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Word of Life

A Study through the book of 1 John

Who is the Greatest?

October 9, 2022 • Chris Heller

We live in a world full of lies, and if we’re not careful we can be susceptible to believing them. Unfortunately, we all know that believing lies has consequences. It can steal our joy, rob our peace, crush our confidence, and even challenge our assurance of salvation. Times like these demand studies like this. The letter of 1 John is written to an audience surrounded by people deconstructing their faith, believing lies of false teaching, living in the licentiousness of relativism, and recklessly redefining truth in order to fit a desired lifestyle. The result? A discouraged church questioning salvation, faith, and trust in sound doctrine.

No Darkness at All

October 16, 2022 • Chris Heller

Our Word of Life series began last Sunday in the prologue of 1 John and discovered that our author was living in a time when a false teaching was spreading, claiming a higher knowledge of Jesus Christ that was full of lies and distortions to the truth of who He was. How did John respond in a time when the church was beginning to be swayed by these lies? He reminded them that he was an eyewitness to Jesus. He not only knew him, he touched him. Jesus was no phantom. He was and is “the word of life!” This Sunday, John will provide even more insight into who Jesus is by introducing us to one of his favorite aspects of God -- that He is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5-10)

Do I Know You?

October 23, 2022 • Chris Heller

Last week, we examined three claims that were coming from the false teachers of John’s day. This Sunday, we will examine a few more, all from a new phrase that John chooses to leverage for rebuttal, “If we say we know Him . . .” (1 John 2:1-14) What does the walk of a child of God who knows Christ intimately look like? Join us as we continue to build our affirmation, walk more confidently in the light, and long to know Him more deeply.

The Last Hour

October 30, 2022 • Chris Heller

Last week, we looked into what it truly means to know Christ. John implored his 'little children' to obey the word, abide with Christ, and walk in the light. This week, John shifts his attention (1 John 2:15-29) to a graver concern that his spiritual children are facing. The false teachers of the day are trying to lure them into loving the darkness of a worldly system that has been schemed to distract, discourage, and entice people away from walking in the light.

Child of God

November 6, 2022 • Chris Heller

John will focus his attention on one of the pre-eminent characteristics of the child of God. Join us as we take aim at the goal John desires every child of God to be continually seeking to hit. What is it?

God is Love

November 13, 2022 • Chris Heller

Children of God know that this world we are in, but not of, seeks to define love without God. The major problem with that is, God is love. He defines it, He demonstrates it, He promises it, and He makes no mistakes. He expects His kids to love like Him. Therefore, let’s make sure we get our definition of what love is from the divine instead of from the world.

'Tis So Sweet

November 20, 2022 • Chris Heller

Are you familiar with the lyric,"‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus"? Have you found that to be true in your life? “Just to take Him at His word!” The song embodies such sweet lyrics of belief, trust, and assurance.  John offers three “sweet” things we can enjoy as children of God in our relationship with Christ that are worth chewing on as we close this great study!