July 28, 2024 • Brian Alaman • 1 John 2:18–27, 1 John 4:4, 1 John 5:4, Ephesians 2:8–10, Titus 3:3–5
Gnosticism - Material things are evil, spiritual is good
Non negotiables of Christian doctrine
There is one (trinitarian) God
We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in the finished work of Christ alone
The canonized Bible is the inerrant word of God (In its original language and form)
Do not love the world
July 21, 2024 • Brian Alaman • Genesis 3:6, 1 John 2:3–6, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 John 5:3, 1 John 2:15–16
1 John 2:15-16. 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Gen 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Legalism vs leniency
1 John 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.
1 John 1:8-2:2 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.2 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. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 3:20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 John 4:13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
1 John 5:3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
Loving People
July 14, 2024 • Jeremy Tate • 1 John 4:19–20, 1 John 4:7–12, 1 John 3:16–18, John 13:34–35
Books John Wrote:
- The Gospel of John “John”
- First Letter of
John “1 John”
- Second Letter of John “2 John”
- Third Letter of John “3 John”
- Revelation
The Gospels (the story of Jesus):
- Matthew (synoptic)
- Mark (synoptic)
- Luke (synoptic)
- John (love)
Write down 3 people you love
- At the top of the list put people who are easy to love
- At the bottom put people who are harder to love (that you still love)
How do you know if you love someone?
How do you know if someone loves you?
How do you know if God loves you?
19 We love because he first loved us.
4 loves:
Phileo - Brotherly love
Storge - Family love
Eros - Romantic love
Agape - Servant love
Do I love someone?
Do I serve them?
To serve/love someone:
“To treat someone like they are more important than you”
Matthew 20:26-28
Matthew 25:31-46
Who to love/serve?
- People who are close
- Those in need
- People who are hard to love
The Gospel, A Manifesto
July 7, 2024 • Brian Helms • 1 John 4:7–10, Romans 3:10–12, 1 John 4:13–18, Romans 5:8
“Theology means very little if it can't reach into the most personal and excruciating crevices of our hearts.”
– Dr. Julia Slattery
What is the Gospel?
How is the Gospel Changing Your Life? Today? This Week?
Contrast brings clarity
June 30, 2024 • Brian Alaman • 1 John 1, John 3:16–21
1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
3:20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
4:16 God is love
5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
2:4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.
2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
3:8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
4:3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
Exegesis vs. Eisegesis
Main themes
To make our joy "full" or complete (1:4)
To warn us about habitual sin (2:1)
To refute false teachers (2:26)
To assure us of our salvation (5:13)
