Bible Study Snacks - 1 John 3:1-24

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! Thank you for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I hope you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, and strong in faith!

This week, we are continuing our study on The First Epistle of John, or 1 John. The Gospel of John is sometimes confused with The First Epistle of John, but there is a distinguishable difference. The former was designed to produce faith in order that we might have life (John 20:30-31).

The latter describes the nature of that life in greater detail, for example 1 John 3:14. I strongly believe that by studying The First Epistle of John we might better understand the importance of living the kind of life that God offers through His Son Jesus Christ.

The studies presented here are brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might also add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

THINK ABOUT:

*  God’s love for us, and our love for each other
*  The definition of sin, and the meaning of "does not sin!" (1 John 3:6,9)
*  The outworking of love, and the assurance it gives of our salvation

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 1 John 3:1-24:

John describes God’s wonderful love for us, how hope as His children should motivate us to pure lives. Righteous living should be expected when we know what sin is, that Christ came to destroy it, and that one truly born of God will not persist in sin (1 John 3:1-9). True righteousness includes loving one another, even as Christ loved us, which in turn gives us confidence and assurance that we are abiding in Him and are of the truth (1 John 3:10-24).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) What should motivate us to live pure lives? (1 John 3:2-3)
2) How is sin defined by John? (1 John 3:4)
3) What is true of one who abides in Jesus?  Who has been born of God? (1 John 3:6,9)
4) What distinguishes children of God from children of the devil? (1 John 3:10)
5) What serves as evidence that we have passed from death to life? (1 John 3:14)
6) How do we know what true love is? How then should we love? (1 John 3:16-18)
7) What gives us assurance and confidence that we are of the truth? (1 John 3:19-23)
8) How can we know that He abides in us and we in Him? (1 John 3:24)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Genuinely Faithful In God

"The life of faith is continually renewed victory over doubt, a continually renewed grasp of meaning in the midst of meaninglessness."  - L. Newbigin

Tests. It seems like we have been facing them all of our lives. They are a given during our school years. Who doesn't remember staying up late into the night studying for a test the next morning? Our first attempts at establishing relationships with others can test our emotions, and mettle.

As parents our patience is tested, right along with our nerves! Other tests we might encounter involve our motor skills, eyesight, hearing, even our aptitude when applying for employment. Obviously, we could go on almost indefinitely with various examples.

There is one particular test, however, that I didn't mention on purpose. It appears most frequently during times of stress or upheaval. A sudden, life-threatening illness or medical emergency. The loss of a spouse, parent, or child. Loss of a job with no immediate prospects of securing another. The end of a marriage or personal relationship with a significant other.

What these situations have in common is that they test our faith, among other things. One need only open their Bible to find example after example of the faithfulness of some of its most notable characters being tested. For instance, David petitioned God to examine his heart and mind in regards to his faithfulness to Him (Psalm 26:2; 139:23).

Abraham (Abram) was tested by God when he was asked to sacrifice his own son Isaac, He obeyed (Hebrews 11:17–19); thus demonstrating to all that he truly is the father of faith (Romans 4:16). As you can see, true believers in God are no strangers to being tested in their faith.

Persons who are genuinely faithful, such as those mentioned above, exhibit certain characteristics which allow them to weather the storms of strife in life. I'll list a few of these for you. Feel free to compare them against your own faith.

A faithful person:

1. truly believes that God is supremely in control of his or her life. In other words, though we may think we are masters of our own destiny, it is God who holds the reins in His hands. We go where He leads us.
2. has only one loyalty or one object of faith, and that is Jesus Christ. It is key to stay focused on God even though the view may be murky, and the situation shaky.
3. will learn to worship God even during difficult circumstances. There are times when it would be very easy to blame God or distance yourself from Him. Don't! (See #2)

When the bottom drops out of our lives we realize just how faithful we either are, or aren't. God presents these opportunities to strengthen. not harm us. Faith in God will not grow if it isn't tested in the battlefield of life.

A lukewarm faith will fold like a house of cards. Only a strong, tempered faith, forged in the fires of life's most difficult events is what God desires for us. Nothing else will do.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14; Proverbs 17:3; Acts 14:22; Philippians 4:6-7; Philippians 4:6-7 

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You for being with me always and loving me. You are in control of all things and I thank You for that.  May I never lose heart on seeing the circumstances. Strengthen my faith through which alone I can receive miracles from You. Amen

May God bless you!

Joyce

Video - Beth Moore: Made For Passion

Bible teacher and speaker Beth Moore asks, "Is Christ the most exciting aspect of your life? Or are you missing out on something greater?" Let this inspiring message kickstart your day!  ~Eve

A Necessary Combination: Repentance and Faith

"We have a strange illusion that mere time cancels sin. But mere time does nothing either to the fact or to the guilt of a sin."  - C.S. Lewis

Imagine for a moment, a small village located in a rugged, isolated area. Being situated where it was made it rather difficult for anyone but the few local residents to leave or enter. One day an unpaved road is scratched out through the trees leading to the village.

And though the rough road makes access a little easier, it still takes several hours of driving after leaving the main highway to reach the village. Nevertheless, as it is the only road leading in, one must turn around in order to leave by the same road. Thus, one road leads in, the same road leads out.

I use this to illustrate our own situation with sin. We are all innate sinners. But, there too is a path leading away from sin. This path was paved for us by Jesus Christ. We may take this route away from sin, but in order to do so, we must first make a complete turnaround. There's no other way to do it.

This changeabout is what the Bible calls "repentance." But it is so much more than simply turning away from sin. Repentance involves a "change of mind and heart." What does this look like? Take a person who once was dead set on rejecting Jesus. After having a transforming "change of mind and heart," this same person now recognizes and has faith in Him.

Does repentance tie into salvation? You bet it does! Whether deliberately or out of sheer ignorance, we've all rejected Christ at one point in our lives. Then, something wonderful happens! Belief starts to grow in our hearts. Our minds begin to change (repent) from rejecting Christ to accepting Him as our Lord and Savior (Acts 2:38; 11:18). We all need repentance in regards to salvation. But you can't have repentance without belief.

Faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without believing it in your heart is a falsehood. It won't save you. On the other hand, if you change your mind toward believing that Jesus truly is God and the only way to salvation... that's repentance! One cannot earn salvation by repenting. Salvation is a free gift that is offered to us from God and can't be earned (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Throughout our lives we will struggle with sin, going back and forth with our sinful desires. But, a repentant heart will always want to get back on track with God and distance itself from sin. You will discover that true repentance will guide/inspire your desire to bring glory to God, instead of a lifestyle that is focused only on worldly pleasures.

In closing, repentance is necessary for our salvation. Remember though, biblical repentance requires a complete change of mindset. We must believe that Jesus is God and our only way in faith to salvation (Romans 10:9).

During the course of our lives we will be offered and accept many gifts. Similarly, by the act repentance we accept the gift of salvation which is offered from Jesus Christ. Now tell me, who wouldn't want to receive that kind of gift?

Scripture: Jeremiah 7:5; Romans 4:5; John 5:14; Proverbs 1:23; Luke 3:3

Prayer: Dear God, I admit, as I stand here in front of You, that I have been less than upright with You. But, I'd like to change that today. I ask You for the forgiveness of my sins. The Bible says if I confess with my mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, I will be saved (Romans 10:9). I believe with my all my heart and I confess with here and now that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank You for saving me! Amen. 

Have a blessed day!

Brandi

Still Searching For God..?

“God is here, right now, at our side. We can see him in this mist, in the ground we're walking on, even in my shoes. His angels keep watch while we sleep and help us in our work. In order to find God, you have only to look around.”   - Paulo Coelho, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

We live in some pretty amazing times. The information of the world is at our fingertips. Whatsmore, it's available to us literally anytime of the day or night. We can access this information at our desks, in our cars, even as we walk down the street. Does this information simply fall into our laps? Not so much.

If we want to find what we are looking for, we search for it. or seek it out. This process involves trying to "find something by looking or otherwise seeking carefully and thoroughly" according to a dictionary definition. It might take a little work on our part as anything of worth or value usually does.

Of all the searches that we conduct none should be as important to our lives as our search for God. I feel that too many times we tend to think that our search ends by simply attending church, or reading a daily devotional.

We probably invest more time searching for the latest celebrity news, music releases, or friends on social media than we do seeking God. Does this mean that we should stop doing these things? Of course not. But, if one truly wants to seek, search for, and desire God, they need to invest the time.

Fortunately, we don't necessarily have to have a computer, cell phone, or an internet connection to search or seek out God. I know this may sound strange in this day and age, but there is a way to find God whenever we want without any modern technological assistance at all.

You may have already guessed at what I am talking about. It's the Bible! People around the world who are searching (or seeking) God have been able to find Him through His Word. It has been translated into hundreds of languages and distributed to practically every corner of the globe.

There is no secret to finding God. He is certainly not hiding from us, nor is He attainable only to a select few. Anyone who wants to discover or locate Him can through the pages of the Bible. The words are His; composed as He wanted them to be. It is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). The result being the perfect and Holy Word of God Himself (Psalm 12:6; 2 Peter 1:21).

Over the years, some have complained that God has abandoned or turned His back on us. Many have tried to destroy or discredit it (His Word). Others have even declared God dead, or non-existent. Yet His Word always manages to come through intact and unchanged.

I would bet that the majority of these naysayers have probably never opened a Bible and actually read it, or seriously listened to what God is saying through its pages. Jesus once remarked that, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31). Like the latest fad, generations come and go yet God's message to us remains.

Originally, only a certain select few were privileged to have actual contact with Him. Today, you, I, or anyone can connect with God everyday through the pages of the Bible. Stop searching around, set some time aside today and hear what God has to say to you!

Scripture: Romans 15:4; Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 119:105; John 5:39; John 17:17

Prayer: Dear God, I look forward to our time together as You speak to me through Your Holy Word. I pray for open eyes that I may understand it, and an open heart that I may be nourished by it. In Your Name. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Amber

Bible Study Snacks -1 John 2:1-29

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! Thank you for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, and strong in faith!

This week, we are continuing our study on The First Epistle of John, or 1 John. The Gospel of John is sometimes confused with The First Epistle of John, but there is a distinguishable difference. The former was designed to produce faith in order that we might have life (John 20:30-31).

The latter describes the nature of that life in greater detail, for example 1 John 3:14. I strongly believe that by studying The First Epistle of John we might better understand the importance of living the kind of life that God offers through His Son Jesus Christ.

The studies presented here are brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might also add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

THINK ABOUT:

*  The true test of knowing Jesus as our Advocate and our propitiation
*  Things in the world we cannot not love
*  The identity of antichrists in the writings of John

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 1 John 2:1-29:

We have an Advocate who is also the propitiation for our sins and to truly know Him we must keep His commandments (1 John 2:1-6), especially to love one another (1 John 2:7-11). Describing his original readers’ spiritual state (1 John 2: 12-14), John cautions against loving the world and being deceived by antichrists (1 John 2:15-23), by letting truth abide in them and they in Christ (1 John 2:24-29).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) How can Jesus be of aid to us when we have sinned? (1 John 2:1-2)
2) What are two proofs that we know Jesus and that we abide in Him? (1 John 2:3-6)
3) What commandment is both "old" and "new"? (1 John 2:7-11)
4) List three groups of people and how John describes their spiritual state. (1 John 2:12-14)
5) What three things in the world should we not love? (1 John 2:15-17)
6) How can we be sure that we will abide in the Son and in the Father? (1 John 2:24-29)
7) What are the main points of this chapter? (1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 2:7-11; 1 John 2:12-14; 1 John 2:15-23; 1 John 2:24-29)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Doubts?... You Can Trust Christ!

"Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand." - Augustine

Believing in something seems to be more difficult than ever these days. Maybe it's because we have been mislead, or disappointed too many times. I realize that everything we may wish or hope for will not come true. It's just not possible, nor is it realistic.

Yet, we still manage to place our faith or believe in things despite all of this. The comic Steve Martin once said, " It's so hard to believe in anything anymore... I guess I wouldn't believe in anything if it weren't for my lucky Astrology Mood Watch."

All kidding aside, no one believes in nothing. Everyone has faith. The only differences are in the object of our faith and its intensity. For example, have you ever encountered a crisis situation in which you knowingly, and without any doubt whatsoever, carelessly tossed everything aside? What this amounts to is a crisis of will, or personal choice.

We approach this point many times from a visible, or external perspective. But nothing more ever comes of it. That's because the true, deep turning point of total surrender is attained internally, not externally. Our surrendering of only those things that are external, or visible might indicate a problem with us being controlled, or bound by them.

A moment ago I mentioned a crisis of will or the power of control the mind has over its own actions (i.e., personal choice). Allow me to talk about this for just a moment. Have you ever carefully and consciously committed yourself to Jesus Christ? Doing so is an execution (action) of the mind, rather than emotion. Any positive emotion resulting from this may be considered an added bonus (blessing) (Ephesians 2:8)!

This is why you must proceed carefully. By focusing only on the emotional part of it (the action), you'll never take that final step. It might be very tempting to ask God to give you a little hint as to what choice to make at this point. But, don't do it! Step up and make your decision based on your own gut instinct (John 6:47).

Entrust yourself to His voice. Let your belief (faith) guide you, and stay true to the course. Place all your heart, soul, and efforts into supporting and preserving your personal and faithful relationship with Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1; Romans 10:17; John 5:24; Revelation 14:12; 1 Timothy 1:14

Prayer: Holy Father, there are many decisions that we make in our lives. And although some are more difficult than others, my decison to come to You was by far the best decision I ever made. I have never felt more loved or blessed. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Ashleigh