Bible Reading1 John 2:3–17Verse 3: “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.”
[36:33]Verse 4: “Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,”
[39:01]Verse 5: “but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:”
[43:01]Verse 6: “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
[43:49]Verse 7: “Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.”
[45:56]Verse 8: “At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.”
[47:33]Verse 9: “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.”
[50:01]Verse 10: “Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.”
[51:58]Verse 11: “But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
[53:01]Verse 12: “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.”
[56:49]Verse 13: “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.”
[59:24]Verse 14: “I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
[01:00:26]Verse 15: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
[01:03:37]Verse 16: “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
[01:05:07]Verse 17: “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
[01:07:06]1 John 1:5–7Verse 5: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
[47:38]Verse 6: “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
[49:50]Verse 7: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
[54:10]Matthew 4:1–11Verse 1: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
[01:06:11]Verse 2: “And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
[01:06:11]Verse 3: “And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’”
[01:06:11]Verse 4: “But he answered, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’”
[01:06:11]Verse 5: “Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple”
[01:06:11]Verse 6: “and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you,” and “On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”’”
[01:06:11]Verse 7: “Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”’”
[01:06:11]Verse 8: “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.”
[01:06:11]Verse 9: “And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’”
[01:06:11]Verse 10: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”’”
[01:06:11]Verse 11: “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”
[01:06:11]Genesis 3:6Verse 6: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”
[01:05:37]Observation questions- In 1 John 2:3–6, what words does John use to connect knowing God, keeping His Word, abiding in Christ, and walking as Jesus walked? [43:49]
- What progression does the passage describe from hurt to bitterness, resentment, contempt, and hatred? What actions can reveal hatred before someone openly attacks another person? [51:17]
- What three groups does John address in verses 12–14, and what does he say is true of each group? [56:02]
- According to 1 John 2:15–17 and Genesis 3:6, what are the three ways the world tempts people: desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, and pride of life? [01:05:37]
Interpretation questions- John says obedience is evidence that a person knows God, yet Christians still fail and need forgiveness. How does the difference between Peter’s repentance and Judas’s despair help distinguish a life moving toward Christ from settled rebellion? [37:29]
- Why can John call love an “old commandment” and also a “new commandment”? How does the life and cross of Jesus give new depth and shape to loving difficult people? [46:34]
- John says that hatred blinds a person’s eyes. How can bitterness make someone very aware of another person’s failures while becoming less honest about his or her own sin? [53:14]
- What does it mean that spiritual young men are strong because “the word of God abides” in them? How does that change the way a believer faces temptation and spiritual opposition? [01:00:26]
Application questions- Obedience is fruit, not the root, of salvation. Where do you see God growing a greater desire to obey Him, even if that growth has been slow and imperfect? Where is He inviting you to take one clear next step? [44:41]
- Is there an area where you have practiced a “buffet style” faith—welcoming the parts of following Jesus that feel encouraging while avoiding a command that feels costly or uncomfortable? What would honest surrender look like there? [39:44]
- Is there a person whose name brings up anger, jealousy, avoidance, or repeated mental replaying of an offense? What might it look like to release that person and the offense to God while still keeping wise boundaries if needed? [51:38]
- Consider your closest relationships—marriage, family, friendships, workplace, and church. Where do patience, mercy, forgiveness, or humble listening need to become more visible? [52:29]
- Which description best fits your current spiritual season: learning that your sins are forgiven, learning to fight temptation through God’s Word, or developing settled confidence in God through life’s seasons? What is one practice that would help you grow in that season? [01:02:48]
- What particular temptation most often appeals to you through physical desire, what looks attractive, or the desire to be noticed and praised? How can Scripture, prayer, and Christian community help you fight from Christ’s victory rather than trying to earn it? [01:00:32]
- What temporary thing has been competing for your loyalty—comfort, approval, money, success, pleasure, or control? What would choosing what lasts forever over what feels good right now look like this week? [01:07:44]
