you understand the phrase to continually sin? 2. What are evidences to you that you have/have not stopped sinning continually? 3. Does God expect perfection? Explain 11
4. Just as a child will become potty trained and quit soiling their pants and needing diapers, a Christian will quit soiling their life and continually sinning. Give another example of how you would explain to another person how Christians quit continuing sinning. 12
Dear John Lessons in breaking up part 6 Dear Self Helps The big overall test is: Are you of the truth 1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. We can t talk about every false spirit and every false prophet, it would take far too long. We are going to say goodbye to self helps. According to a Marketdata Enterprises market report done in 2005, the U.S.selfimprovement market was worth $9.6 Billion. The latest data is from 2011: MARKET VALUE The total U.S. self-improvement market was worth $9.84 billion last year, versus $10.82 billion in 2007 a 9.1% 4-year decline. We forecast better than 6.1% average yearly gains from 2012 to 2016. The recession took a toll on most market segments, including live seminars, books, infomercials, personal coaching, commercial diet programs and stress management. However, growth was evident in audiobooks, medical diet programs and holistic institutes/training companies. We don t need the self helps, we need to be children of God. Maybe part of the reason we need a lot of other things and not just Christ lies in the fact that we aren t His children. Christ in me is greater than anything that is in the world. Before televangelism and church TV there was a fellowship of believers who assembled together. Long before I read the purpose driven life, I knew that my life had purpose. Long before I read Your best life now I knew the best life. Before the prayer of Jabez I knew the kind of prayer God desired from me. Before AA and Alanon God through His spirit wanted to bring victory over all addictions and sins. Before there were life coaches and psychiatrists and psychologists there was the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that changed and transformed, that took unhealthy feelings and emotions and destructive behavior and provided a new way of thinking and living. Before pills there was the joy of the Lord, before welfare there was the church and before the self esteem movement there was a God who loved us and esteemed us more highly than we could ever esteem ourselves. 12th Street you have overcome the need for all self helps and other advices because we have God s advice for our lives. We have overcome them because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. 13
1. What is the truth about Jesus? 2. What impact does Jesus life have on you? 3. Why do people need something other than Jesus to feel good about their life? 4. Is it possible to have a healthy self image based only on what you know about your faith? 5. Is God able to help you in your life with what ails you? Explain your situation. 14
Dear John Lessons in breaking up part 7 Dear Doubt 1John 5:1-21 Verses 1-5 Closing Pop Quiz 1. Do you believe Jesus is the Christ born of God? Explain your answer. 2. Do you love other believers? Give example of how. 3. Do you keep His commandments (love God with all your heart, soul and mind love your neighbor as yourself)? Give examples. 4. Do you overcome the world or does it overcome you? Give examples. 5. Does your faith give you victory over the world? Give examples 15
6. In verses 4-11 How is God described? 7. Verses 11-13 contain the key verses to the book of 1 John. How do you know that you have eternal life? 8. Verses 14-15 are trying to give us confidence in what happens in Salvation. If we ask anything according to His will He hears us. If you believe in Jesus Christ and ask Him to save you, He hears that and will save you. When He saves you He pulls you out of darkness and into light, away from the world and puts His love in your heart so that you will love others. God wants you to know that you have eternal life and that you have confidence in Him. If you were to stand before God and He were to say, What is the proof that you are Mine? What would your answer be? 16
Light of the world 12th Street Baptist Church 3911 South 12th Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan church 269-353-8133 or pastor cell 269-362-1074 Pastor Thaddeus Stout Worship Services Sunday School............ 10am Sunday Worship............ 11am Wednesday Evening Children. 6pm Wednesday Evening Adult.. 6:30pm visit www.12thstreetbaptist.net for all upcoming special events Will you accept Christ as your personal Savior today? For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Dear John, During World War II many of the soldiers left girlfriends behind. They swore their love to each other promised to write and then headed off for war. Many of the soldiers received letters from their sweetheart at home that were Dear John. They were the break up letter. No soldier wanted to get the dreaded Dear John letter. The apostle John writes to us from the evidence he had seen. He was the disciple whom Jesus loved. He sat next to Jesus at the Lord s Supper. He was one of only three disciples invited to the mount of transfiguration and the garden of Gethsemane. John was one of the Sons of thunder. He writes the second most content in the New Testament, five books in all. The entire book of 1John is written so that we may know that we have eternal life. He gives tests to us throughout the book. There are eight distinctions that will mark our lives in this book if we are saved. If we fail but one of these tests, the encouragement is to Know that you have eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we are saved it isn t about what we do to be saved. If we did the right things said the right words. The key is what did God do in us that proved to us that we are saved? When He saves us there are things that happen. We will spend the next seven weeks examining our lives and determining whether or not we have we said Dear John to the things that need to go. But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. lessons on Breaking Up Romans 3:23 There is none righteous no not one. Romans 3:10 Romans 6:23 Romans 5:8 Dear Darkness, Dear Self Righteousness, Dear World, Dear Hate, Dear Sinful Help, Dear Self Helps, Dear Doubt