A Message about Jesus: The Life of Fellowship and Joy

Scripture Reading

Series Introduction

Author - Apostle John?

Audience - Not clear, people and churches in fellowship with the author in some way. If John, churches in Ephasus

Occasion - refuting false teaching that was causing division in fellowship.

We will deal with the specific nature of the false teaching when it becomes relevant.

Generally had to do with a de-emphasizing, or an out-right denying of the incarnation of Christ as well as his substitutionary death on the cross. They also seemed to deny some teaching of Christ, particularly his calls to love one another.

Date, early 90’s

Opening Prayer

Introduction

Real life

Childhood

Adulthood “adulting”

Is that real?

Cotton candy

Real life is only found in the person and work of Jesus

As we look at this opening section or prologue, we will find 3

Exposition

1 John 1:1 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—

“That which” - Relative Pronoun

“From the Beginning”

I. Jesus is the Word of Life so listen to His message (1)

1 John 1:2 ESV

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—

II. God is the source of true, eternal life which has been made plain in the Person and Work of Christ (2)

1 John 1:3–4 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. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

III. The true life is a life of joyous fellowship (3-4)

Applications

Enjoy Jesus

Enjoy one another