Sermon Central
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Authentic Christianity
Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Apr 11, 2016 (message contributor)
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1. "Learning About Love"
Contributed on Sep 6, 2016
We are called to love others as God loves us.
The writings of the Apostle John give three definitive statements about God. "God is Spirit" (John 4:24), "God is light" (1 John 1:5), and now, in this passage, "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16). John was overwhelmed with the thought that God loved him and proved His love by sending the Lord Jesus ...read more
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2. "What In The World?"
Contributed on May 23, 2016
Christians must resist worldliness.
Soon after a person becomes a Christian he discovers that being a Christian is not a bed of roses. Just because he is saved, does not mean he has left his struggles behind. As a wise man once said, "A school bus driver is probably the only person who can honestly say he has all his troubles behind ...read more
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3. "Separating Truth From Error"
Contributed on Aug 25, 2016
How can I discern whether a preacher isa false prophet or not?
Christians aren't to accept everything they hear as truth, even if it's from a supposedly Christian source. He draws a contrast by saying that the Spirit of truth is of God; and the spirit of error is of the devil. God's chief desire is to confront mankind with truth in order to set us ...read more
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4. "Learning About Love"
Contributed on Sep 12, 2016
John speaks to us about the supreme value of love in the life of the child of God.
The writings of the Apostle John give three definitive statements about God. "God is Spirit" (John 4224), "God is light" (1 John l:5), and now, in this passage, " God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16). John was overwhelmed with the thought that God loved him and proved His love by sending the Lord Jesus ...read more
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5. "god Is Our Father!"
Contributed on Jul 6, 2016
What difference does it make that through faith in Christ we have a love relationship with God and know Him as our Father?
While the first 2 chapters of 1 John have as their main theme the subject of fellowship, the next 3 chapters have sonship as their theme. The key verse in these in these chapters is 4:8, "God is love." We, who have trusted Christ as Savior, are children of God, we are in the family of ...read more
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6. "Praying The Heart Of God"
Contributed on Oct 3, 2016
John speaks about interceding for wayward brothers and sisters in Christ.
John tells us two things with respect to prayer in our passage for today. 1. We should pray according to God's will - vs. 14-15 What does it mean to pray "according to God's will"? A. To approach God with a surrendered life. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." ...read more
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7. "One Who Is Born Of God . . ."
Contributed on Sep 21, 2016
What will characterize the life of one who is born of God?
John uses the term "born of God," seven times in this book. To be born again means that we are born spiritually, becoming spiritually alive to God and a personal love relationship with Him. But what is required of me if I am to be "born again?" READ Verse 1a It's been said that there are three ...read more
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8. "Unbelieving Believers"
Contributed on Jun 1, 2016
One sign of the last days is the number of "believers" who defect from the faith.
Through-out this letter, John refers lovingly to his audience as "little children." This book records the loving teaching of a father in the faith to those who were his children in the faith. One of the things that children need to learn as they grow up is how to tell time. John sought to teach his ...read more
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9. "A Day Of Rejoicing Or Regret?"
Contributed on Jun 6, 2016
How can a Christian make sure we will stand before Christ with confidence when He returns?
As John concludes his thoughts on fellowship with God, he speaks of Christ's return. It'll be a day of rejoicing or regret, depending on the quality of our fellowship with God in this life. John reminds us that . . . 1. Jesus will appear. Hebrews 9:24-28 refers to three appearings of ...read more
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10. "Stepping In The Light"
Contributed on Apr 11, 2016
To walk in fellowship with God, believers must walk in the light as he is in the light.
In the book of 1 John, John explores two issues pertaining to our relationship with God. The first is the issue of SONSHIP. John shares several tests to help one determine if they have truly been born into the family of God. The second is the issue of FELLOWSHIP. All Christians have ...read more
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11. "Looking Things Over"
Contributed on Aug 15, 2016
John calls us to take inventory.
John calls us through-out this book, to grow in God's love. Paul prayed: "I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how ...read more
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12. "3 Stages Of Spirituality - Part 1"
Contributed on May 2, 2016
The primary lesson for spiritual children to learn is how to walk with God.
Jesus is the only one who ever lived on earth who in every way pleased God the Father. He was everything the Father wanted Him to be. Now, it is the Father's intention to populate eternity with replicas of His Son. When He birthed you and me into His family, it was God's divine intention to conform ...read more
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13. "Dealing With Sin: The Choice Is Yours!"
Contributed on Apr 17, 2016
How a Christian chooses to deal with sin will determine whether or not they remain in fellowship with God.
As we study the Bible, we find that God's people sometimes committed sin. David, for example, is described as "a man after God's own heart," yet he committed sin, and brought heartache to his life. Moses, the great leader of God's people, wasn't allowed, because of sin, to go into the ...read more
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14. "Living Like Our Lord"
Contributed on Apr 25, 2016
If we are to live like our Lord, then our lives will be characterized by love.
In this section of Scripture, the key verse is verse 6. John tells us that as followers of Jesus, we should aspire to live like Him. But what does a Christ-like life look like? John says a Christ-like life is characterized by one primary virtue - Love! This shouldn't surprise us at all, since ...read more
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15. "Three-Fold Assurance"
Contributed on Oct 10, 2016
John tells us three reasons a believer can know that if they are saved, they are saved eternally.
1 John is a book of Christian certainty. John let's us know that God wants us to be fully assured of our salvation. Through His Word, God provides assurance to those who have received Christ that they are truly His (1 John 5:13). As the Spirit of God affirms through the Word of God the validity of ...read more
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16. "Wonderful Word Of Life"
Contributed on Apr 11, 2016
Why did John write the letter of 1 John?
It's become very popular in our day for people to describe themselves as "spiritual." What this usually means is they're open to anything and everything. And in this day, where truth is seen as purely subjective, for a person to be "spiritual" can mean almost anything. This has led to confusion. A ...read more
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17. "Growing In The Life Of Love"
Contributed on Sep 12, 2016
Spiritual maturity is tied directly to my learning to rely on God's love and relay God's love to others.
Could we with ink the ocean fill And were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole Though stretched from sky to sky. Truly the length and ...read more
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18. "The Witness Of The Spirit"
Contributed on Sep 26, 2016
John speaks of the three-fold witness of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says the child of God has a "know-so" salvation. We can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are a child of God. John speaks about the witness of the Holy Spirit, who assures God's children they belong to Him. First of all, the Holy Spirit bears witness: 1. To The Son - vs. ...read more
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19. "What Lack Of Love Leads To"
Contributed on Aug 1, 2016
John tells us that a true child of God seeks to be gracious and generous.
The theme of this portion of 1 John is love. But instead of portraying the need for believers to love one another in a positive light, John speaks to us about loving one another by emphasizing the negative. In these verses, he tells us what a lack of love will lead to. 1. Murder - vs. ...read more
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20. "3 Stages Of Spirituality - Part 2"
Contributed on May 9, 2016
The spiritual adolescent needs to learn how to work with god in order to continue to mature in their faith.
Last time we looked at the first stage of spiritual growth mentioned here by John, Spiritual Childhood. The main lesson at this stage is how to Walk with God. The spiritual child needs to learn to walk with God through claiming forgiveness and through consistent fellowship. Today, we're ...read more
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21. "3 Stages Of Spirituality - Part 3"
Contributed on May 16, 2016
One who is mature in the faith will act as a spiritual parent to others.
John speaks of 3 stages of spiritual development. Level 1 is spiritual childhood. The challenge here is seeking to walk with God. Next, is the level of spiritual adolescence. The challenge here is striving to work with God. Now, we come to the third stage mentioned by John. Stage 3: Spiritual ...read more
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22. "Sinless Perfection?"
Contributed on Jul 11, 2016
What does the Bible teach about overcoming sin in the life of the Christian?
We come now to one of the most difficult passages in Scripture. Verse 9 is often quoted to teach that a child of God will never commit sin. Many honest and sincere people believe this, and devote themselves to the attainment of what is commonly called "sinless perfection." But is this doctrine ...read more