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Christian Atheist?
A Study through the Book of 1 John
In response to some false teachers and people who said they believed in Jesus but lived like they didn’t, the Book of 1 John offers foundational Christian teaching, assurance to the believer, and a number of spiritual tests to help us tell the difference between a genuine Christian and an imposter.
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Note: All three services each weekend have identical messages.
(Saturdays at 6 p.m., and Sundays at 9:15 & 11 a.m.)
To listen to a message in this series, click here » Audio
We hope to have the audio version from the weekend service available after 1 p.m. each Sunday.
The video message will continue to be posted on the Message webpage as usual. Thank you.
Check out these topics:
Date:
Sep 11 2010 - 6:00pm - Nov 14 2010 - 12:00pm
Location:
- Trinity Church Auditorium
- Address:
- 3355 Dunckel Rd.,
- City:
- Lansing ,
- Province:
- Michigan
- Postal Code:
- 48911
"An Invitation to Joy," Week 1 (9/11&12)
Scripture Reference: 1 John 1:1-4
John’s summary of Jesus is that he was the Word of life, the eternal God, who entered into human history as a real person. He made it possible for us to have friendship with God and each other.
Week 2 (September 18/19): John gives us one of the marks of a genuine Christ follower – hating and confessing sin in our lives.
Scripture Reference: 1 John 1:5-2:2
"Knowing God," Week 3 (September 25/26): Not only is a mark of a genuine Christ follower to hate and confess our sins, but John gives two additional marks: love God – demonstrated by obedience to his word, and love fellow Christ followers.
Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:3-11
"Love in Focus," Week 4 (October 2/3): John reassures his readers that they are true children of God: their sins are forgiven, they know Christ and the Father, and they are strong and have overcome the evil one.
Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:12-17
"Beware!" Week 5 (October 9/10): John breaks this section into the topics of antichrists, who lead people away from Jesus and the Holy Spirit who leads us to eternal life with Jesus.
Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:18-29
Week 6 (October 16/17): John says that Christ followers seek to imitate God by doing what is right and overcoming sin, while Satan and his followers are rebellious and unloving. All of humanity can be divided into two categories: those who belong to God and those who belong to Satan.
Scripture Reference: 1 John 3:1-10
Week 7 (October 23/24): John reveals the importance of Christ followers loving one another. He likens hatred of a fellow Christ follower to murder – like Cain murdering his brother Abel (Genesis 4).
Scripture Reference: 1 John 3:11-24
Week 8 (October 30/31): John reminds us that just because someone has spiritual power or insight does not mean that the spirit(s) empowering them are from God.
Scripture Reference: 1 John 4:1-6
Week 9 (November 6/7): This is one of the greatest texts in the entire Bible on what love is. John tells us that God is love and that God loves us in Jesus’ death for our sins, and that God gives us his love to share with one another. Once we embrace God’s love and love God in return, we no longer need to serve God out of fear that he will send us to hell.
Scripture Reference: 1 John 4:7-5:5
Week 10 (November 13/14): John reasons that God has given us eternal life and this life is in Jesus. He has given us ample evidence to believe in Jesus because he has testified through the water, blood and Spirit. Also, John teaches us to have confidence in our prayers to God because he loves us and always hears our requests.
Scripture Reference: 1 John 5:6-21
