1 John. .week 4. .Discussion

Well, here it is. .

the last discussion of the first month. .

I don’t know about you all. .

but I REALLY loved reading the book over and over again.

I am amazed that by the 25^th time I’ve read it. .

new things continue to comfort me and stand out to me. .

depending on the day and my needs!!

This is how we learn. .

and many of the verses that I can remember today (though not memorized or able to flip directly to them). .

come from times like this. .

when Jesus speaks TO me THROUGH the written words on the pages!!

I have quoted things out of 1 John multiple different times this month when John’s words apply to Sunday school. .

or just in visiting with someone about spiritual things! The best thing, I think. .

is that those words will NOW come back to you when you need them. .

we’re hiding the word of God in our hearts. .

and that’s the best tool we have!!

 

So I thought that this little Life Lesson paragraph from Max Lucado’s study guide was appropriate for the last week. .
since it addresses the last verse of 1 John. .
listen. .

 

All kinds of things in this world clamor for our attention, affection, and allegiance. And here’s the bottom line truth: To whatever or whomever we allocate our best time, energy, and resources, THAT is what or whom we worship. John’s 1^st epistle reminds us that God is the only one worthy of all that we are and have. Nothing matters more than knowing him, than cultivating a rich relationship with him that changes us and moves us to love and serve others. No wonder John counsels us to beware of getting sidetracked. Watch out for teaching that diminishes Christ’s glory. Look out for idols that get you to take your gaze off Jesus!

 

The books that I have read this summer nail that concept as well. .
and that is where God is leading me during this season of my life. 
So. .
our assignment this week was twofold. .
first things first. .
How has the book of 1 John changed my life. .
What has He shown me. .
ABOUT me. .
that needs to change to align myself to what His scripture says??  What am I doing about it? If I haven’t done anything yet. .
give us a specific plan for how you will be a DOER of the word rather than a HEARER only. .

 

My own life has been in a pattern of change for a couple years now. .
long story. .and some of the things that John spoke of, I have been working through. .
worldliness, and the sin patterns in my life that I mentioned last week. .t
he first step to change is RECOGNIZING what God sees as DISHONORING. .
and then the rest is a process. .
So. .the thing that God pressed on my heart from this chapter. .
was to make time for fellowshipping with other BELIEVERS.  
I have a busy family. .a busy work schedule. .and a busy extracurricular life. .
so taking time to fellowship with anyone that I didn’t give birth to. .wasn’t a priority.
 Last month I took a day and went with 3 friends in Christ (2 that I barely knew) and enjoyed a spiritual retreat for a day. .
This month, I did the same when we saw Beth Moore. .
It was refreshing for me. .and energized me a way that I hadn’t been for a long time!
Our Sunday night bible study discussion has been much the same. .
people. .with the same thoughts. .the same goals. .the same future. .
sitting around visiting about things that are ETERNAL. .
They give me the courage and support and strength to keep stepping forward in faith and obedience. .
So. .my goal. .is to continue this little 1 month trend of meeting with people on a social level. .
over lunch. .or a dinner out with godly girls. . 

The other thing that was brought to my mind last night as I read chapter 5:4. .
It’s easy to SAY I trust Christ to give me the victory against evil. .
but sometimes. .I just get DISCOURAGED!!
It’s been a frustrating 2 days in the health department. .
full of selfish, godless, world loving, me-pursuing people. .
no morals. .no values. .no light in them. .
and I want EVERYONE to know that Christ is available to them. .
I WANT them to understand. .
and I have been working this month. .
on remembering that God IS who God IS. .
He IS in control. .HE changes people and their hearts and their beliefs. .
Not me. .NEVER me. .It’s not my job. .
MY job is to abide. .In the only light there is. .the ONLY truth. .the ONLY way. .
I am learning how to abide. .and listen. .and obey. .
And. .some days. .that is just FLAT HARD!!
But it’s what He calls us to do. .And in His strength. .we CAN!! Amen and AMEN!!

 

2^nd part is to answer one of the questions below. .
 Just so you know. .
I didn’t make these questions up. .
I mentioned earlier that I have a study guide to use with 1 John from Max Lucado that I intend to do some day. .
I swiped random questions from the guide to provoke some thought. .
they are geared toward different concepts that we read during the month. .
Keep reading 1 John through the weekend. .
and be looking Monday for our next book information!!

1.)     List some attitudes and actions that you consider “wordly”

2.)   Which of the promises in 1 John 2:12-14 are most promising to you and why?

3.)   The teachings attributed to Christ are widely regarded as being wise and helpful. .so does it really matter whether he actually lived (remember, the false teachers said he didn’t and some today believe he was only a good man)?? WHY?

4.)  What are some practical things that Christians can do to strengthen their fellowship with one another? Why would it be important?

5.)   What resources does John say God gave us to keep us from being led astray?

6.)   What are some specific protective measures you need to take to better prepare for the false teachers you are likely to encounter (remember that Revelation tells us that there will be a MAJOR false prophet coming with the Antichrist soon and will lead many people astray. .we should be ready too!)

7.)   How does the truth of “Christ in you” encourage you as you seek to live a life of obedience?

8.)   In Matthew 16:13-23 the apostle Peter makes one insightful, God-honoring statement, only to turn around and utter a devilishly inspired comment. What does this tell us about our need to be discerning?

 

Have a G-R-E-A-T weekend!!  Love ya all!! Melanie

Week 4. .Fast Fact Wednesday!

Today. .
I wanted to mention, briefly. .
Cain and Abel. .
1 John 3:11-12 mentions that we should not be like Cain. .
If you aren’t familiar with the Old Testament passages in Genesis that discuss Cain and Abel. .
I wanted to enlighten you a minute. .
If you want to read the story yourself. .
check into Genesis 4 this week. .

 

Cain was the first born son of Adam and Eve. .
many believe that, as the way the scripture is written. .
that Cain and Abel were twins with Abel being the second. .
As they grew up. .
Abel became a shepherd and Cain was a farmer.
Genesis 4:3 describes the big issue. They were to present a gift to God. .
Cain presented some of his crops to the Lord. .
and Abel gave the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel’s gift. .
but He did NOT accept the gift of Cain. .t
he bible doesn’t specify why not. .
and there are theories and speculations to why He didn’t. .
But the point that John is tying into Genesis is from verse 6. .
"Why are you so angry?" the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do WHAT IS RIGHT. But if you refuse to do what is right, then WATCH OUT! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to CONTROL you. But you MUST subdue it and BE ITS MASTER.” (emphasis mine)

 

Those words were from the Lord OUR God Himself. 
It would be conceivable that Cain KNEW what was wrong with his offering. .
but he was pouting anyway. .
and using his free-will. .
to make the choice to do what CAIN wanted and NOT what He knew from God to be correct. Allowing that anger to take root. .
leads to jealousy and deeper anger. .
until we cannot even contain the sin. .
That’s why an unforgiving heart is so detrimental to our spiritual hearts (and why the bible references the important aspects of this often!)

 

As you continue to read the story. .
Cain harbored that anger in his heart even after God’s pretty explicit warning. .
The anger took root and grew. .
until Cain took Abel out to the fields and killed him. 
Cain was then questioned and punished by God. .
it’s really a fascinating story. .take a minute to read through it. .

So to finish up. .
here’s a couple excerpts from one of my study bibles on 1 John 3:12-15. .

Cain killed his brother Abel, when God accepted Abel’s offering and not his.
Abel‘s offering showed that Cain was not giving his best to God, and Cain’s jealous anger drove him to murder. People who are morally upright expose and shame those who aren’t.
If we live for God, the world will often hate us because  we make them painfully aware of their immoral way of living. .
John echoes Jesus’ teaching that whoever hates another person is a murderer at heart (Matt 5:21-22). Christianity is a religion of the HEART; outward compliance ALONE is not enough. Bitterness against someone who has wronged you is an evil cancer within you and will eventually destroy you. Don’t let a “poisonous root of bitterness” (Heb 12:15) grow in you. .or your church!!

 

And now. .
The moment you have REALLY been waiting for. .
Today’s fast fact. .

What are some of your favorite hobbies. .and raising kids doesn’t count!!  GOOOO!

I LOVE baking/cooking. .gardening. .antiquing. .traveling. .decorating. I’m a passionate person by nature. .and have a LOT of “loves”. .this CAN and HAS gotten me into trouble!!  Enjoy your day! 

1 John. .Week 4. .Assignment

Hope ya’ll had a great weekend!!

It was salsa day here. .My friend Lisa and I. .

have been making salsa for TEN years now!!

Our families start asking about it by mid summer!!

The first year. .we had one little pot and an antique water bath canner. .

we worked ALL day and had about 20 jars to split between us. .

Now we have at least 3 pots on the stove simmering through the day. .and 2 canners. .

This year our water bath was on the front deck on top of Jeremy’s propane turkey fryer burner!! (we’ve also canned using the side burner of our grill!)

We’ve learned a few things along the way. .and are a LOT more efficient!!

Saturday. .we worked from about 8:45 until 5. .and canned a little over 37 GALLONS. .of salsa!!

Yes. .that is G-A-L-L-O-N-S!!

My house always smells like a million bucks. .

and there is NO shortage of opinions on the flavors J

 It’s one of the best forms of exhaustion that I know!! (By the way. .the mustard yellow wall color is soon to go. .the last drag race of the season was today. .and NOW. .I’M the honey do list!! Woop, woop!

 

 

So. .Let's get back to the book of 1 John. .
It's our last week here!

 



What is love? 
Have you ever REALLY thought about it??
Many would say that love is a feeling. .
and I agree with that. .
Love may START as a feeling. .
but then if someone disappoints. .
that love turns to dislike or even hate. .
so how does that go wrong??
I LOVE my kids. .
but there are many days that I don’t FEEL love. .
I feel irritation, I feel disappointment, so what becomes of love then??
The divorce rate stands at nearly 50%. .
those people didn’t go into a marriage EXPECTING a divorce in their future. .
They were in LOVE. .
so WHAT happens to that??
I don’t know if many of the rest of you have felt this. .
but my honeymoon LOVE was over a long time ago. .
and sometimes love is still that feeling. .
but for a LONG time, when love CEASED feeling like that. .
I wrestled with it. .where is the LOVE??
Until. .I came to terms with the fact that love is a CHOICE. .
And the love that Jesus talks about throughout the bible. .
is a CHOOSING kind of love. .
We choose to serve others. .
we choose to be kind to our enemies in addition to our brothers (because even the pagans love their brothers Matthew 5:43-48).
John instructs multiple times in 1 John. .
that we should LOVE others. .
and if we don’t love others. .
we are not abiding in God. .
God IS love. .
so can we understand the magnitude of what he is telling us??
 I hope this little word study will help us see more clearly. .
Did you know there are different kinds of love??

There are. .
and the Greek language had 3 words for love. .
but only one word that it translated into in English. .
Eros. .a greek form of the word love. .
describes a sexual or passionate type of love. .
it’s where our English word EROTIC comes from. .
Uh, not the love we find in scripture.  

Phileo. is "mental" love. It means affectionate regard or friendship in both ancient and Modern Greek. This type of love has give and take. It is a dispassionate, virtuous love, a concept developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity. In ancient texts, philos denoted a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers. (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

But a third kind of love. .
and the love that I believe that John is talking to us about in his book. .
is that of Agape love. .
This is a “Love-as-God-loves type”. .
it’s unconditional. .
it’s a selfless love--when we give love. .
but expect NOTHING in return. .
a human quality??
 I don’t think so!
 It’s a love that comes FROM God!!
I can’t GIVE that kind of love from my own efforts or desire. .Can you? 
 Read what Wikipedia says about this type of love. .
Even if you are familiar with this concept. .
read thru this. .I found it intriguing and enlightening.

Agape Classical Greek: ἀγάπη, agápē  is one of the Koine Greek words translated into English as love; one which became particularly appropriated in Christian theology as the love of God or Christ for humankind. In the New Testament, it refers to the covenant love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God; the term necessarily extends to the love of one’s fellow man. Many have thought that this word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love. Although the word does not have specific religious connotation, the word has been used by a variety of contemporary and ancient sources, including biblical authors and Christian authors. Greek philosophers at the time of Plato and other ancient authors have used forms of the word to denote love of a spouse or family, or affection for a particular activity, in contrast to philia (an affection that could denote friendship, brotherhood or generally non-sexual affection) and eros, an affection of a sexual nature. Thomas Jay Oord has defined agape as "an intentional response to promote well-being when responding to that which has generated ill-being (stop and read that line again. .it is a bit tricky. .read it outloud)

A journalist of Time Magazine has described John 3:16 as "one of the most famous and well-known Bible verses. It has been called the 'Gospel in a nutshell' because it is considered a summary of the central doctrines of Christianity." The verb translated "loved" in this verse is ἠγάπησεν (ēgapēsen), past tense of "agapaō".

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

—John 3:16, 

Agape received a broader usage under later Christian writers as the word that specifically denoted "Christian" love or "charity" (1 Corinthians 13:1–8), or even God himself (1 John 4:8, ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν, "God is Love").

The term agape is rarely used in ancient manuscripts, but was used by the early Christians to refer to the self-sacrificing love of God for humanity, which they were committed to reciprocating and practicing towards God and among one another. When 1 John 4:8 says "God is love," the Greek New Testament uses the word agape to describe God's love.

The Christian usage of the term agape comes almost directly from the canonical Gospels' accounts of the teachings of Jesus. When asked what was the great commandment, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)

In the King James Version of the New Testament, the word agape is translated "charity" [in some places] which has a contemporary connotation of giving to meet needs of the less fortunate.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love (agapēseis) your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love (agapāte) your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?

—Matthew 5:43-46, 

Christian writers have generally described agape as a form of love which is both unconditional and voluntary. Tertullian, in his 2nd century defense of Christians, remarks how Christian love attracted pagan notice: "What marks us in the eyes of our enemies is our loving kindness. 'Only look,' they say, 'look how they love one another' " (Apology 39).

Anglican theologian O. C. Quick cautions however that this agape within human experience is "a very partial and rudimentary realization," and that "in its pure form it is essentially divine." Quick suggests that,

If we could imagine the love of One who loves men purely for their own sake, and not because of any need or desire of his own, purely desires their good, and yet loves them wholly, not for what at this moment they are, but for what He knows He can make of them because He made them, then we should have in our minds some true image of the love of the Father and Creator of mankind.

In the New Testament the word agape is often used to describe God's love. However, other forms of the word agape (such as agapaō) are at times used in a negative sense. Such examples include:

2 Timothy 4:10— "...for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved [agapaō] this present world...".
John 12:43— "For they loved [agapaō] the praise of men more than the praise of God."
John 3:19— "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved [agapaō] darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

In these cases, the sense is that the object of that agapē is an idol, taking the place that should be God's own

So. .
ponder the different types of love this week. .
as you read. .
and really consider how you can show the agape love of God to those around you!!

This week. .
we will be reading 1 John for the last times. .
read in whichever text you prefer, or continue looking through different translations.
Our assignments for the week. .
will include
considering how we have caught ourselves changing our habits and lives based on what we have spent the last month studying. .
if you haven’t made any changes. .
Be accountable to us as to WHAT you PLAN to start changing based on 1 John studies. .
You may want to make a new sheet in your notebook. .
Heading. .I want to be a DOER and not a HEARER (James 1:22)
HOW will 1 John change my personality and my life. .
make a list of goals to work on.

Finally. .
choose one of the questions below to consider and research if needed so that you can provide an answer to the group next weekend. I don’t care if everyone uses the same question. .
it actually would be quite beneficial for each of us to consider EACH question. .
and then you can fight it out next weekend to see who gets to answer first J

1.)     List some attitudes and actions that you consider “wordly”

2.)   Which of the promises in 1 John 2:12-14 are most promising to you and why?

3.)   The teachings attributed to Christ are widely regarded as being wise and helpful. .so does it really matter whether he actually lived (remember, the false teachers said he didn’t and some today believe he was only a good man)?? WHY?

4.)  What are some practical things that Christians can do to strengthen their fellowship with one another? Why would it be important?

5.)   What resources does John say God gave us to keep us from being led astray?

6.)   What are some specific protective measures you need to take to better prepare for the false teachers you are likely to encounter (remember that Revelation tells us that there will be a MAJOR false prophet coming with the Antichrist soon and will lead many people astray. .we should be ready too!)

7.)   How does the truth of “Christ in you” encourage you as you seek to live a life of obedience?

8.)   In Matthew 16:13-23 the apostle Peter makes one insightful, God-honoring statement, only to turn around and utter a devilishly inspired comment. What does this tell us about our need to be discerning?

Enjoy your last week in 1 John!!

1 John. .Week 3. .Discussion

Hello girls. .

It seems like I just sent the week’s home work and it is already time to respond. I reviewed a LOT of expectations from God this week.
I’m sure that you did to. .
and that you have also listed multiple times already. .
 the fact that we are to LOVE. .
me too!!
I am working on a little blurb defining that better. .
look for it soon.

This weekend our discussion includes. .

1.)   What does God expect from ME? A verse or two please. .

One of the things that still stuck out in my mind this week was that I am NOT supposed to love the world. .
that is hard for my nature. .But check THIS out. .
in my chronological study bible. .
the notes under 2:15-16 dealing with the worldliness were REALLY helpful. .
and comforting to me. .
another reminder about how TEMPTING Satan’s tactics are. .
but also showing that he hasn’t changed much over time. .
and is STILL successful at distracting people with these. .
listen. .

Some people think that worldliness is limited to external behavior—the people we associate with, the places we go, the activities we enjoy. Worldliness is ALSO internal because it begins in the heart and is characterized by 3 attitudes:
1.) craving for physical pleasure—preoccupation with gratifying physical desires;
2.) craving for everything we see—coveting and accumulating things, bowing to the god of materialism; and
3.) pride in our achievements and possessions—obsession with one’s status or importance.
When the serpent tempted Eve (Gen 3:6), he tempted her in these areas. Also, when the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, these were his three areas of attack (Matt 1:1-11). .

Remember 1 John 2:16 says this. .
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions (NLT)!!

 W-O-W. .
go ahead. .
look up those verses and see it for yourself. .
I know you really want to J

Along the same line. .
the last verse of the book. .
keep yourself from idols. .
is convicting as well. .
I’ve done a couple studies (One was a study on the 10 commandments with youth group) that have nailed down idols for me. .
We don’t really have idols these days. .
not statues or golden calf idols. .
but when you define idol. .
as ANYTHING that you “bow” down to (spend time or money worshipping)
OUCH!! Look out. .
If you need a good read sometime. .
write this book down. .
Kevin Idleman “gods at war” discusses IN DEPTH all the things we, in America especially, use as idols in our lives. .
Sex, food, money, children, family, careers, things, achievement etc. .
Very VERY good food for thought there. .
and will redefine how we SHOULD think about idolatry. .
It is one of those books that just seems to set you free. .
When you REALIZE that you can FIX those problems. .
BUT you have to look at your life like God looks at it. .
Or else, we get stuck in the ruts of sin!

2.)   If I am up to the challenge. .describe a sinful attitude/act/issue in MY life. .that God brought to light while I was reflecting on it this week.

I wouldn’t ask you to do something that I am not willing to do myself. .
so I spent some time in prayer and stillness today. .
asking God to show me what He wants me to get rid of. .
The answers don’t always come at the same time. .
but they come!!
 It became evident at breakfast (everyone else was gone by then) that God had more for me to consider than just one little thing. .
so I grabbed my notebook and started writing. .
I started two new lists today. .
One for “sins that I need to let go of” (which was our assignment) and one that we are working on next week “How will these scriptures CHANGE. MY. LIFE”
Some of these sins I have been working on fixing for a while (pathetic, I know!).  .
some I just really identified as SIN this morning. .
Here’s my list. .
1.) bad mouth (poor word choice and smart mouth)
2.) explosive anger (mostly with my kids. .only cause Jeremy is bigger than me and he can drop me pretty quick J)
3.) blurting before I think
4.) negative self talk
5.) and along the same line. .making up things in my head that aren’t true. .and even if they were true. .it wouldn’t really matter!!! I can take one little thing that someone said. .or DIDN’T say. .and have a whole scenario, complete with dialog going thru my head before you can say “OOPS”
Not helpful. .to me. .or them. .and a total waste of brain space!!

3.)   Remember. .we are all here to be changed BY God. .to be LIKE God. .That is a process. .it can be SLOW. .and PAINFUL at times. .and eventually we have to do it by ourselves. .with the grace of God. .I know this may seem crazy. .but spend the next 7 minutes praying. .as you watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15bs7bCJ92E

Consider how this video could represent our spiritual growth in Christ.
Consider how we are bound up by our sinful, prideful, evil human selves. .

Consider how difficult it is to break free sometimes. .

It can be a struggle and usually is. .
when we first get out from under sin, our wings might be a little wet and need some time. .
but look. .
LOOK at how beautiful we can be when we get out from under sin. .
and ABIDE in God!!

4.) Pray for God to impress on your heart what He wants you to change and repent of that issue/issues (cause I had several) and ask your Savior to help you.

If you haven’t ever decided to abide in Christ. .

If you’ve spent your entire lives hanging around doing what Christians do. .
but have never committed to letting Christ guide you and be in total control. .

I urge you to do that RIGHT now!!
If you accepted Christ’s gift long ago. .
but find that you never changed. .
still continued to do life on YOUR terms and not the terms of God (give up your life for Me, He tells us in Matthew). .
that is SIN!!
Repent. .
ask forgiveness. .
and recommit yourself to your Lord as your Savior!!
Be ready to lay down your life for Him. .
And then hold on. .
the changes will be miraculous!!

 Have a GREAT weekend!!