Confident (1 John) (Part 1: 1:1-2:2) (Prompts/Phrases)

Introduction

Attention:

Q. Have you ever struggled to trust that someone would catch you if you fell?

Call up a volunteer, have them do a trust fall with someone they trust.

Q. Now, what if I asked you to do a trust fall with someone you don’t know very well?

Connection and trust

Failing to feel connected

To others

To God

Failing to feel = failing to live

Accepted Christ = connected with God and others

Confident

Need

Culture/Gen Z

Social Media & COVID

Transition to 1 John

1 John 1:1-2:2.

Confident

The Big Idea: We can be certain of our bond with God and one another.

The Big Question: Why can we be certain of our bond with God and one another?

Jesus is real. (1 John 1:1-4)

1 John 1:1–4 NLT

1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

Explanation

Q. According to verse 1, how long has Jesus existed?

“from the beginning”

Divinity

Person

Q. What were the three senses that John and the disciples experienced Jesus from?

They heard Him, saw Him, and touched Him.

The false teachers

Q. In verses 2-3, John says that Jesus was what?

“Revealed” (2x)

Jesus is real = eternal life is real

Q. What is Jesus called in verse 1?

The word of life

The Word of Life = eternal life

In verse 3, why does John say that he is saying these things?

So that we may have fellowship with God and each other.

Response to false teachers

Fellowship with others = Fellowship with God

Not based on feelings; based on reality

Illustration

Text message vs. face to face conversations

Application

Not left to wonder

Reminding yourself

Changing your approach to your relationship with God?

Embrace reality

Transition Statement:

Because Jesus is real, our connection with God and each other is real, too. But is there any other evidence of this reality? That’s what John addresses next.

2. Our walk is evidence (1 John 1:5-7)

1 John 1:5–7 NLT

5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Explanation

Q. What does John say about God’s nature in verse 5?

“God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.”

Double negative = less than none

Light and dark as symbols

Q. According to verse 5, if God is light, what does that mean about having fellowship with Him?

We cannot walk in darkness and claim to be in fellowship with Him.

Q. What does John say about people who claim to have fellowship with God but still walk in darkness (verse 6)?

They are lying and not practicing the truth.

Behavior patterns

Q. What does walking in the light lead to, according to verse 7?

Fellowship with one another and cleansing from sin by Jesus' blood.

Cleansing = light walking

Illustration

Walking through a dark room

Application

Discouraged by behavior?

Cleansed = connection

Walk = bond evidence

Transition Statement:

John makes it clear that our walk—how we live—shows whether we are in fellowship with God. But what happens when we fail? What about when we sin? That’s where the good news of forgiveness comes in.

3. Our forgiveness is proof (1 John 1:8-2:2)

1 John 1:8–2:2 NLT

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

Explanation

Q. What does John say about those who claim to be without sin (verse 8)?

They deceive themselves, and the truth is not in them.

False teachers

Confession

Q. What does God promise if we confess our sins (verse 9)?

Forgiveness and cleansing

Q. In verse 10, what does John say this time about those who claim they have never sinned?

Calling God a liar + no room in our hearts

Q. Why does John say he is writing this (2:1)?

So that we may not sin.

But we will!

Q. How is our advocate with the Father described (2:1)?

“Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous”

Advocate: defense

Q. What did Jesus do for our sins (2:2)?

Propitiation of the world

Forgiveness = proof

Illustration

Courtroom

Application

Affected by forgiveness?

Living in freedom

Conclusion

Sure of bond

Based on reality

Go back to the truth

Remember

Live in confidence

Strengthen fellowship

Trust this week

Pray

Lesson Overview:

The Big Idea: We can be certain of our bond with God and one another.

The Big Question: Why can we be certain of our bond with God and one another?

Jesus is real. (1 John 1:1-4)

Our walk is evidence (1 John 1:5-7)

Our forgiveness is proof (1 John 1:8-2:2)

Small Group Questions:

According to 1 John 1:1-4, how does John emphasize that Jesus was a real, physical person? Why is this important?

What does it mean to have fellowship with God and with others? How does this passage challenge any doubts we might have about our connection with God?

Have you ever had a time when you felt disconnected from God? How can the truth in this passage help you in moments like that?

John wrote this letter to correct false teachings. What are some false beliefs about Jesus or Christianity that people believe today? How can we stay rooted in the truth?

Since we can be confident in our fellowship with God and others, what’s one way you can live differently this week because of that truth?