1 John 1

Introduction

The Albany fair was the place to be growing up.

Our school would rent a food shack and parents would grill out and sale food to raise funds for our booster club. My dad, the varsity girl’s basketball coach, would sign he and my mom up for three of those nights.

This meant that my sister and I would leave school immediately and head to the fair and play all night long until close to closing time!

Now y’all all know, the fair is a different place. You see all types of people at the fair...

One of the things I absolutely hated about the fair was cotton candy.

It makes zero sense. They give you this massive amount of what they call “candy” on a stick and it dissolves immediately when you eat it! You hardly ever get to swallow it!

I would go as far to say that cotton candy is the most worthless source of food or candy in the world.

Yet millions fall for it every time.

There is something about investing in something that seems like it will satisfy you but never really will.

It is called a stupid decision… Yet we do it all the time! We constantly choose things assuming it will bring us happiness, fix our lives, meet our needs, ands offer us a complete experience, yet it leaves us starving, helpless, and wishing for more.

1 John is going to open our eyes to a life that is complete. A life that actually makes you feel purposeful. One that can be a reality if we choose to accept it.

*pray

1 John 1:1–4 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Immediately, John is telling us that he has experienced something that is life changing!

He has seen, heard, looked upon, touched, and experienced the “word of life.”

The “word of life” he is referring to is Jesus. We will talk about the importance of Jesus in a second, but I want you to understand what John is explaining in this introduction...

Not only has he experienced the “word of life,” but he is also inviting us to have fellowship, community, or a friendship with Him...

1 John 1:3 ESV

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

So what is different about this relationship than any other relationship?

I want you to think of the closest friend or person in your life.