Creative Space for Wanderers
Read 1 John 4:7-21 We frequently hear reference to the “love chapter” as 1 Corinthians 13. This may be true, but after re-reading this passage, we might think differently about this assertion. The overwhelming theme of John’s thoughts here is love. Here are some phrases that grab my attention in today’s reading: God is love. …
Continue reading “1John: Whoever Does Not Love Does Not Know God”
Read 1 John 4:1-6 Today we get to listen to Pastor John as he speaks to his struggling church about something they shouldn’t be fighting about: the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The passage provides a clear we versus they framework along with details that we should view with great emphasis. I’ve talked about how important …
Continue reading “1John: Jesus in the Flesh is a Huge Barrier”
Read 1 John 3:11-24 I’m one of those who was raised under the adage of “actions speak louder than words.” My mom and dad didn’t have much to give financially, but that never prevented them from showing kindness to others and giving what they could. They taught us to do the same. For many years, …
Read 1 John 2:28-3:10 The title for this edition, Children of God Don’t Keep On Sinning, is a bit troublesome. Have you ever parted company with someone that you’ve been deeply involved with? Whether this is a personal relationship or business partnership, the decision to go separate ways is always difficult. When it comes to …
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Read 1 John 2:18-27 In a world with many shades of gray, remember one thing which is clear: belief in Jesus or not. There is no in between. There is no gray. We are either with Jesus, or we stand against Him. While this sounds harsh to those who prefer an all-inclusive vacation resort where anything …
Read 1 John 2:12-17 The art of storytelling is an ancient craft. Those who are gifted know how to build tension early to capture the reader’s attention. John knows his audience well. He begins his first letter reminding us that Jesus is the Word of life and just in case you don’t read the whole …
Read 1 John 2:3-11 Once again, John boldly points out the distinction between those walking in light versus darkness, liars, and truthtellers. The lesson is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. When we avoid speaking the truth in love, we fall into a trap. Sometimes this happens when we mistake being kind and …
Read 1 John 1:5-2:2 John set the stage in the preamble to his brief letter; now he dives right into the problem of sin. While the topic is undoubtedly timeless, it is essential to consider those who would be reading this letter in the first century. Their view of God is probably a lot different …
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Introduction Having read John’s words in his Fourth Gospel, we now get to hear his appeal to a few of his church plants. We’ll take this one piece at a time, but let me encourage you to imagine John wrote these letters to you. There are only five chapters in 1 John, so that shouldn’t …
Read John 21:15-25 Breakfast on the beach with Jesus continues from the previous story. The early morning fishing expedition that seemed like a rout turned out to be fantastic because of Jesus. That shouldn’t be surprising. When Jesus is in the middle of anything we do, we should expect amazing results. This time is no different. …