1 John: The Real Life and Light

Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is a one-off sermon from the book of 1 John. This sermon is “The Real Life and Light”. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: 1 John 1:1-2:2

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: 1 John 1:1-2:2

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 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, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: What next steps could you take to go deeper in your maturity in Jesus? Who could you ask to keep you accountable to this?

WARM-UP

1. Have you ever tried using virtual reality technology? How was the experience?

2. What can help us discern between what is real and what is fake?

Read 1 John 1:1-4

1. What sort of experience is John writing about in these first verses? Who is he writing about?

2. Are you confident in the physical resurrection of Jesus and the hope of eternal life? What is the source of this confidence and hope?

3. What does it mean to have fellowship with each other and with God?

4. Have you ever known someone close to you who has turned to Jesus in your lifetime? How did it make you feel seeing them come to know him?

Read 1 John 1:5-2:2

1. How does John describe God in these verses? How is God different from the people and things of this world?

2. Why is it inconsistent to claim fellowship with God and yet walk in darkness? Does this mean that we have to reach a sinless state and live perfectly? Why/why not?

3. If you were to be presented with a full record of your sin, how would you feel? What has Jesus done with all of these sins and how? How can we have this?

4. How does the world react to the concept of forgiveness? How do you react to being forgiven?

5. Is there any sin or any one who is too far from Godʼs forgiveness? How can we have this assurance? How should this shape how we proclaim the gospel to people?

6. What does it look like to live as people who have been forgiven?

APPLY: What things or patterns could help remind you of the forgiveness that we have because of Jesus?

PRAYER

Gracious God, we thank you for how much you love us, for how deep your mercy is for us, for how much you have forgiven us. Please help us to never lose sight of the grandior of what you have done for us. Keep us from a gospel of law but remind us of your mercy continually. We ask this in Jesusʼ name, Amen.

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: What is the culture on your frontlines like? Is your approach to avoid, assimilate, or transform?

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• Listen: “1 John 1:1-2:2” by Don Carson

• Listen: “Confident because of Jesus' death” by William Taylor

• Listen: “Three Spurious Claims” by Alistair Begg

• Read: “Suffering, Perseverance and Godʼs Infallible Plan” by Richard Chin

Grow as Families

Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.

Series Resource: “5 Things to Pray for Your Kids” by Melissa Kruger. This resource aims to help guide parents (along with grandparents, carers, and godparents) in praying meaningfully for their child, with biblical grounding.

Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray

High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions

Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk

eBook: Watch the eBook