May 15, 2022: Keep Yourselves From Idols

1 John series message 24

Text: I John 5:21

We finish John's letter with a most profound injunction, one every Christian needs to hear over and over again. It is human nature to place people, things, identity, and pursuits on the throne of our hearts. John's parting shot is exactly what each of us needs to hear. He does not tell us to avoid a specific list of sins. He gets to the root of it all, the heart of the matter: yield to Christ alone in your priorities, in your affections, in your thoughts, and in your worship - and keep it that way. But note - his word is a gentle word to us, full of wisdom.

May 8, 2022: This I Know

1 John series message 23

Text: I John 5:18-20

John's concluding thoughts in 1 John are a masterpiece! No less than 32 times, he uses the word know throughout this letter. He instructs us to such confidence in spiritual truths! Three times in our sermon text he declares, we know. The truths he proclaims are critical knowledge points for a thriving walk with the Lord.

May 1, 2022: Loving One Another

1 John series message 22

Text: 1 John 5:16-17

The life of God in the hearts of people produces love one for another. A key application of this is when we see our loved ones engaging in sin - we love them enough to do something about it, namely, pray for them!

April 24, 2022: Confidence!

1 John series message 21

Text: I John 5:13-15

Assurance of our salvation and the confidence it yields in our daily Christian living are themes that run all through John's letter. The apostle now pulls these truths together in a most beloved passage for believers.

April 17, 2022: His Victory is Our Victory

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

A king’s reign is fully established when all of his enemies have been defeated. Jesus died to be the final and perfect sacrifice on our behalf, but His resurrection on the third day proclaimed Him victorious over all of His enemies. It also means that all who trust in Him will share in His victory. It is a proclamation for today and a promise for tomorrow that changes everything.

April 10, 2022: When God's People Go Through Hard Times

Text: Job
The book of Job is a fairly well known story within both secular and religious groups. We will look beyond the
obvious story of perseverance paying off in the long run (James makes the statement: “You have heard of the patience of Job”) and go beneath the surface to uncover many subtle aspects and truths of the book that are very applicable to our present day trials. After presenting my observations and what I have learned about God’s sovereignty, I will provide some Biblical advice for Christians going through trials as well as for friends who are encouraging others going through trials.

April 3, 2022: This is God's Testimony

1 John series message 20

Text: I John 5:6-12

As we continue in our semon passage, we'll consider three basic questions:

Whose testimony will I value and pursue?

What will I do with God's testimony?

What is God's testimony regarding Jesus and eternal life?

March 27, 2022: By Water AND Blood!

1 John series message 19

Text: I John 5:6-12

John is developing his case for assurance - a true Christian is one who has faith in Jesus. It is not the strength of our faith, but rather the object of our faith that saves us - so we must get it absolutely right, regarding who Jesus is. With typical Johanian clarity, his answer thunders in his epistle.

March 13, 2022:

1 John series message 17

Text: I John 4:13-21

God’s love to us, in us, and through us is a sight to behold! In this message we examine what it looks like when the love of God to abides in us.

March 6, 2022: Tying it Together

1 John series message 16

Text: I John 4:7-12

John hits on a familiar theme in our section: love one another! He once again ties it to the most profound expression of love ever shown. And, again, he shows us the importance of the new birth and how love is a natural and tangible product of it. We love because we are born of God, and we should love because we are born of God!

February 27, 2022: Already Overcome

1 John series message 15

Text: I John 4:1-6

John's goal in writing this letter was to remind a hurting church that there is joy that comes from being reconciled to God and one another (1:4), and that they would know they have eternal life (5:13). However, we will experience neither if we are led astray by false teachers who sound like prophets of God. For our sake, and for our family in Christ, we must ‘test the spirits’ to see if they are from God. In this message, we look at how to do that.

February 13, 2022: The Message Still Stands

1 John series message 13

Text: I John 3:11-15

Loving people is the most natural disposition for a Christian because, as John will soon tell us, God is love. In fact, it's a distinguishing characteristic that is to be expected in any Christ-follower. Yet, at the same time, we are urged to grow in this area and display it predominately in our lives! This week we'll break down practical ways we can be known as people who love well.

February 6, 2022: The New Birth

1 John series message 12

Text: I John 3:6-10

Is it possible for someone to be a true Christian without showing any evidence of it throughout their lives? Our passage deals directly with the new birth and what it means, practically speaking, in our lives. It is incongruent with the principle of the new birth for someone to name Christ but not have fruit to show for it. The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil!

January 30, 2022: Behold!

1 John series message 11

Text: I John 2:28-3:3

As John speaks to righteous living, he bursts into praise for what God has made us to be, and for what lies ahead for His children. He can't help himself. What an exhilarating passage to take in! It is brimming with hope and joyful anticipation! Within the New Testament, there are mountain peaks which leave us breathless - this is one of them.

January 23, 2022: You Can Do This!

1 John series message 10

Text: I John 2:18-29

You can do this, But this is not a self help pep talk. We sounded the warning last week, but the flip side of the coin is His provision. God has graciously and abundantly given us all we need to thrive in our walk with Him. Though there are temptations in the world, and dangers from within, we can do this because ‘greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world.’

January 16, 2022: Truth in a World of Error

1 John series message 9

Text: I John 2:18-25

So many applications as we start a new year! Life has been disrupted and many have suffered great loss. Let us resolve to press on in the truth - to know it, to discern error, and live uprightly in this present age - full of love for God and others. May the word of Christ dwell in us richly though the word around promotes error.

January 9, 2022: What NOT to Love

1 John series message 8

Text: 1 John 2:15-17

The Apostle of Love references love 26 times in this short letter. In this instance, he tells us what not to love. We'll determine what he means by "world" and give a clear pathway for our life direction. This is a crucial passage for the church to be intimately familiar with.