"FELLOWSHIP>FRIENDSHIP"

>>>Chase in New Orleans (in a group of nonbelievers yet connecting w/the only other believer in the group)

>>>Not exactly “friends”, there was ultimately a common thing these example all had w/Jesus that goes deeper than friendship.

>>>One of the themes of 1 John is fellowship.

Fellowship is the intimate participation, commonality, and sharing among believers.

>>>There is a relationship among believers those outside the church cannot copy.

>>>In the later half of 1 John 1, John dives further into this concept of fellowship and how we can achieve it.

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1 JOHN 1:5-6 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

>>> (v.5) John describes God as the very essence of light.

*“Light” referring to moral purity.

>>>(v.6) John says that people who are walking (living/behaving) in darkness cannot claim fellowship with God.

>>>How can Christians live in a way that is against God? You can’t!

>>>He says they are liars-not truly walking w/God.

FELLOWSHIP BEGINS WITH FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

>>>What is fellowship w/God? Umbrella illus.-living under “darkness” of umbrella prevents being affected by light.

>>>The more we move toward God and His light, the less we see darkness in our lives.

>>>The more we move toward God and His righteousness, the less sin we have-sanctification.

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1 JOHN 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

>>>Now we go from simple fellowship w/God to fellow-shipping with other believers.

>>>Two people walking in God’s light now share something.

>>>Look at the end the verse: fellowship w/other believers provides sanctification

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD LEADS TO FELLOWSHIP WITH BELIEVERS.

>>>Our own fellowship with God opens the door for us to fellowship and fully enjoy the benefits of a church body

>>>Fellowship with other believers sanctifies us.

>>>What does this look like?

*What do you do w/friends? (Bball; eating; hanging out)

*Christ will be found in our conversations when we meet.

>>>Believers are marked by fellowship with each other.

*JOHN 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

*ACTS 11:25-26 “So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”

-First use of the word “Christians” (Christ-follower)

>>>Does youth group feel like hanging out with friends or growing in Christ?

*It is possible to come every week, have fun, sing songs, play games, answer questions, go home without growing in Christ.

>>>This lack of fellowship/sanctification among believers stems from a lack of personal fellowship/sanctification.

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FELLOWSHIP IS POSSIBLE THROUGH FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

1 JOHN 1:8-10 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

>>>Verse 7 ends with the promise that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin.

>>>(v.8) John carries this theme by saying that those who say they have no sin do not have the truth.

>>>Their lack of acknowledgement of sin is self-deception.

>>>(v.9) The other option is confession of sin

*Agreement w/what God says about us

*Acknowledgement of sin w/intent to change

>>>God holds true to His character and will forgive those who repent.

>>>This constant practice of confession and forgiveness keeps us in fellowship w/God and His church.

>>>When we step into God’s light in repentance, He shines back in forgiveness.

>>>Repentance is the basis for us to even have a relationship w/God in the first place.

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FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND BELIEVERS ASSURES US OF OUR LIFE IN CHRIST.

>>> Someone walking in sin-away from God and resisting church fellowship show they are not truly saved.

>>>If we are not fellow-shipping, we are not growing. We may not even be saved.

>>>Came here 1st time; my heart no longer in men’s group.

>>>Missing out on life in Christ

>>>Not hearing this regularly-school, home, etc.

>>>Unsaved:receive Christ!; saved:allow Body of Christ to help you.

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SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

1.) Coming out of the message, what resonated with you?

2.) Main Point: FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND BELIEVERS ASSURES US OF OUR LIFE IN CHRIST.

*How does fellowship with God and believers help assure us of our salvation?

3.) When you look at your life, how is your fellowship with God?

*What would fellowship with God look like in your life?

4.) When you look at your life, how is your fellowship with other believers?

5.) Do you feel like this youth group is marked by fellowship or just hanging out with friends? How do we change that/keep it going?

6.) Do you know you have a relationship with God?