“Test the Spirits”
1 John 4:1-6
I. A CLEAR WARNING
II. A SPIRITUAL TEST
III. APOSTOLIC ASSURANCE
“Loving One Another & Spiritual Confidence”
1 John 3:18-24
I. CONFIDENCE OF OUR HEARTS
II. CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER
III. CONFIDENCE OF OBEDIENT FAITH
IV. CONFIDENCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
“Loving One Another”
1 John 3:10-24
I. LOVING ONE ANOTHER AND THE GOSPEL
II. LOVING ONE ANOTHER AND THE ASSURANCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE
III. LOVING ONE ANOTHER AS CHRIST LOVES US
IV. LOVING ONE ANOTHER AND SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE
“Identity, Hope, and Fruit: Part 2”
1 John 3:4-10
I. THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN
II. THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST
III. THE PRACTICES OF GOD’S CHILDREN
“Identify, Hope, and Fruit”
1 John 2:28-3:3
I. IDENTITY
II. HOPE
III. FRUIT
“A Warning about Being Deceived”
1 John 2:18-27
I. HOW TO RECOGNIZE ANTICHRISTS
A. In relation to Christian beliefs
B. In relation to Christian fellowship
II. HOW TO AVOID BEING DECEIVED
A. Let the gospel abide in you
B. Let the Holy Spirit abide in you and keep you in the truth
“Assurance and Obedience: Part 2”
1 John 2:12-17
I. THE ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
II. THE ASSURANCE OF KNOWING CHRIST AND THE FATHER
III. THE ASSURANCE OF OVERCOMING THE EVIL ONE
IV. THE ASSURANCE OF DOING GOD’S WILL
“Assurance and Obedience”
1 John 2:3-11
I. ASSURANCE COMES FROM KNOWING WHO CHRIST IS AND WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE
II. ASSURANCE COMES FROM OBEYING CHRIST AS LORD
A. Knowing Christ brings you into a new relationship with his commandments
B. Keeping Christ’s commandments is the completion or fruit of loving God
C. Abiding in Christ means to live and act as Christ lived and acted
III. ASSURANCE COMES FROM LOVING AND FELLOWSHIPPING WITH OTHER BELIEVERS
“We Have an Advocate”
1 John 2:1-2
I. THE CALL TO CHRISTLIKENESS
II. CHRIST OUR ADVOCATE
III. CHRIST OUR ATONEMENT
“Walk in the Light”
1 John 1:5-11
I. GOD IS LIGHT
II. A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH SIN AND DARKNESS
III. WALKING IN THE LIGHT
“Concerning the Word of Life”
1 John 1:1-4
I. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD OF LIFE
II. FOR THE PURPOSE OF FELLOWSHIP AND JOY
A Faith that Works
I Thessalonians 1:1-4
“The Gospel According to Isaiah”
Isaiah 55:1-9
I. A GRACIOUS INVITATION
II. A CLEAR COMMAND
III. A GOSPEL PROMISE
“Lord of Mercy”
Matthew 12:9-21
I. LORD OF MERCY
II. COME TO SERVE
III. COME TO SAVE
“Soul Care”
Psalm 42
I. WHAT CAN AFFECT OUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH?
A. A lack of spiritual fellowship with other believers
B. Physical and mental struggles
C. Relational conflict and external pressures
D. God himself can put you into situations and circumstances that strain your spiritual healthE. Our own
natural disposition can be one of spiritual struggle and depression
F. Unrepentant sin can affect our spiritual health
II. WHAT CAN WE DO TO STRENGTHEN OUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH?
A. Fight for spiritual nourishment and delight in God
B. Examine your soul and ask yourself hard questions
C. Speak truth to yourself in the midst of your struggles
“The Expulsive Power of a Higher Affection”
1 John 2:15-16
I. NO ONE SINS OUT OF DUTY OR NECESSITY.
II. OUR HEARTS DO NOT ALLOW A VOID.
III. SINFUL AFFECTIONS MUST BE FOUGHT WITH GREATER AFFECTIONS FOR CHRIST.
“The Gospel Changes Everything”
1 Peter 2:1-3
I. THE GOSPEL CHANGES EVERYTHING
II. SO, CLING TO THE GOSPEL, AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR DESIRES
Lift Up Your Eyes for Your Redemption Draws Near
Luke 21:25-36
I. LET US BE PEOPLE SURE OF THE LORD’S COMING
II. LET US BE PEOPLE SANCTIFIED FOR THE LORD’S COMING
III. LET US BE PEOPLE READY TO STAND BEFORE THE LORD
Lift Up Your Eyes and See the Harvest
John 4:31-38
I. JESUS SEES THE WILL AND WORK OF GOD AS HIS PURPOSE
II. JESUS SEES THE FIELDS ARE READY FOR HARVEST
III. JESUS SEES HIS DISCIPLES AT WORK WITH HIM IN THE FIELDS
“Lift Up Your Eyes in Worship”
Luke 2:1-21
I. ADVENT IN A ROMAN CONTEXT
II. ADVENT AND THE WORSHIP OF HEAVEN
III. ADVENT AND THE WORSHIP OF ALL PEOPLES