Love Letters: This Is the Message

• The community
• The author
• The situation and key issues

The Message Revealed (1 John 1:1-5)

• The physical revelation (1:1-2)
• The Word of revelation (1:1b)
• The apostolic revelation (1:3-4)
• God’s essential revelation (1:5)

The Message on our relationships (1 John 1:6-7)

• Darkness and the elimination of relationships
• Light and the opening of relationships

The Message on sin and the self (1 John 1:8-9)

• Sin and self-deception
• Confession and forgiveness

The Message on sin and God (1 John 1:10-2:2)

• Sin and God-deception
• Failure and God’s means for atonement

Discussion Questions:

1. Talk about a historical event that has happened in your lifetime: where were you when you heard about it?; what did people do around you?; what sort of message did it send to the nation or world or to you?
2. As we begin this series, take the time to read the entire book of 1 John in one sitting. If you are in a small group, take time to read it out loud together in one sitting.
3. At the beginning of 1 John, we hear
4. There are three “if we claim” or “if we say” statements in 1 John 1:6-10. Where are they found and what do they say?
5. Each of these “if we claim” statements has a negative and positive side. What are these contrasting elements?
6. What do you think it means to walk in the light or walk in the darkness?
7. How honest are you with your sin – with yourself, with God, or with others? What does this say about you?
8. The term ‘atoning sacrifice’, which is used in 1 John 2:2 about Jesus, only occurs one other place in the entire New Testament, in 1 John 4:10. What is John telling his readers about Jesus through the use of this term?
9. Identify one practical way you will respond to the message and study this week. Write it down, reflect on it, and put it into practice this week. If you are in a small group, discuss this with one another.