Anchoring Our Lives in Unchanging Truths
Summary
In a world where truth is increasingly seen as relative and feelings often outweigh facts, it’s more important than ever to anchor our lives to what is unchanging. John’s first letter, written to early believers facing similar cultural confusion, reminds us of the absolute truths we can know and build our lives upon. These are not just abstract doctrines, but living realities that shape how we walk through every circumstance, every joy, and every trial.
First, there is the assurance of eternal life. Knowing that this life is not all there is changes how we face today’s challenges. We are not paralyzed by fear or consumed by the urgency of the moment, because our hope is anchored in forever. This perspective frees us to live with courage, purpose, and joy, even when the world feels uncertain.
Second, we have the confidence that God hears us. Unlike distracted parents or overwhelmed friends, God’s ear is always attentive to our cries—whether they are eloquent prayers or desperate whispers. This truth transforms our worry, our decision-making, and even our daily frustrations. We are never alone; we have a Father who listens.
Third, God not only hears but answers. His responses may not always align with our expectations, but He is always at work for our good. The challenge is to have eyes to see His answers, to trust His timing, and to recognize that His wisdom far exceeds our own. This assurance invites us to pray boldly and to watch expectantly for His hand.
Fourth, our identity is secure: we are born of God and from God. Our failures do not define us; our struggles do not disqualify us. We are new creations, citizens of heaven, and nothing can separate us from His love. This identity gives us confidence to live differently, to resist shame, and to walk in freedom.
Finally, all of this knowledge is not just for intellectual satisfaction. The ultimate goal is to know God personally and intimately—not just to know about Him, but to walk with Him, to experience His presence, and to be transformed by relationship with Him. This is the heart of eternal life: to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
Key Takeaways
- Eternal Life Changes Today’s Perspective
Knowing that we have eternal life shifts our focus from the temporary to the eternal. It frees us from living as if every circumstance is ultimate, allowing us to face trials with hope and to live with purpose beyond the present moment. This assurance is not just for the future, but for how we engage with life right now. [30:59]
- God’s Attentive Ear Transforms Our Worry
God is never distracted or too busy to hear us. His ear is always turned toward our cries, whether spoken or silent. This truth invites us to bring every concern, every joy, and every need to Him, knowing that we are heard and cared for in every moment. [36:08]
- God Answers—But Do We Have Eyes to See?
God’s answers may not always come in the way or timing we expect, but He is always faithful to respond. The challenge is to remain attentive, to look for His hand at work, and to trust that His wisdom is greater than ours. Prayer is not a ritual but a relationship, and God delights to answer His children. [40:52]
- Our Identity Is Secure in Christ
We are not defined by our failures or by the accusations of the enemy. In Christ, we are born of God, set free from condemnation, and given a new identity as His children. Living from this identity brings freedom, joy, and the power to resist sin—not by our strength, but by His grace. [44:20]
- Knowing God Is the Goal, Not Just Knowing About Him
The ultimate purpose of all these truths is not just intellectual certainty, but intimate relationship. God’s desire is that we would know Him personally, walk with Him daily, and experience the fullness of life that comes from being in His presence. This is the heart of faith: to know and be known by the living God. [52:31]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[23:47] - The Relativism of Truth in Our Culture
[26:02] - Why John Wrote His Letter
[28:17] - Assurance of Eternal Life
[30:59] - Living Differently Because of Eternity
[33:08] - God Hears Us
[36:08] - God Hears Our Cries
[37:25] - God Answers Prayer
[39:59] - Trusting God’s Responses
[41:38] - Assurance of Salvation and Identity
[44:20] - Living as Children of God
[45:37] - Our True Citizenship
[49:05] - The Testimony of the Son of God
[51:32] - Knowing God Intimately
[55:02] - Responding to God’s Invitation
[57:55] - Baptism, Communion, and Next Steps
[01:05:48] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Anchored in What We Know
*(Based on 1 John 5:13-21 and the sermon “The More You Know”)*
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### Bible Reading
- 1 John 5:13-21 (Main text)
- John 17:3 (“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”)
- Psalm 34:15 (“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry.”)
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 John 5:13, what is the main reason John says he is writing this letter to believers?
2. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is different about how God hears us compared to how distracted people sometimes listen? [[34:43]]
3. What does John say about our identity in verses 18-19? How does he describe those who are “born of God”?
4. In John 17:3, how does Jesus define eternal life?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does John emphasize the assurance of eternal life for believers? How does this assurance affect the way Christians face daily challenges? [[30:59]]
2. The sermon mentions that God’s answers to prayer may not always look like what we expect. What does it mean to “have eyes to see” God’s answers? [[40:52]]
3. The pastor says our identity is not defined by our failures but by being “born of God.” How might this truth help someone struggling with shame or doubt? [[44:20]]
4. The sermon draws a distinction between “knowing about God” and “knowing God personally.” Why is this difference important for our faith? [[51:32]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says that knowing we have eternal life should change how we face today’s problems. Is there a current situation in your life where you need to remember that this life is not all there is? How might that change your attitude or actions this week? [[30:59]]
2. The pastor shared how God always hears us, even when our prayers are messy or desperate. When was the last time you brought a raw or unfiltered prayer to God? What holds you back from doing this more often? [[36:08]]
3. Think about a time when you prayed for something and God’s answer was different than what you expected. How did you respond? What would it look like to trust God’s wisdom and timing more fully? [[40:52]]
4. The sermon says our failures do not define us, and our identity is secure in Christ. Is there a past mistake or struggle that you still let define you? What would it look like to live out of your identity as a child of God instead? [[44:20]]
5. The pastor talked about the difference between knowing facts about God and actually knowing Him. What is one step you could take this week to grow in a more personal relationship with God (for example: setting aside time to pray, reading Scripture, or simply being honest with God about where you are)? [[51:32]]
6. The sermon mentioned that God’s attentive ear should transform our worry. What is one worry you are carrying right now? How can you bring it to God in prayer this week, trusting that He hears you? [[36:08]]
7. The pastor encouraged us to anchor our lives to these truths as a defense against the lies and confusion of our culture. What is one “truth” from this passage or sermon that you want to hold onto when you face doubts or cultural pressure? [[55:02]]
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*Close in prayer, asking God to help each person not just know about Him, but to know Him personally and to anchor their lives to His unchanging truth.*
Devotional
Day 1: Assurance of Eternal Life Changes How We Live
Knowing we have eternal life transforms our perspective on daily circumstances, freeing us from fear and worry about the present because our hope is anchored in a forever tomorrow. When we truly grasp that this life is not the end, we can live with courage, joy, and purpose, not immobilized by anxiety or the weight of temporary troubles. This assurance allows us to be fruitful and effective for God, understanding that our actions today matter, but they are not the whole story. Let the certainty of eternity shape your choices, your attitude, and your hope, remembering that Jesus promised eternal life to those who trust in Him, and nothing can take that away. [31:39]
1 John 5:13 (ESV)
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life."
Reflection: In what area of your life are you living as if this world is all there is? How might your attitude or actions change today if you truly believed your eternity is secure in Christ?
Day 2: God Hears Us—Always
God never tunes us out or ignores our cries; He is always attentive, no matter how many times we come to Him or how desperate our prayers may be. Unlike human relationships where words can be lost in the noise or overlooked, God’s ears are always open to the righteous, and He hears both our spoken and unspoken prayers. This truth should change how we handle worry, make decisions, and approach God with our needs, knowing we are never alone and never have to carry our burdens by ourselves. Bring your honest prayers to Him, confident that He listens with love and care. [36:45]
Psalm 34:15 (ESV)
"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry."
Reflection: What is one worry or burden you’ve been carrying alone? Will you take a moment today to bring it honestly before God, trusting that He hears you?
Day 3: God Answers Prayer—Trusting His Response
God not only hears our prayers but also answers them—sometimes in ways we don’t expect, but always in ways that are good and wise. He is not like us, forgetting to respond or missing messages; He is already preparing answers before we even call. As we abide in Him and align our hearts with His will, we can trust that our prayers are powerful and effective, and that God’s response is always for our good. Open your eyes to see how He is working, even if the answer looks different than you imagined, and let this trust change the way you pray and live. [39:59]
Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)
"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."
Reflection: Think of a prayer you’ve been waiting on God to answer. How can you look for His response today, even if it comes in an unexpected form?
Day 4: Our Identity—Born of God and Set Free
Those who are in Christ are no longer defined by their sin but by their new identity as children of God, set free from condemnation and shame. While believers still struggle and sometimes fall, their deepest identity is not as sinners but as those who have been born of God, protected from the evil one, and called to live in freedom. The enemy may try to accuse and confuse, but God’s truth declares you are a new creation, and living into that identity brings greater freedom, joy, and victory over sin. Embrace who God says you are and let it shape your actions and mindset today. [43:59]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: Where do you most often let shame or old labels define you? What would it look like to live today as someone truly set free and called a child of God?
Day 5: Knowing God—Not Just About Him, But Personally
The ultimate goal of our faith is not just to know facts about God, but to know Him personally and intimately, as a child knows a loving parent. God’s desire from the beginning has been for relationship, not just head knowledge, and He has made a way through Jesus for us to truly know Him. This kind of knowing goes beyond information—it is about walking with Him, talking with Him, and experiencing His presence daily. Let your pursuit of truth lead you into deeper relationship, anchoring your life not just in what you know, but in who you know. [52:31]
John 17:3 (ESV)
"And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
Reflection: What is one intentional step you can take today to move from knowing about God to knowing Him more personally—perhaps through prayer, worship, or simply inviting Him into your daily moments?
Quotes
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