April 26 – Sermon Discussion Guide

 

Establishing a Baseline pt 1: God is Light

1 John 1:5-10; 2:8-11

1 John 1:5-10 (ESV) 5 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. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 2:8-11 (ESV) 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.  

Digging Deeper

The Bible is filled with references to the themes of light and truth.  Spend some time searching out these passages of Scripture together and see how they help shape our understanding of John’s statement, “God is light.”

  • Job 12:24-25
  • Psalm 119:105, 130
  • Proverbs 4:19
  • Isaiah 5:20
  • John 1:4-5; 3:19-21; 12:35-36; 17:17
  • 2 Corinthians 4:6
  • Ephesians 5:8-9
  • Philippians 2:15
  • 1 John 2:21-22, 27; 3:19; 4:6; 5:6, 20

Digesting the Text

  • In his Gospel, John records Jesus’ conversation with a man named Nicodemus. In that conversation, Jesus said, “the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” (John 3:19) What is the darkness according to Jesus?  What does this teach us about human nature?
  • At the opening of this letter, John summarizes his message with a deceptively simple statement, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) What does John mean by this statement? What does this teach us about the nature of God? 
  • Aside from light representing moral purity, Pastor Will shared that light reveals truth and exposes lies. In these verses above, John identifies the lies being spread and believed by the people with the phrases “If we say…” and “Whoever says…”  What are these lies that John wants to refute with the light of God’s truth?  What is the truth that John speaks against these lies?  How do these lies and truths relate to you personally?
  • Light isn’t merely for our moral and intellectual benefit. Light has the very practical purpose of allowing us to live, move, and function.  John wants us to walk in the light as opposed to the darkness.  Read 1 John 1:7-9.  How can we be walking in light even though we still need to be cleansed of sin?  What then must walking in the light mean if it doesn’t mean that we are morally perfect?
  • Confession is essentially telling the truth, calling something what it is. Is there any part of your life that is still shrouded in the darkness of unconfessed sin?  How can you walk in the light of confession and repentance today and this week?