April 30, 2006
There are times as a pastor when I look at the readings on the back of the bulletin and think…how am I ever going to craft a sermon out of this? The selections don’t speak to me and don’t seem relevant to the lives of the church or people. But then there are times when I read the selections and think…man this is a great sermon! I don’t have to touch this and it says everything that needs to be said.
Today is one of those times…when I looked at the particular selection and thought this is great!
For those who don’t know the book of 1 John gives us the best lyrics of love in the whole Bible. There is more about love in this short letter than any other book in the Bible. While we don’t have time to study the whole book it is worth mentioning that the simple phrases, “God is love” “There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear” and “We love because he first love us.” May have never been spoken before and certainly had never been recorded!
That gives us an idea of where John is coming from. His message comes to us after being closely connected to Jesus. Who better to hear this message from than John?
John was one the first disciples. He walked and talked with Jesus for three years. He was the only disciple at the crucifixion. From the cross, Jesus entrusted the care of his mother to John. Further, we hear that Jesus loved John more than the other disciples. John was called the “beloved disciple” or the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”
Yes, this man, this apostle, this most trusted friend of Jesus has the best credentials in the whole Bible to give this sermon. More than any other human being, John understood Jesus’ teachings.
He shares this sermon with us so that we can see the heart and mind of Jesus! During the Easter season we often question why Jesus would do what He did…John gives us a glimpse into the heart of Christ! As we go through this sermon there will be times when I ask you to write something or underline something so get out a writing utensil.
1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, Circle the word, “we,” and you and I realize that a group of people is writing this letter. It is not solely the Apostle John but some of his followers who are with him.
Circle the word “beginning.” "Beginning" does not refer to "the beginning of time" as in the Book of Genesis but the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
what we have heard, The Apostle John and his friends are telling us that they are first hand witnesses, that they have heard Jesus with their own ears, seen Jesus with their own eyes and touched Jesus with their own hands. These are first hand witnesses to the life of Jesus of Nazareth. No other gospel writer claims to be a first hand witness as does the Apostle John.
concerning the word of life— Circle the word, “word.” We recall from John 1:14 that the “Word became flesh, a human being, and lived among us.”
The word, “life,” is also a favorite word of John. The word, “life” is found 45 times in his gospel. He repeats that word all the time. We recall Bible verses from John which says, “I have to bring you life and bring it more abundantly.” “The Son gives life.” “The Father gives life.” “The Spirit gives life.”
2 this life was revealed, Circle the word, “revealed,” and write in the word, “unveiled.” You take a veil off the face of a person and you see that person. You see their strengths and weaknesses. You see their smiles and tears. John was able to see all of those things with Jesus Christ!
and declare to you the eternal life Jesus gives not only life but eternal life. Sixteen times in the Gospel of John we hear about the eternal life that Jesus gives. “You have the words of eternal life.” “I gave them eternal life.” “Whoever believes in him has eternal life.”
and was revealed to us— This eternal life is revealed to us, unveiled to us, uncovered for us.
3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard Again, the Apostle John and his disciples are declaring that they have seen and heard Jesus first hand. They are not second or third hand witnesses.
so that you also may have fellowship with us; Circle the word, “you,” and write in your own name by it. So that ______ may have fellowship with John and his friends. Circle the word, “fellowship” which means community, group togetherness, familyness. As we read John’s letter, we are in fellowship with the Apostle John and his friends.
and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. Not only fellowship and group togetherness with the Apostle and his friends but fellowship with the Father and fellowship with his Son Jesus. (We have fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit.)
4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. Circle the word, “joy.” We remember that John and his friends wrote these things down for us, so that our joy would be complete. As we walk in the ways of love and walk in the light of Jesus, we find joy in life.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, The Apostle John and his friends heard a message from the lips and tongue of Jesus and they want to now proclaim it to us twenty centuries later.
Circle the word, “him,” and write in the qord, "Jesus." Circle the word, “you,” and write in your own name.
that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. This is the message that John heard from Jesus: that God is light and there is no darkness at all in him.
What does it mean that God is light? What does it mean that God is the opposite of darkness? Don’t make your answers complicated. What does it mean for you that God is light? Every single human being loves light. Light gives life. Light gives happiness. Light enables us to see clearly. Light is power. Light is the source of all life. A plant can’t grow without life and you and I cannot grow in love without the light of Jesus shining in us and helping that love to grow.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; Circle the word, “darkness,” and write in the word, sin. If we say that we have fellowship with Jesus while we are walking in the ways of sin, we are liars.
7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, Underline, circle, highlight. This is the central theme of this first chapter and the central theme of this sermon: Jesus is inviting us to walk in the light. God is light; Jesus is light; and we are to walk in the light.
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. When we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another. When we walk in the light of Christ, we are aware that Jesus cleanses us from all sin. From ALL our sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. We need to be honest and not deceive ourselves. We are all sinful people and cannot escape our sinful nature. We shouldn’t pretend that we do not sin or that our sinning is relatively harmless.
9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We are to confess our sins and God and Jesus will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. These words are part of our Sunday morning liturgy.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; When we sin, we have an advocate with the Father and who is our advocate? Jesus Christ. In God’s heavenly court, when the devil accuses us of sinning, we have an advocate in Jesus Christ who comes to stand beside us and defend us.
Amen.
