Bible Reading1 John 1:5-10Verse 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.”
[41:11]Verse 6: “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
[44:30]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.”
[44:30]Verse 8: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
[44:53]Verse 9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
[54:53]Verse 10: “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
[45:06]1 John 1:1-4Verse 1: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—”
[37:46]Verse 2: “the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—”
[39:30]Verse 3: “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
[38:13]Verse 4: “And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”
[38:26]Luke 18:9-14Verse 9: “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:”
[01:08:53]Verse 10: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.”
[01:08:53]Verse 11: “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.’”
[01:09:00]Verse 12: “‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’”
[01:09:16]Verse 13: “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’”
[01:09:21]Verse 14: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
[01:09:32]Observation questions- In 1 John 1:1-4, what repeated experiences does John name to show that Jesus was a real Person whom he knew, rather than merely an idea or a religious system? [39:30]
- According to 1 John 1:5-10, what are the three false claims introduced by the words, “If we say”? What does John say each claim reveals?
- What examples of “walking in darkness” are named in the passage and explained here—both things people do and things they hide or fail to do? [45:33]
- In Luke 18:9-14, what contrasts can be seen between the Pharisee’s prayer and the tax collector’s prayer?
Interpretation questions- Why does John connect walking in the light with fellowship with other believers as well as cleansing through Jesus’ blood? How does hiding sin damage both kinds of fellowship? [50:52]
- Why is it important that walking in the light does not mean that a believer has become sinless or is light in himself? [49:54]
- First John 1:9 says God is both “faithful and just” to forgive. How can God forgive sinners without simply calling sin acceptable or ignoring its penalty? [01:05:43]
- Why does Jesus say that the tax collector, rather than the outwardly religious Pharisee, went home justified? What does this show about the kind of person who comes rightly before God? [01:09:32]
Application questions- Is there an area where the walk does not match the talk—perhaps a hidden habit, an unkind pattern of speech, neglected obedience, bitterness, or dishonesty? What would it look like to bring that area into God’s light rather than keeping it covered? [45:33]
- When guilt from past sin returns, is the usual response to hide, punish oneself, make excuses, or receive God’s forgiveness? How can the truth that Jesus already bore sin’s penalty change that response? [59:57]
- Confession means saying the same thing as God about sin. Are there words or explanations that tend to soften personal sin, such as “I was just stressed,” “I only exaggerated,” or “they had it coming”? What would honest confession sound like instead? [55:12]
- Is there a repeated sin or weakness that has led to discouragement or secrecy? What would it mean to keep bringing it to God in humility, trusting not only for forgiveness but also for cleansing and change? [01:02:01]
- If another person has been wronged and knows about it, what might humility require in order to make things right? Is there a conversation, apology, or act of restitution that needs to be considered? [01:02:15]
- In what ways might comparison with other people keep someone from praying like the tax collector? How can the simple prayer, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” shape a more humble relationship with God and others? [01:09:23]
- John’s purpose is fellowship with the Father, the Son, and one another, with complete joy. What is one practical way the group can grow in honest, grace-filled fellowship without pretending to have it all together? [38:13]
