Abide: Test the Spirits

The Rock Church: Fenton

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Abide: Test the Spirits

1 John 4:1-6

March 28, 2023 • Paula Thorp

We live in an era where so called "Christian" teachers, podcasters, authors, and social media personas pop up almost daily. How can we know who is teaching truth, and who is teaching error? How can we prevent ourselves from being deceived by false teachers who claim to teach about God, but their doctrine is misleading and evil? Join us for session twelve as we discuss how to "test the spirits" and why it is critical we do so.

Verses Used:

1 John 4:1-6

1 Timothy 6:3-5

John 1:14

Colossians 2:9

2 Timothy 4:3

1 Timothy 6:3

Colossians 2:8

Matthew 7:15

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is it necessary to “test” the spirits (messages, doctrines we hear)?

2. The Bible says we can know a false prophet by his or her fruit. What does this mean and what bad fruit does a false prophet display? What is the difference between an imperfect teacher/pastor who will sin and the character of a false prophet? (Jeremiah 23:11 &14, 2 Peter 2:12-14 & 18-19)

3. How can we test someone’s doctrine to see if it is sound? (1 John 2:18-23 & 4:1-6)

4. Why do false prophets succeed? (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

5. What is the danger to our own lives that a false teacher presents and what should we do if we feel someone is a false teacher? (Jeremiah 23:16 & Ezekiel 13:17)

Abide: 1st John Conclusion

May 23, 2023 • Erin Morris

The letter of 1 John draws sharp contrasts between those who abide in life and those who remain in death. If we are to escape spiritual death, we must believe the testimony that Jesus is the true, eternal God, and the only means of salvation. As those who abide in Christ we are called to keep His commands and to love one another as He has loved us. Join us for the conclusion of 1 John as we recap what it means to ABIDE in Christ. Verses Used: 1 John 4:15 1 John 4:13 1 John 3:23-24 1 John 4:1-3 1 John 2:3-6 1 John 1:9 1 John 4:7-12 1 John 2:28 Discussion Questions: 1. Upon birth, all of us abide in the darkness/death. How is it that we come to abide in the Light/life? 2. What is the testimony about Jesus that we must believe in order to be saved? 3. If we abide in Christ, we are called to keep His commands. What does this mean? We cannot do so perfectly, what happens when we fail to keep His commands? 4. Loving one another is evidence that we abide in Christ. What is the standard of love to which we are called? 5. How does abiding in Christ give us confidence in the judgment?

Abide: Guard Yourselves

May 16, 2023 • Erin Morris

John concludes his letter by urging us to pray for those we see sinning. He then reminds his readers that the world lies in the power of the evil one, but we have nothing to fear because God Himself guards and keeps us. His parting command urges as believers, us to guard ourselves from idols and cling to the true God and eternal life we have in Christ, His Son. Verses Used: 1 John 5:16-17 Psalm 32:3-5, 1-2 John 8:23-24 1 John 5:17-21 Ephesians 2:1-7 2 Timothy 1:13-14 Discussion Questions: 1. What are we called to do for a brother or sister who is caught in is and how should we treat him or her? 2. If all unrighteousness is sin, how can we actively be in the fight to pursue righteousness? What assurance do we have that, though we sin, we will be forgiven and on what basis? (1 John 1:9) 3. What is idolatry? Can you share areas of idolatry in which you have struggled? (misplaced worship, sin, false doctrines, etc.) 4. Why is it important to guard ourselves from idols? 5. If we identify an area of idolatry in our lives, what should we do about it? How can we actively fight against it and place it in its proper place?

Abide: The Testimony

May 9, 2023 • Angela McAlister

In John’s day, as in our own, there were false teachings about who Jesus was. John aims to set the record straight by demonstrating the deity of Christ was confirmed by water, blood, and the Spirit. Each of us must decide how we will respond to this testimony and what it means to us individually. What confidence does it give us regarding our salvation, and what confidence does this give us in prayer? Join us for week sixteen as we examine the testimony regarding Christ. Verses Used: 1 John 5:6 John 1:1-2 John 16:28 1 John 5:7-8 Romans 8:15-16 1 John 5:9 John 5:31-37 1 John 5:10-11 1 John 5:12 John 3:36 John 14:6 1 John 5:13 1 John 5:14-15 John 14:6