The Grace Message

Do I need to go to church more consistently? Who are the people with “soiled garments” in Revelation 3? My mother passed away last week, and I’m not sure that I’m making enough time for God right now. What are your thoughts?

Do Jesus and Paul contradict each other about those who call upon the Lord? What does 1 Peter 3 mean about Jesus preaching in Noah’s day? What is the temple tax and why did Peter bring it up to Jesus? How can I respond to my son who believes in sinless perfection?

My latest message in the series “Forever in His Presence,” reminds us that with God, there’s no musical chairs – no bouncing in and out of fellowship – and no mood swings! As we dive deeper, you’ll find yourself anchored in the truth that you already know God, even when you wish you felt or “experienced” more with Him. We’ll also radically rethink the term “antichrist” and better understand what John is really talking about – and it’s not what you grew up hearing! Don’t miss this one. It’s a lot of fun! Discussion Questions: 1. Why is verse 12 written to “little children” with a past tense verb such an important marker of transition from chapter 1? (Hint: Consider 1 John 1:9). 2. Verses 13-14 emphasize that we already know God. How can this encourage you when you’re wishing you felt more or “experienced” more with God? 3. How might verses 18-22 radically change the way we use the term “antichrist” compared with the common use of the term today? 4. Read verse 24. Recall the best understanding of “abiding in Christ.” How does this passage affirm the truth about abiding? 5. Verse 25 holds a promise for us related to the truthfulness of God. What is it? How does it relate to our security with God? 6. Verses 26-27 reveal that one purpose for John’s letter is to contrast believers and deceivers. How does this give us more fuel for understanding 1 John 1:9 and its surrounding verses? 7. Read verses 28 and 29 and react to this statement: I can have confidence upon Jesus’ return because I am born of God and as righteous as He is!

Who was righteous in Jesus’ day? How can I develop a deeper relationship with the Lord? Does God still punish believers? I’ve prayed and been anointed but am still not healed. Am I doing something wrong?

How does the Holy Spirit interact with nature? Why did Jesus say “I have other sheep not of this fold”? I’m being harassed on Facebook. How do I strengthen my armor to endure this? Who are the two witnesses in Revelation 11? What is the difference between the gospel of grace and the gospel of the kingdom?

How can I work through the sexual abuse that I experienced and grow in Christ? Your books are a great way to dive deeper in the truth of the Gospel! How can I share the gospel with Jehovah's Witnesses? Does Acts 14:22 mean that we have to endure many tribulations to be saved?

Does God punish us with circumstances today? If Jesus died for our sins, why do we still battle temptation? Is it okay to listen to rock music? My mother passed away yesterday. How do I move on?

How do we know when God is disciplining us? Does 1 Corinthians 3 mean we might be losing rewards? Why does Jesus say we need to purchase gold from Him in Revelation 3? Who is being described in Romans 1 when it says they have a depraved mind and God gave them over?

Why do we pray if God knows everything? Is it God’s will to heal everyone? If not, then how do we pray for healing in a biblical way?

In the second message of our series, “Forever in His Presence: Understanding Our Unbroken Fellowship with God,” we examine the rock-solid evidence that 1 John 1:9 is directed at sin-deniers, not Christians! This distinction is crucial for grasping the completeness of our forgiveness in Christ. We’ll also unpack how Chapter 2 further clarifies that 1 John 1:9 is written to unbelievers, making the audience of this landmark passage unmistakable. Plus, we explore the profound truth that walking in the light means salvation, not just a temporary state of fellowship. Join us for this enlightening message and be inspired by the liberating truth of your once-for-all forgiveness and unshakeable fellowship with God! Discussion Questions: 1. Which verses in today’s message prove that light here means salvation, not a temporary state of “fellowship”? Why is this important? How does it help us understand 1 John 1:9 even better? 2. How does 1 John 2:12 help solidify that 1 John 1:9 is addressing the sin denier who says they have no sin and is in the darkness (unsaved)? 3. 1 John 1:9 is written to someone who does not have the truth in them. How does 1 John 2:4 further define this person as being an unbeliever? 4. What does John say to older believers and younger believers in verses 13 and 14? Why the different messages to different audiences? 5. What is the “commandment” that John keeps referring to in this passage? What evidence do we see in this passage for this conclusion? 6. What is the biggest takeaway from today’s message for you? Why?