A Study of 1 John: That You May Know
1 John was written to so that we may KNOW that we have eternal life. 1 John shows us what a genuine faith in Jesus looks like and warns about what an artificial faith looks like. John offers 10 spiritual tests throughout this short letter in the Bible to help us discern the difference between a fake faith and the real deal!
Week 2: Iffy Certainty – 1 John 1:6-2:2
1 John was written “so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). So, how do you know? 1 John1:7-2:2 gives us the spiritual humility test: “Will I admit that I’m a sinner?” When I approach God with spiritual humility and admit that I am a sinner, I can step into my new identity in Christ.
LIVE OAK CONNECTION POINT:
Read along with us in our Bible Reading Plan and engage scripture on your own this week! You can go here or find it under Messages on our Live Oak App & website.
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- What was a highlight from this past week?
- What was a lowlight from this past week?
- How would you define “humility”?
- If you were to describe your experience with Jesus in one sentence, what would you say?
READ: 1 John 1:6-2:2.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- Observations: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- How would you summarize this passage in one sentence?
- What does this passage tell me about who God is?
- What does this passage tell me about who I am?
- Doug talked about the importance of “spiritual humility”. How would you define spiritual humility?
- Doug said that “Spiritual Humility leads to a new Spiritual Identity”. How do you see that in this passage?
- Doug said that “Sin is a problem that only God can solve and a problem that I can’t ignore.” Why do you think we often avoid or ignore this issue of sin?
Read through the 6 “IF’s” in John 1:6-2:2 and discuss the IF/THEN truths they offer:
1 John 1:6 – 1 John 1:7 – 1 John 1:8. – 1 John 1:9 – 1 John 1:10 – 1 John 2:1
- Based on those 6 “IF’s”, where do you need to lean into one of those truths and take a next step?
- What would spiritual humility look like between people and how we talk about sin together?
READ: James 4:4-7.
- Discuss that passage and think about what the idea of spiritual humility could look like in your life right now?
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we have learned. What is your next step? Be specific.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
1 John 1:9 ““If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
PRAYER:
Spend some time praying for each other.
Scripture References:
1 John 5:13; 1 John 1:6-2:2; John 1:14; John 1:29; Genesis 1-3; Genesis 3:1; Romans 2:4; Romans 3:23-26; Romans 6:21-23; Romans 7:14-25; Romans 5:6-10; Galatians 2:20-21; James 4:6-10; 2 Chronicles 7:14
