FOCUS TEXT: I John 4:7 21
CENTRAL TRUTH: Loving God and others is the supreme manifestation of the Christian life.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to explain how our love for others gives us confidence before God.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Nature of Love (1 John 4:7 11)
II. The Union in Love (1 John 4:12 16)
III. The Perfection of Love (1 John 4:17, 18
IV. The Outflow of Love (1 John 4:19 21)
FOCUS TEXT: 1 John 3:23‑‑4:6
CENTRAL TRUTH: The gospel's central claim is that Christ is Savior and Lord.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify several ways to distinguish truth from error.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Witness of Truth (1 John 3:23, 24)
II. Testing the Spirits (1 John 4:1‑3)
III. Knowing the Spirit of Truth (1 John 4:4‑6)
Read John 12:1-9.
"Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment" (v. 3).
Over the years of pastoring, our family has entertained many people. It was such a delight to have so many wonderful and godly people in our home. But what would it be like to entertain Jesus? That Saturday night, Jesus joined some of his closest friends for dinner. Lazarus was very much alive after being dead. Martha wanted the food to be just right for the Master. But it was Mary who does something that will be remembered throughout history. She anoints Jesus with perfume that represented as much as a year’s wages. In today’s economy, it is worth $45,000! It is not the amount that is impressive, but the sacrifice of her most valuable possession. She not only speaks her love but shows her love.
Mary's act is a reflection of Jesus’ love for us. The next day will be Palm Sunday. In days, Jesus will show His love in Gethsemane, Calvary, and the Garden Tomb. We can put our love for Christ in action by our acts of praise, worship, service, and love for others. (Jack Hooker)
"Heavenly Father, may I sit at Your feet and worship You with all
that I am and all that I have - and may the beauty of Jesus become
a life-giving fragrance of His love to all with whom I come
in contact today, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN." — Knowing-Jesus.com
FOCUS TEXT: 1 John 3:11 22
CENTRAL TRUTH: Love is the supreme obligation of the Christ follower.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several practical ways a Christian can show love.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Love for the Brethren (1 John 3:11 16)
II. Compassion for Others (1 John 3:17, 18)
III. Assurance in the Heart (1 John 3:19 21)
IV. Keeping His Commandments (1 John 3:22)
Read Galatians 3:22-25.
"But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster" (v. 25).
How did you come to faith in Christ? Most of us have a story of people who helped us, sermons that convicted us, circumstances that influenced our decision. Seldom have I heard people say that the law of God had a part in bringing them to faith. But in our reading for today, Paul says that it was the law of God that served as a tutor to bring each of us to Christ? How does that work?
Paul himself answers that question in Romans 7:7. The law of God showed Paul that his life was missing the mark. We all needed someone or something to get our attention that we were on the wrong road. It is so easy to deceive ourselves into thinking that all is well – that we are as good as we need to be. It is God's Word that becomes the mirror to show us what is truly in our hearts.
Have you looked in the mirror today? Not the one that shows you if your hair is out of place, but the one that shows you what your priorities are; that shows you whether your goals in life reflects God's plans for you. If so, did your look in the mirror make you change anything in your life? James 1:24 reminds us that many people look at the mirror of God's law, see their faults, then forget what they saw. They fail to listen to the tutor, so ultimately fail the course. (Gordon L. Snider)
Lord, help me to listen to my tutor today!
FOCUS TEXT: 1 John 3:1 10
CENTRAL TRUTH: The new nature that Christ gives us is incompatible with sin.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several characteristics of a child of God.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Privilege of Sonship (1 John 3:1 3)
II. The Nature of the Sinner (1 John 3:4 6)
III. The Nature of a Son of God (1 John 3:7 10)
FOCUS TEXT: 1 John 2:18 29
CENTRAL TRUTH: We abide in fellowship with Christ by being loyal to the truth.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several ways our loyalty to the truth of God's Word gives us confidence.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Acknowledge the Son (1 John 2:18 23)
II. Abide in Truth (1 John 2:24 29)
FOCUS TEXT: 1 John 2:18‑29
CENTRAL TRUTH: We abide in fellowship with Christ by being loyal to the truth.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several ways our loyalty to the truth of God's Word gives us confidence.
LESSON OUTLINE:
Read Ephesians 4:14-16.
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (v. 15).
Don’t be tossed around by every doctrinal breeze. Keep focused on the scriptures and the beliefs that spring from them.Being led astray in what one believes will soon carry him astray from proper practice.
One way of keeping focused is for believers to talk openly about ideas and proposals that arise. When decisions are to be made in a church, for example, those who make up the congregation should be frank in speaking about the ideas presented, especially if the proposed changes might turn the church away from biblical principles. Speaking the truth clearly, “in love,” helps focus on truth and avoid the pitfalls of erroneous doctrines.
The same can be true in personal relationships. The Bible seems to indicate that we should be willing to “speak the truth in love” if we see a brother going astray. Warning him about the direction he is taking will be a blessing to him. Once a pastor recalled a time when he began dating a young woman who did not possess Christian character. He had a rather difficult time of it before realizing his danger and cancelling the relationship. Later a friend told him how glad he was for the break-up. “Why didn’t you speak to me earlier?” the young man asked. “You would have saved me a lot of heartache.” (Steven E.Hight)
Speaking truth in love helps us stay on track.
FOCUS TEXT: 1 John 2:12‑17; John 14:21‑26
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Matthew 5:1‑16; Luke 6:20‑49
DEVOTIONAL READING: Colossians 3:1‑11
KEY VERSE: And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever (1 John 2:17).
CENTRAL TRUTH: The focus of a Christian life is loving God completely and doing His will.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list actions or attitudes that reveal a complete love for God.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Instructions for All (1 John 2:12‑14
II. Love ‑‑ Focus of the Christian (1 John 2:15‑17)
III. Keeping a Clear Focus (John 14:21‑26)
