BeLOVE(d)
A Study of 1 John
I Am One of the Beloved
February 25, 2024 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • 1 John 3:1–3
Who am I? This is one of the greatest questions that we will ask in this life. Where do you draw your identity from? We have many different forms of identifying who we are based on relationships, occupation, education, race, religion, interests and so on and so forth. But at your very core, who are you?
God is Love, But What About Us?
February 18, 2024 • Pastor Peter Damaska • 1 John 4:7–21
Love is a fashionable word. We hear it repeatedly in music, in poetry, in the Scriptures, and even when eating our favorite pizza. If repetition helps get a point across, John is definitely trying to get our attention and educate us about love—true love. God is love, but what about us?
LOVED (keep yourselves from idols)
February 11, 2024 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • 1 John 5:21
The wise sage, John, abruptly ends his letter to the church. His final words are short and to the point. He tells the beloved disciples of Jesus to keep themselves from idols. That’s it. Why would John choose to finish his letter that is full of assurances in such a way?
Freedom!
February 4, 2024 • Pastor Dave Engbrecht • 1 John
It’s a great learning moment when an old, wise sage sits down in his chair and shares seasoned wisdom with the children. That’s exactly what John does in 1 John. As he comes closer to the end of his life, he wants those new in the faith to experience God’s perfect love flowing through them. He wants them to experience incredible joy. Most importantly, he desires for them to know freedom from the tyranny and pain of sin.
Be Love
January 28, 2024 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • 1 John 3:11–18
Who doesn’t want to be loved? There is an innate desire in all of us to be seen and known in an intimate way. Our souls crave the love of God, but there is also a need to be loved in communion with our brothers and sisters. That loving communion with brothers and sisters is what John describes as evidence that we have relationship with God. So why do we often get it so wrong?
Option BE
January 21, 2024 • Pastor Peter Damaska • 1 John 2:18–27
John describes in stark contrast the present circumstances of a group of believers in Jesus. His words accentuate the pressure they face, he reminds them time is ticking away, and he encourages them to apply the truth they have accepted to their everyday life. But a choice remains. The hours of our days are not unlike theirs, and we too have the same choice—Option A or Option BE.
Be
January 14, 2024 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • 1 John 2:12–17, John 15:1–10
Abide. Remain. Dwell. Live in. Stay. Over twenty times, John writes of this idea in his short letter to the church. This state of being or concept of remaining directly connects to John 15, where Jesus also encourages his followers to stay connected to him. So, Church, what does it look like to abide, remain, dwell, live in and stay with Christ?
Be Loved
January 7, 2024 • Pastor Tim Veenstra • 1 John 2:12–14
The book of 1 John is a challenge and encouragement to the Church. John is reminding the Church of the sufficient work of Christ on the cross and the implications for holy living. John is encouraging the faithful followers of Christ to hold steady in the face of opposition and false teaching. We are people of light and love.