Sermons from St. Andrew's ~ Mt. Pleasant

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: . Big Idea: How do we discern authentic Christian faith from deception? John gives us three exhortations. 1. Don’t Be Surprised (vv. 18–19) We are living in the “last hour”—the climax of God’s great story in Christ. Spiritual conflict and false teaching are to be expected. The goal isn’t fascination with the Antichrist, but heightened spiritual awareness. Application: Wake up to the spiritual realities of the age in which we live. 2. Don’t Be Deceived (vv. 20–23, 26) False teaching ultimately centers on denying, distorting, or diminishing Jesus. Jesus is fully God and fully man; to deny the Son is to lose the Father. Sincerity and strong feelings are no guarantee of truth. Four ways we distort Jesus today:Relativize him: Jesus is one way to God, but not the only way. Reduce him: Embrace his socially acceptable moral teaching while ignoring his claims about himself. Ignore his lordship: Claim Jesus as Savior without submitting to his teaching. Separate spirituality from Christ: Seek spiritual experiences while sidelining Jesus. Application: Receive Jesus as the apostles proclaim him in Scripture—not a version we have fashioned for ourselves. 3. Don’t Be Discouraged (vv. 20, 24–27) The believers already possess the authentic apostolic gospel. “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you” (v. 24). God has given us both his Word and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit teaches us the truth and empowers us to live it. Application: Abide in the Word and the Spirit rather than chasing supposedly superior or novel spiritual knowledge. Discussion Questions 1. Have you ever been confused about what to believe in your Christian walk? How did you resolve it? 2. How did the sermon explain John's point about "the last hour"? Why is it important to realize we're living in a spiritually climactic time? 3. Which of the four ways Jesus is denied, distorted, or diminished seems most prevalent to you in the wider church today? 4. Is it possible to claim that Jesus is the only way to God without being arrogant? How? 5. How can Word and Spirit together help us stay grounded in authentic Christian faith? Questions? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester ( ).

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: 1 Sermon Notes The flesh that hungers for all it senses The eyes that hunger for all they see The preening arrogance of glorious living Sermon Questions Whose "glory story" are you living in? How do our personal fantasy stories—where we make ourselves the invincible hero—get punctured by life's turbulence, and how can we move away from our false selves to abide in God's love? The sermon contrasts performance-based, "clipboard-carrying" religion ("if I obey, then God loves me") with transformational faith ("because God loves me, therefore I obey"). How does viewing obedience as "tuning an instrument" for virtue change your approach to Christian growth? St. John highlights three specific disordered desires: "flesh hungry for all it senses," "eyes hungry for all they see," and the "preening arrogance" of pride. Which of these three feels most subtle or tempting in your daily routine? To counter these three desires, the sermon points to three targeted disciplines: fasting (for the flesh), generosity (for the eyes), and silence (for preening arrogance). Which of these disciplines would be most helpful for tuning your heart to Christ right now? Resources Consulted Augustine, Homilies on First John (Homily 2) Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Gospel of John (Lecture 3) Raymond Brown, The Epistles of John (Anchor Bible Commentary) Maximus the Confessor, The Four Centuries on Charity (2.53 and following) St Seraphim of Sarov, On the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit F.P. Harton, The Elements of the Spiritual Life, Ch. 8, “The Enemies of the Soul” (pp. 98–120) Theos Think Tank Report, A Theology of Investment (see especially the case studies of "common good investment") Rebecca Kondyck DeYoung, “Vainglory: How to Share Your Virtue without Showing Off” (also, her Vainglory: The Forgotten Vice)

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: 1 John 2:7-14; John 13:34-35; Other scriptures referenced: John 14:26; Matthew 11:28-30, 7:13-14, 7:8, 19:26; Luke 9:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:17; Galatians 6:7; Colossians 2:14 The New Commandment and the Old Commandment The Test of the New Commandment The Encouragement to the Church Family Where are the tensions in your life where you are searching for balance? in relationships? in habits? in disciplines? in your spiritual life? What is the commandment referred to in both 1 John 2:7 and 8? In what sense is the commandment old? In what sense is the commandment new? Why does John stress the oldness and the newness of the love commandment? What are the ways you are seeking to fulfill the love commandment in your relationships/ Do you consider yourself one of the little children, one of the fathers, or one of the young men in 1 John 2:12-14? What are the strengths, encouragements, and promises being communicated to each of these groups and how are they lived out in your life? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email John Burley ([email protected])

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: 1 John 2:1-6; Hebrews 10:19–23 Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Tim Winkler ([email protected])

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: . I. God's Character: God Is Light (1:5) A. Sin is understood in light of who God is "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." God's moral perfection: Truth, Goodness, Purity, Justice, No hidden darkness B. Sin distorts our purpose We were created to reflect God's glory. Illustration: a mirror reflecting light.Tarnished mirror = sin corrupting God's image. Turned mirror = idolatry and self-centeredness. Sin is anything that distorts or redirects God's light shining in and through us. C. Sin remains a reality for believers Christians have a new identity. Yet the possibility of sin remains. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves." (v. 8) II. God's Provision: Jesus Cleanses Sin (1:7; 1:9; 2:1–2) A. The gospel's repeated refrain Sin is real... But God has provided a Savior. B. Jesus does what we cannot do "The blood of Jesus... cleanses us from all sin." We cannot cleanse ourselves. Christ's cross is God's answer to sin. C. The tragedy of denying sin It separates us from reality. It also keeps us from experiencing forgiveness. The joy of being fully known and fully loved is found only through Christ. III. Our Response: Walk in the Light Through Confession (1:9) A. What confession is not Not the basis of forgiveness. Not obsessive self-analysis. We confess from acceptance, not for acceptance. B. Practice confession corporately General confession in worship. Cultivates humility and dependence on God. C. Practice confession privately Invite the Spirit's examination. Psalm 139:23–24. Not self-condemnation, but repentance and renewal. D. Practice confession relationally "Fellowship with one another" (v. 7). "Confess your sins to one another" (James 5:16). Need a few trusted believers for Honesty, Accountability, Encouragement, and Gospel reassurance E. The atmosphere of confession is grace The goal is not shame. The goal is walking in the light together. "The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin." Discussion Questions Do you agree that there is a tendency in our culture to diminish or deny the reality of sin? If you agree, what are some examples that you have noticed? Why is understanding God's character important for a right understanding of sin? Also, how does the call to reflect God's image also help us understand sin? If I am a Christian, should I still call myself a sinner? What role does confession play in your life currently? Is it possible for a Christian to totally conquer sin in this life? Questions? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester ( ).