Christian
Living a Balanced Life Week 2 (Teaching Outline)
Living a Balanced Life
(An In-Depth Study of First John)
Week 2
Commentary
Walking in the Light
1 John 1:5-10
Outline
Last week we underlined the foundation of living a balanced life as “truth in Christ”. We saw from verses 3 and 4 of chapter one of 1 John, that John makes the message of Christ (call it theology, or doctrine) the basis of all significant Christian fellowship. “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you so that you may have fellowship with us.” In order to create and nurture deep Christian fellowship you have to talk about who you think Christ is and what he taught. As one understands the truth about Christ the deep fellowship that ensues allows joy to be complete. John sees truth as fundamental regarding a balanced life. Truth is not relative to every person, but singular in nature and relative to only one person, Jesus Christ. John will continue to unfold the truth about God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son throughout the letter.
That’s what John begins to do in this week’s text (verses 5-10). John will once again issue a foundational statement regarding our experience with God. In verse five John states that, “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.” In other words, as we draw close to God we will discover that God has no dark crevices in which hidden things reside. God is truth, and that truth is clear and unobstructed by shadow.
This truth moves us to the second phase of living a balanced life. The Apostle John calls it “walking in the light”. The balance in life comes when we desire God above all other things. Our text leads us to this truth. Another way to say it is, the more our everyday life conforms to the likeness of Christ, (walking in the light), the more balanced we are. This balance comes from being in line with reality. John goes on to say that “light” and “truth” are synonymous. To say God is light is to say that God is truth. So, to walk in the light is to walk in the truth. Truth always delivers what it promises, while darkness or sin never does.
Therefore, to walk in the light is to obtain what the truth promises. Life is in balance only when what we desire, and walk toward, happens exactly as promised. This week we explore how this is only possible in Christ.
Foundation
Vs 5 – God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
What does John mean when he says God is light?
One answer is God is Truth. (Vs 6) (also 5:20)
Another answer is Joy and Hope
Application
Vs 6 – Negative: Walking in darkness, controlled by the desires of the world
Vs 7 – Positive: Walking in the light, desiring God
Two promises of walking in the light
- Fellowship with one another
- Blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin
What does it mean to be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus from all our sin?
Cover sin- ALL our sin forgiven (Past, Present, Future)
Romans 5:9, Ephesians 1:7
Conquer sin- Ongoing moral effect
Verse 9, Hebrews 9:14
Clarification
Vs 8-10: Don’t claim to be without sin
The mark of the saint is not sinlessness, but sin-consciousness.
A mark of Christian maturity is a deep brokenness for sin.
LIFE APPLICATION
Are you experiencing what you’ve learned, or experiencing life?
Our “walk” implies that ALL of life is in view.
Living a Balanced Life Week 1 (Audio and Video)
Living a Balanced Life Week 1 (Teaching Outline)
Living a Balanced Life
(An In-Depth Study of First John)
Commentary
Introduction to our author
and his understanding of Christ
1 John 1:1-4
Outline
Nearly every self-help book ever written contains at least one chapter dedicated toward balancing the life activities of the reader. It boasts proven techniques that help the reader set goals and priorities for life change. In most cases, examples of the highly successful are presented to motivate and encourage. The goal of such examples is to convince the reader that if they begin to act and react like the person painted in the chapter, they too will be ushered into the elite.
The “self-improvement industry” in the United States alone is growing and healthy; toping out at $11 billion in 2013. This makes at least two implicit statements: 1. Many are disappointed with how life has turned out and they want it to improve. 2. Last year’s book didn’t do it, so maybe this year’s book will.
Before you click to purchase this year’s author, may I suggest a different path…
This week begins the study of a letter that has changed countless lives over the past 2,000 years. In that time there has never been a revision. Our author got it right the first time and continues to pour out his heart to every reader. Our author builds life principles on a foundation that is proven rock solid. His truth transcends culture, economics, and social order. The letter claims truth that offers the reader a life of… joy, right life choices, right living, protection from falsehood, assurance, and security.
Sounds like way more than one may find in the self-help section.
Introduction
- Authorship – John the Apostle
- Date and Place – Late 1st Century from Ephesus
- Purpose –
- To make the readers joy complete (1:4)
- Prevent sin (2:1)
- Protect against false teachers (2:26)
- Provide assurance of salvation for the child of God (5:13)
John’s Life Balance
(vs 1-2)
Christ is Life: This Life is Eternal
Christ was made manifest: I know what I’ve touched, heard, seen
(vs 3)
Fellowship: with the Father and the Son
Fellowship: with others
(vs 4)
Joy: complete with others
LIFE APPLICATION
Balance = Knowing Christ
Balance = Resting ALL of life on Christ
“Here the apostle … urges us to guard the Word and to love one another. Thus we shall never learn so much and be so perfect that need for the Word of God will not remain. For the devil never rests”
- Martin Luther
Biblical Marriage – Session Ten (Audio and Video)
Biblical Marriage – Session Ten (Teaching Outline)
Biblical Marriage
Session Ten
Relationship: Marriage is precious
Hebrews 13:1-6
Outline
In our ten week journey through the Bible studying marriage we have concluded that the ultimate meaning of marriage is a portrait of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32-33). In other words, Biblical marriage is designed by God to proclaim the Gospel. A servant-leader husband loving his wife unconditionally, while the wife returns that love as she respects her husband, is the perfect backdrop to display the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). One can never say too often that marriage is a reflection of Christ and his church.
Therefore, marriage is precious. It should be held by all in honor. The goal of this study is to see marriage through the lens of the Bible and get in sync with God’s heart for this one flesh union. A Christ-centered marriage is a light in an otherwise dark world. To be out of step with God’s value in marriage is to lurk in the shadows of culture. Christians are the salt of the earth and light to the world to the degree that they are out of step with the values of the world and in step with the values of God.
Our final study will focus on the idea in Hebrews 13:1-6 of living a life that pleases God. The command to hold marriage in honor is packed tightly into a section of Scripture that focuses on living a life of love. This radical life of love is possible knowing that God will never leave or forsake us. Entering marriage is entering a radical commitment to love. God’s design for marriage is to live free from the bondage of selfishness. God’s design for marriage is for the glory of His name and the good of His people.
Radical Life of Love
Vs 1 – Love Christians
Vs 2 – Love Strangers
Vs 3 – Love Prisoners
Vs 4 – Honor Marriage
Vs 5 – Don’t Love Money
Vs 6 – Love that God wants to take care of you
Honor Marriage
Vs 4 – Keep marriage bed undefiled
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
LIFE APPLICATION
Marriage is a place to live out a life of FORGIVENESS, JOY and HOPE
Spread the GOOD NEWS
Biblical Marriage – Session Nine (Audio and Video)
Biblical Marriage – Session Nine (Teaching Outline)
Biblical Marriage
Session Nine
Relationship: Hope in Marriage
Colossians 3:1-6 / 1 Peter 4:7-11
Outline
The goal for every American married couple is to climb out of the sewer of cultural understanding when it comes to marriage. The Apostle Paul commands us to, “set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2)
The problem with marriage today is not that there are too many husbands and wives who are passionately in love with heaven. The problem is not that married couples are retreating from the world, spending half their days reading Scripture and the other half singing about their pleasures in God all the while indifferent to the needs of the world. The problem is that husbands and wives are spending ten minutes reading Scripture and then half their day making money and the other half enjoying and repairing what they spend it on.
The Apostle Paul is telling us that it is not heavenly-mindedness that hinders love in our marriage. It is worldly-mindedness that hinders love, even when it is disguised by a religious routine on the weekend. Where is the person whose heart is so passionately in love with the promised glory of heaven that they feel like an exile and a sojourner on the earth? Where are the marriages that are so full of Gospel reflection that there is maximum joy even in the stress and evil in the world?
In this session we will explore the power of right thinking in marriage. We will explore the difference of a marriage built on cultural knowledge and a marriage built on Biblical knowledge. We will answer the question: What happens in our homes when our marriage is Christ centered?
Marriage: Right Thinking
Culture vs. Kingdom (Colossians 3:1-6)
Glory of God (vs 4)
Hope: Romans 5:1-2
Security: Romans 9:22-23
Gospel: 2 Corinthians 4:6
Power of Repentance (vs 5)
Evidence of Genuineness: 2 Corinthians 7:9-13
Multiplication of Strength
Blessing of Hospitality (1 Peter 4:7-11)
Vs 7: Cultivate a personal relationship with Christ
Vs 8: Cultivate a personal relationship with each other
Vs 9: without grumbling
Vs 10: Steward God’s Grace
Vs 11: Glorify God
LIFE APPLICATION
Overcome cultural norms with Kingdom knowledge
The stress of life is overcome by loving others
Biblical Marriage Homework Session Nine
Over the last eight sessions we have discussed the high valve of marriage. Marriage is magnificent, not because of a husband or wife or the earthly benefits received in a loving marriage, but because of where marriage comes from and what marriage points to. Marriage comes from God. Created on the sixth day, marriage is God’s design and holds God’s purpose…marriage points to Christ loving the church; the Gospel. That is the reason marriage is magnificent.
As a grandfather, I know how easy it is to focus on the earthly aspects of marriage and family. I know how easy it is to be thrilled with wife, children, and grandchildren. I absolutely love my family. I love the family my wife and I have built together. So much so that it is easy to lose focus on the eternal aspects of family by valuing my relationships with wife and children and grandchildren only on the here and now.
Marriage and family, though precious, are temporary for this age; the church is forever. Being in a human family is no guarantee of eternal blessing; being in God’s family means being eternally blessed. Relationships based solely on family are temporary. Relationships based on faith in Christ are eternal. Therefore the most important aspect of our family and marriage is how well they reflect the Gospel.
Read Matthew 22:23-33
On what relationships were the Sadducees focusing? (hint: temporary or eternal?) How was their thinking affected by their value system?
Why did Jesus say they were wrong in the way they thought? (verse 29)
When Jesus said “God is the God of the living” (verse 32), what did he mean to convey to the Sadducees?
How do these words of Jesus teach us to think about our marriage and family relationships?
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