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Embracing the Word of God

Lesson 1Embracing the Story ........................................................31 John 1:1-10

Lesson 2Encouragement in Christ ..................................................81 John 2:1-17

Lesson 3Embodying Love for Each Other ....................................131 John 3:11-24

Lesson 4Empowered by God’s Love..............................................181 John 4:7–5:5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prepare Before the SessionRead the session for today in the Study Guide. Then read the options in this Teaching

Guide, placing checkmarks beside the activities you plan to include. After you have decidedwhich options to use, gather the appropriate materials.

WHAT’S IN YOUR TEACHING GUIDE

This Teaching Guide has three purposes:➤ to give the teacher tools for focusing on the content of the session in the Study Guide.➤ to give the teacher additional Bible background information.➤ to give the teacher variety and choice in preparation.

The Teaching Guide includes two major components: Teacher Helps and Teacher Options.

Teacher Helps

Teacher Options

Find Relevance helps you zero in on why each

session is important for the

adults you teach.

Seek Understandingpresents helful Bible Background

informations and insights that will help

you better understand the Scripture.

Teaching Outlineprovides you with an outline

of the main themes in the

Study Guide.

My Teaching Plan is a

convenient place for you to

make notes for teaching the

session.

Offer Illustrations presents material that will help you paint

a picture of the session. This section often presents items from

church history, current events, or interesting anecdotes that

help introduce the session.

Discussion provides teaching activitiees that will help learners

discuss the Scripture text.

Questions presents multiple collections of questions for

various kinds of adults.

Involve Learners helps learners become actively involved

with the Scripture text for a particular session.

Closure gives you a means for wrapping up the session.

You Can Choose!There is more material in each session than you can use, so choose the options from each section

to tailor the session to the needs of your group.

Find RelevanceWhy do adults care about thissession? Many forms of spiri-

tuality are influencing ourculture. For the first time in

American religious history, this burgeon-ing spirituality is occurring outside theboundaries of the Christian faith. Peopleare discovering spiritual meaning in self-help books, in seminars led by newage gurus, and within Eastern religioustraditions.

Established and traditional Christiansoften believe that Christian spirituality issufficient to bring people to faith in JesusChrist and to launch them upon a mean-ingful and purposeful existence. Butmany church leaders have cultivated acareful and reasonable approach to spiri-tuality, assuming that modern Americansneed a scientifically verifiable faith thatstands up to the test of human reason.Present-day culture, however, has tossedout the demand for scientific proof. This cultural transition allows theChristian faith an exciting opportunity to search out new ways for expressing avital spirituality.

The message of 1 John 1:1-10 is that JesusChrist brings ultimate meaning andpurpose to life. Living out of this under-standing is the key to spiritual renewal.For too long, many insisted that the start-

ing point for this renewal rested in schol-arly and scientific proof that Christianityis the only way to God. In the process, thestory has been intellectualized to such anextent that it has lost its ability to bringmeaning into the lives of people. Johnhelps us to see that our calling is toembrace the story in such a way that ourlives become the best evidence of its truth.

Seek UnderstandingWhat do these Scripturesmean? John’s words call us

back to an ancient understand-ing of the Christian life in a

prerational and prescientific world. Suchan understanding holds some keys for usabout how our own spirituality might beenhanced. John’s church has been tornapart by a bitter theological disagreementover the nature of Jesus Christ. Somepeople are denying the full humanity ofJesus and insisting that they, like Christ,are without sin. They are engaging inheady speculations about God withoutengaging in practical Christian living.

John wants his readers to understand thatwalking in the light of God is possibleonly when they recognize their sins andseek God’s forgiveness through humilityand brokenness.

1Lesson Teaching Guide

EMBRACING

THE STORY

1 John 1:1-10

ResourcesWalter Truett Anderson, Reality Isn’t What It Used ToBe: Theatrical Politics, Ready-to-Wear Religion, GlobalMyths, Primitive Chic, and Other Wonders of thePostmodern World (San Francisco: Harper and Row,1990).

R. Alan Culpepper, 1, 2, 3 John (Atlanta: John KnoxPress, 1985).

R. Alan Culpepper, “John, Gospel of and Lettersof,” Mercer Dictionary of the Bible, ed. Watson E. Millset al. (Macon GA: Mercer University Press, 1990).

Reginald Fuller, “Christology,” Mercer Dictionary ofthe Bible, ed. Watson E. Mills et al. (Macon GA:Mercer University Press, 1990).

Charles W. Hedrick, “Gnosticism,” Mercer Dictionaryof the Bible, ed. Watson E. Mills et al. (Macon GA:Mercer University Press, 1990).

Stephen S. Smalley, Word Biblical Commentary: 1, 2, 3John (Waco TX: Word, 1984).

Leonard Sweet, FaithQuakes (Nashville: AbingdonPress, 1994).

My Teaching Plan

Introduction: Only by immersing ourselvesin the story of God in Jesus Christ will werecognize our need for forgiveness and ourcalling to love and care for each other.

I. The story of God’s love in Jesus gives lifemeaning.A. This story is grounded in the purpose

and intention of God (1:1).B. It makes life intelligible and meaning-

ful.C. It brings joy and purpose to human

existence.

II. Through the story, God lights our way.A. As the Light, God illuminates our way

and exposes the darkness as evil.B. To live in the light is to be true to

God’s intentions.C. God’s light illuminates our imperfec-

tions.

III. The only way into God’s story is throughthe painful process of self-examination.

A. We fail to embrace God’s story in JesusChrist when we deny our sins.

B. Confession of sins is the point of entryinto the story and launches us upon ameaningful spiritual journey.

Conclusion: The truth of the story of Godin Jesus Christ cannot be proven throughscience and scholarship. Its truth is revealedin the lives of Christian people and in theauthentic spirituality it offers those whofully embrace it.

4 Lesson 1

Offer IllustrationsHow can I help learners think about the issues?

❍ The MonasterySeveral months ago I saw an advertise-ment for horseback riding at a monasteryabout fifty miles from my house. My wifeand children agreed that a day of horse-back riding might provide a needed breakfrom our daily routine. Arriving on themonastery grounds, we were approachedby a monk who identified himself asBrother Tim. I asked about the monasterychurch. To my surprise, Brother Tim said,“We have no building. The sky is ourceiling and the earth is our floor.” Heidentified the monastery as part of anancient religion that he called Swaneté. Asa part of their monastic calling, themonks cared for mistreated animals. Theybelieve that God exists within all livingthings. Though they affirmed the exis-tence of God, they denied the divinity of Jesus.

Questions➤ What are the possible responses to the

existence of such a religion?➤ Although Swaneté has only a handful

of followers, many other religions—both new and old—offer options forspiritual expression within our culture.Is the existence of these other religionsgood news or bad news for theChristian faith?

➤ What challenges do such religions posefor the proclamation of the Christianfaith?

❍ The BookstoreBookstores are prospering in late twenti-eth-century America. Some cities andtowns have book superstores. As in othermarkets, many smaller locally ownedstores can no longer compete with themegastore. Remind your class membersthat in the sixties and seventies, the reli-gion section in most bookstores includedworks by popular evangelical authors likeBilly Graham, Josh McDowell, and HalLindsay.

Ask the class to describe the religionsection in a secular bookstore today. Whatare differences between a secular book-store twenty years ago and one today? Askthe group to speculate on possiblereasons for the changes.

Teaching Guide 5

DiscussionHow do I lead learners to dialogue about the session?

❍ The Cathedral and the FairDraw a picture of a church building onthe chalkboard. Within the structure,draw several rooms. Write the names ofprominent Christian denominations (forexample, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal,and Catholic) in each room. Explain that,until 1965 or so, most Americans could bedescribed as either Christian, Jewish, ornonreligious. American religion could beunderstood as a huge cathedral contain-ing many rooms. The Judeo-Christianheritage was the grand ceiling thatcovered our entire culture. This heritageconformed itself to human reason andlogic. The only people who interactedwith people of the other major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam—wereforeign missionaries, sent abroad to sharethe Christian faith.

In the 1960s, the “cathedral” began tocrumble. Increased immigration and adissatisfaction with institutionalized reli-gion weakened the walls. Walls betweendenominations also began to fade.American religion moved out of the“cathedral” and into individual tents. Nosingle ceiling exists. People are free tochoose from a variety of religious options.

Questions➤ What challenge does this transition

present to Christianity?➤ Is your church’s approach to spiritual-

ity sufficient? Why or why not?➤ Should Christian ministry change

alongside the changes taking place inAmerican religion?

QuestionsQuestions about Scripture➤ What proof does John offer for the

truth of the Christian story? Whatimplication does embracing the storyand affirming its truth have forChristians today?

➤ According to John, what is the begin-ning point of the journey toward adeeper spiritual relationship to God?

➤ How do we disregard and overlook oursin?

Questions for All Adults➤ How does the Christian story provide

meaning and purpose for your life? ➤ Does this meaning emerge from your

assurance of an eternity with God inheaven or something else?

➤ What is sin?Questions for Mature Adults➤ Why is the confession of sin the first

step toward a renewed spirituality?➤ In the past thirty to fifty years, what

changes in American culture mostdisturb you? How have these changesaffected the church?

➤ What would you want to say to youngeradults who believe that the Christianfaith has lost its spiritual vitality inmany traditional churches?

Questions for Younger Adults➤ What most disturbs you about your

Christian spirituality?➤ What would you want to say to older

adults who believe that your generationmay not be nearly as committed to theChristian faith as the generation beforeyou?

➤ How are your needs for spiritualexpression met by your church?

Questions for Adults with Children➤ What spiritual challenges do you face

as you raise your children in a multicul-tural world?

➤ How are you seeking to enhance thespiritual lives of your children?

6 Lesson 1

Involve LearnersHow can I lead learners to explore the session together?

❍ A Different PerspectiveGive each class member copy of page 23,titled “A Different Perspective.” Ask themto read the following scenario: A familyfrom another country has moved intoyour community. Several of your churchmembers have befriended this family andhave invited them to church. Friendshipand a little curiosity bring them to yourBible study class. They are unfamiliarwith Christianity. Your witness of loveand caring encourages them to want toknow more about your faith.

Ask the class members to form threegroups. Give each group one of thefollowing assignments.

1. Explain to these new friends theChristian perspective of God’s love.

2. Describe to this family the Christianconcept of sin.

3. Help these friends understand God’sforgiveness.

Allow three to five minutes for eachgroup to make its report.

Point out that American culture includespeople with a variety of religious stories.How do we communicate our Christianstory to people who accept a differentstory? Is it important to insist to peoplewho accept a different religious story thatthe Christian story is the only true story?Should we rely upon the spiritual vitalityof the Christian story to be its own bestproof?

❍ Other ReligionsAsk class members who have attended aworship service or visited the worshipcenter of another religion to share some-thing of their experiences. Then ask classmembers who share a friendship with aperson of another faith to talk about theeffect of their faith on their friendship.Consider asking the following questions.

1. Describe your experience of anonChristian worship service? What did you discover about the faith tradi-tion? What disturbed you? What wasfamiliar?

2. What was it like to talk with someonefrom another faith? Did they knowmuch about Christianity? Did youknow much about their faith tradition?

3. Why do you think it is important toknow about the beliefs and traditionsof other faiths?

ClosureHow do I lead learners to respond?

❍ The Confession of SinRemind learners that entry into theChristian story begins with the sincereconfession of sin and the acceptance ofGod’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Providetime for quiet reflection as class membersfocus upon their sins and embrace anewthe story of God in Jesus Christ. Remindthem that our calling is to conform inevery way to the example of Christ. Thebest evidence of the truth of Christianityrests in the meaning and purpose that itgives to our lives, and in our intentionaldecision to embrace the story of God inJesus Christ and to live out of it.

Close with a prayer, thanking God for theforgiveness of sins through Jesus Christand for the new life to which Christconstantly calls us.

Teaching Guide 7

2Find Relevance

Why do adults care about thissession? Spirituality can be

defined as “the cultivation of anintimate relationship with God.”

Many Christians recognize the need for arenewed spirituality. Life moves at such abreakneck speed that most of us barelyhang on. In the midst of our activities, weoften neglect our inner selves. We feel farremoved from the peace of God.

Many people are abandoning the churchbecause they believe it fails to bringmeaning and purpose into their lives.Christianity has always been marked by adeep and abiding spiritual relationship toGod through Jesus Christ. For manyyears, however, our culture has favoredactivity over contemplation. Our spiritu-ality can be renewed by rediscovering thequiet habits of the heart. A deep andabiding relationship with Christ bringsmeaning to all we do.

Spiritual renewal begins by embracing thestory of God in Jesus Christ. First John2:1-17 reminds us that within the commu-nity of faith we learn to abide in Christand to reflect that abiding through dailythrough deeds of love and compassion.

John wants us to understand that reli-gious expressions can be either good orbad. Good forms of expression are rela-

tional and empowering of other people.They seek the good of others. Bad formsof expression are exemplified by hate andlegalism and destroy relationships. Badforms seek the good of self often at theexpense of others.

Seek UnderstandingWhat do these Scripturesmean? John grounds the

Christian story in the person ofJesus Christ. Christians are called

to abide in Jesus Christ. This abidingrequires obedience to God. John wasdisturbed by a belief that had filtered intohis church. Some members of his congre-gation thought that Jesus was fully divineand hardly human at all. These peoplewere proclaiming their own perfectionand disregarded the demands of thegospel.

John wants his church to understand thatobedience and love rest at the heart of theChristian story. Christians are called to beobedient, but obedience apart from love ismeaningless. John’s church is to abide inChrist through obedience to God and indaily loving and caring about each other.These things form the foundation for ameaningful spiritual relationship to JesusChrist.

Lesson Teaching Guide

ENCOURAGEMENT

IN CHRIST

1 John 2:1-17

Teaching Guide 9

ResourcesR. Alan Culpepper, 1, 2, 3 John (Atlanta: John KnoxPress, 1985).

Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path toSpiritual Growth (San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco, 1988).

Stephen S. Smalley, Word Biblical Commentary: 1, 2, 3John (Waco: Word Books, 1984).

Walter Wangerin, Miz Lil and the Chronicles of Grace(San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1988).

My Teaching Plan

Introduction: The renewal of Christian spir-ituality begins in the willful decision toabide in Christ, a decision that leads toobedience and love for others.

I. To abide in Christ is to submit willfully toChrist.A. Jesus Christ is the path to a restored

relationship between human beingsand God (2:1-2).

B. The path to Christ is marked bysubmitting to Christ (2:3-5).

C. Christian righteousness results notfrom “following rules,” but fromimitating Christ (2:6).

II. To abide in Christ is to love othersunselfishly.A. The command to love is the first

command of Jesus (2:7-8).B. Love is expressed in concrete action

(2:9-11).

III. To abide in Christ is to live daily in thelight of Christ.

A. Christians are assured the forgivenessof sins (2:12).

B. Christians can distinguish the goodfrom the bad (2:13-14).

C. Christians are not to conform to theways of the world (2:15-17).

Conclusion: Christians are to submit to theway of God in Jesus Christ. This way is char-acterized by obedience, love, and livingdaily in Christ’s light.

Offer IllustrationsHow can I help learners think about the issues?

❍ The DanceFamily systems therapists sometimesuse the analogy of dance to describethe relationship between marriagepartners. Spouses can become lockedin “dances” of anger and of intimacy.Sometimes a dissatisfied partner canbring about change by simply refus-ing to “dance” the old way. Thischange can create anxiety in the otherpartner, who will often conform tothe new pattern.

Our relationship with God in JesusChrist can also be described as adance. We, too, get into routines thatinhibit rather than enhance our rela-tionship to God. Old patterns arehard to break. Yet God calls us to newways of relating. God leads us withnew dance steps. God expects us tofollow.

Ask learners to describe what newspiritual dance steps God might beleading us to embrace. Is it possiblethat “abiding in Christ” might meanthat we take certain steps in one erathat we do not take in another era?For example, revivals revitalizedChristian spirituality in the nine-teenth and early twentieth centuries,but are not met with the sameresponse today. What new dancepatterns might God use to cultivate adeeper spirituality among Christians?

❍ The Water FaucetIn Miz Lil and the Chronicles of Grace, WalterWangerin recounts a story, about a Saturdaynight when he was in his office at GraceLutheran Church in Evansville, Indiana,completing his Sunday morning sermonpreparation. Suddenly he heard the whistlingof a water pipe. Marie, a prostitute across thestreet, had been caught on previous nightsstealing water from an outside church faucet.

Walter hurried down to the basement, lookedout a window, and saw one of Marie’scustomers filling up four buckets of water.With a sly grin, he reached up and turned offthe water leading to the outside pipe. After amoment of self-congratulation, he returned tohis study.

The next morning he shared the experiencewith his congregation so that they would beaware of the problem. Everyone congratulatedhim for his quick thinking—everyone that isexcept for Mrs. Lillian Lander, the churchmatriarch. As Miz Lil left the service, she tookWalter’s hand in hers and said: “God was inyour preaching....Did you hear him, pastor?You preach a mightier stroke than you know.Oh, God was bending his black brow downupon our little church today, and yesterday,and many a day before. Watching. Causebrother Jesus—he was in that child Marie,begging a drink of water from my pastor.”(Wangerin, 47–48)

Questions➤ The Ten Commandments instruct us not to

steal. Could Walter have been helping thewoman understand the importance ofobedience?

➤ Why should we obey the TenCommandments?

➤ Does Miz Lil think these rules unimpor-tant? By what rule is Miz Lil living?

10 Lesson 2


❍ The Offering EnvelopeSome churches use a five-point responsesystem on the offering envelope to remindchurch members to bring their Bibles tochurch, to read their Bibles daily, to studytheir Sunday school lesson, to attendworship, and to give an offering of moneyeach week. Each category receives twentypoints. For example, a score of 80 percentindicates that one is fulfilling at least fourof these important activities. Churchmembers can thus make a quick spiritualinventory.

Questions➤ What are the advantages and disadvan-

tages of such a system?➤ How do you evaluate your spirituality?➤ How can we gauge whether our spiri-

tual lives are as they should be?

QuestionsQuestions about Scripture➤ What is the difference between obedi-

ence to God and following in the wayof Jesus?

➤ What are the pitfalls to following theletter of the law? What are the pitfallswhen following only the spirit of thelaw?

➤ Is there too much leniency in the nameof love in the Christian life?

Questions for All Adults➤ What does it mean to “abide in Christ?”

What are the warning signals that indi-cate we are no longer abiding in Christ?

➤ How does your life reflect the lifestyleof Jesus?

➤ What is the line between givingourselves to other people and allowingthem to run all over us?

Questions for Mature Adults➤ How was your spiritual life enhanced

when you were a teenager or youngadult?

➤ Are those ways still effective for you?Why or why not?

➤ For what purpose does God give rules?

Questions for Younger Adults➤ How does your church enhance your

spirituality?➤ How might you need to change your

approach to spirituality?➤ How might your church help?

Questions for Adults with Children➤ How can you help your children under-

stand that Christian spirituality is botha requirement and an opportunity ofthe Christian faith?

➤ How can you help cultivate the spiritu-ality of your child?

➤ What does your child teach you aboutlove and obedience?

Teaching Guide 11

12 Lesson 2


❍ Drawing GodGive each member of your group paperand crayons or markers. Ask them to drawa picture of God. Offer no other direc-tions; simply let them begin to draw. Donot be surprised if some people leave thepaper blank.

Allow about 10–12 minutes for groupmembers to accomplish the task. Thenask them to share their pictures. You maywant to post them on the walls of yourclassroom.

Questions➤ What attributes of God do you see in

this picture?➤ What were your feelings as you drew

God?➤ Do the pictures reveal more about God

or about ourselves? Why?➤ What do you learn about the spiritual-

ity of an artist from his or her pictureof God?

➤ What does your picture reveal aboutthe divine-human relationship?

➤ What do you see in these pictures thatstimulates your thinking about God?

❍ Embracing the StoryRead aloud to your class the creationstory in Genesis 1:1-2:3. Point out that toooften the church has emphasized intellec-tual belief at the expense of embracing thestory. Ask group members to keep inmind the following two statements as youread.

1. I believe this story.2. I embrace this story.

After reading the story, ask your groupmembers to describe the differencesbetween believing the creation story andembracing the creation story.

Questions➤ What do you think of when you focus

on believing the story? (Seven literaldays of creation, it happened in theexact order described in the Bible, etc.)

➤ What do you think of when you focuson embracing the story? (Care forcreation, the goodness of the creation,God’s love for creation).

➤ Does “believing” the story include“embracing” the story? Why or whynot? Does “embracing” the storyinclude the “believing” the story? Whyor why not?

Remind the class that embracing thecreation story in Genesis includes bothbelieving and embracing.


❍ Abiding in ChristChallenge learners to describe the ruts oftheir spiritual lives. What routines havethey established that have become littlemore than patterned responses to God?What have they learned from this sessionthat has challenged them to consider newkinds of spiritual discipline? Remindthem that “abiding in Christ” is rooted indaily submission to God’s laws in JesusChrist and in daily loving that is expressedin concrete action.

Close with a prayer, thanking God for theprivilege of abiding in Christ. Ask forwisdom and courage that all people maydiscover what it means to abide in Christand to follow in his way.

3Find Relevance

Why do adults care about thissession? Love is at the core of

the Christian story. Oursubmission to God’s command-

ments indicates our decision to live asJesus lived. Christian spirituality,however, is not solely a journey into ourinward selves. The inward journey is onlyhalf “the story.” God calls us to discoverinner peace that comes from “abiding inChrist.” We are also called to relationshipscharacterized by God’s love. Empoweredby God’s love for us, we have the courageto risk our lives loving other people.These words of Jesus are foundational forthis journey: “Love the Lord your Godwith all your heart and with all your soul,and with all your strength, and with allyour mind; and your neighbor as your-self ” (Lk 10:27).

Human beings were created for relation-ship. God fashioned both female andmale in creation, providing the first cluethat companionship, fellowship, and lovefor other human beings was God’s inten-tion from the beginning. Our need forrelationship indicates that we have beencreated in the image of God, who is alsofully relational. We are called to love eachother as God loves us. God’s love for us ismost clearly expressed in Jesus. Such lovegives regardless of the cost and leads tothe most meaningful relationships thathuman beings can share.

Seeking UnderstandingWhat do these Scripturesmean? First John 3:11-24 can

be understood as a spiritualtreatise on loving. John asserts

that the absence of love indicates a signifi-cant spiritual problem. In fact, if one doesnot love, then one is not of God, for “Godis love.” In order to underscore the impor-tance of love, John recalls the example ofCain, an archetype of hate. Cain hated therighteous deeds of his brother, Abel. Hishatred drove him to take his brother’slife. Hate is the seed that sprouts murder:“All who hate a brother or sister aremurderers, and you know that murderersdo not have eternal life abiding in them”(3:15).

John contrasts Cain’s hate with Jesus’ self-giving love. Jesus is our model. We are togive ourselves away for each other: “Weknow love by this, that he laid down hislife for us—and we ought to lay down ourlives for one another” (3:16). John wantshis church to cultivate relationshipsmarked by mutual love and concern. Thechurch is to put hands and feet to thework of love, giving itself away to those inneed.

Hate leads to sin; love leads to righteous-ness. The central truth of this passage is:God loves us. Our faith in God’s love andour desire to love as God loves empowersus to act in concrete and specific ways.


EMBODYING LOVE

FOR EACH OTHER

1 John 3:11-24

14 Lesson 3


Paul Jersild, Making Moral Decisions: A ChristianApproach to Personal and Social Ethics (Minneapolis:Fortress Press, 1990).

Henri J. M. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflectionson Christian Leadership (New York: Crossroad, 1989).

Stephen S. Smalley, Word Biblical Commentary: 1, 2, 3John (Waco: Word Books, 1984).

My Teaching Plan

Introduction: Self-giving love rests at theheart of Christian faith and enablesChristians to love each other as God lovesus.

I. God expresses love for humanity inconcrete action and calls Christians to dothe same (3:11).

II. We can choose the path of either hatredor love.A. Hate leads to sin (3:12-15).B. Love is the pattern set by Jesus Christ

(3:16-17).

III. God’s love gives us courage to riskourselves.

A. We are called to love each other “intruth and action” (3:18).

B. Our love for others is evidence that weare “from the truth” (3:19).

C. The love of God for us encourages our“boldness before God” (3:20-22).

D. Faith and love provide the foundationfor a strong and vital spirituality (3:23-24).

Conclusion: God demands only one thing,that all our actions stem from the love andfaith we know in Jesus. Love is the greatestgift of all.

Offer IllustrationHow can I help learners think about the issues?

❍ Mr. OberesI met Mr. Casiano Oberes twenty-fiveyears ago when I lived in the Philippines.Mr. Oberes served as pastor of a smallchapel on a central Philippine island.Every day he ministered to his congrega-tion, many of whom were poverty-stricken. His Christian commitment wascertainly laudable, but my deepest respectfor him came with the knowledge that hisbody was wracked by leprosy. His fingersand toes were gnarled by the effects of thedisease. His face bore the telltale knotscreated by its ravaging influence.

As the result of medication, the leprosywas in remission. My parents, who weremissionaries, had arranged for a churchin the United States to provide the moneyto buy the medicine. One day, his doctorat the leprosarium called to say that theleprosy was no longer in remission andthat he was concerned that Mr. Oberesmight not be taking his medication.When confronted, Mr. Oberes admittedthat he had not been using the money tobuy the medicine. Rather, he had beengiving the money to his congregation. His reason: “My needs are only physical,”he said. “The needs of my people are spiritual.”

Questions➤ Is this story disturbing? Why?➤ Does the Christian story call us to this

kind of denial of self ?➤ Is this what John means when he calls

us to “love a brother or sister?” Why orwhy not?

❍ The MosqueRecently, I took a group of students tovisit an Islamic mosque. I did very little toprepare them for the visit because Iwanted them to experience the worshipwith as few preconceptions as possible.

The students witnessed at least twohundred Muslim men participating in theprayer service. They heard a homily by theimam, the spiritual leader of the mosque,and they watched as the men prostratedthemselves toward the holy city of Meccaand recited from the Koran, the Muslimholy book. Several Muslims remainedafter the service to dialogue with thestudents. They extended a warm,hospitable welcome and invited us toreturn.

The students had expected to find hostil-ity and hatred. Instead, they foundhospitality and warmth.

Questions➤ Why do we often expect hostility from

people different from ourselves?➤ How do we show God’s love to people

of different faith traditions?➤ What are appropriate and loving ways

to share Jesus Christ with others?

Teaching Guide 15


❍ On Treating OthersImmanuel Kant once cautioned that weare not to treat others merely as meansto an end, but also as ends in them-selves. Encourage your group to thinkabout the difference between treatingpeople as means to an end and as endsin themselves. Ask learners to identifythe ways in which we use people tovarious ends during a day. Think aboutpeople who provide services for us.How are we guilty of treating suchpersons merely as objects rather thanregarding them as human beings whomGod loves and for whom Christ died?In what other ways do we use peoplemerely to get what we want?

Now ask learners to dialogue about theways in which we might begin to treatpersons as ends in themselves. How canwe show the love we know in Christ toevery person we meet? What is requiredof us? Are these requirements realistic?What might we have to change in orderto treat all persons with respect anddignity?

QuestionsQuestions about Scripture➤ What is the relationship between

love and hate?➤ Do you believe that hate is equiva-

lent to murder (see Mt 5:21-22)? Whyor why not? Is John’s reference tohate simply a rhetorical device thatJohn uses to make a point (see Mt.14:26)? If so, what point?

➤ Is it possible for a Christian to lovetoo much?

Questions for All Adults➤ How do you interpret John’s state-

ment that God’s love does not abide

in one who “has the world’s goods andsees a brother or sister in need and yetrefuses to help” (3:17)?

➤ How do we give of our material posses-sions? Are these ways adequate,considering Jesus’ radical call for us togive our possessions when another has aneed?

➤ To what kind of giving does God call us,especially when someone is in need?

Questions for Mature Adults➤ How do we express love in word and

speech, but not in truth and action. ➤ Is it possible to believe we are expressing

love through our actions when in fact weare not? How do we know when ouractions are for the right reasons?

➤ John writes, “If our hearts do notcondemn us, we have boldness beforeGod...” (3:21). What limits us from receiv-ing what we want from God?

Questions for Younger Adults➤ What struggles with personal integrity do

you face daily?➤ What should be our response when we

witness another person being treated inan undignified manner?

➤ John says that “if our hearts do notcondemn us,...we receive from him what-ever we ask” (3:21-22). In what ways doour hearts condemn us?

Questions for Adults with Children➤ How can you teach your children to treat

other people with respect and dignity?➤ How can you teach your children to value

human relationships over material posses-sions?

16 Lesson 3


❍ Attitudes Toward OthersGive writing materials to each person inyour group. Ask individuals to list thepeople who meet needs for them eachweek. Then ask them to form groups oftwo or three and share their lists.Encourage them to think about ways inwhich they can treat the people on theirlists as full human persons rather thanmerely as objects who meet a need.

Ask learners to talk about the relation-ships between Christian people that occurin the context of the church as a faithcommunity. Ask how we might even atchurch treat each other merely as objectsrather than as persons. Encourage themto think about ministers, church leaders,and newcomers or visitors. How do wetreat these people merely as objects ratherthan as persons? List responses so thateveryone can see them.

❍ What is sin?Ask learners to divide into groups of fouror five people in order to wrestle with thisquestion. Ask each group to come up witha short definition of sin. After each grouphas shared, ask, “Is sin simply an actionthat we commit or is it a relationship thatwe break?” Lead the class in a time ofdialogue about this question. Ask if it ispossible that we might think that we arefulfilling God’s laws, when in reality weare leaving a string of broken relation-ships in our wake.


❍ Loving Human RelationshipsClose the session by asking your classmembers to close their eyes and quietlyconsider the broken relationships in theirlives. Ask them to ponder some ways inwhich these broken relationships mightbe healed. Point out the importance ofhealing these relationships in order thatour spiritual relationship to God mightbe enhanced.

Close with a prayer, asking God for sensi-tivity to the needs of other people.Confess the sins of broken relationshipsexisting in the lives of all Christians andpray that God will grant healing andrestoration for all people.

Teaching Guide 17

Find RelevanceWhy do adults care about thissession? Few American

Christians today are trulycomfortable sharing their faith in

Jesus with others. Two reasons havefostered this attitude of reluctance. First,in a world that has demanded scientificproof, Christians have found it difficultto convince people of the reality of God,much less the divinity of Jesus. The domi-nation of the scientific world view hasresulted in a kind of quiet and civil faiththat views talking about one’s religiouscommitments as unacceptable behavior:One’s faith is one’s own business and iscertainly not something one shouldopenly discuss.

Second, prior to the late 1960s, manypeople assumed that American culturewas a kind of Christian parish. When oneleft church on Sunday, one walked outinto a Christian world in which there waslittle reason to share one’s faith in JesusChrist. Nearly everyone professed thecommon faith, and those who didn’tsimply recognized that they were destinedfor eternal punishment.

Considerable change has swept across theAmerican religious landscape. The scien-tific world view has been found lacking.People sense within themselves a deepspiritual need. They have begun to look toEastern religions, self-help books, and

other sources for spiritual nourishment.Meanwhile, Christians are often inade-quately prepared to share their story.

What can revitalize the Christian faith?Nothing less than the recovery of a vitalChristian spirituality and a positiveunderstanding of what it means to be“born again.” For too long, AmericanChristians have sought to compel peopleto faith by preaching the avoidance ofhell. True spiritual rebirth emerges fromthe confession that Jesus is the Son ofGod. From this confession, a meaningfulrelationship with God and others devel-ops. It is a relationship driven not by thenegative consequences of hell but by thepositive affirmation of God’s love.

Seek UnderstandingWhat do these Scriptures mean? First

John 4:7-5:5 is written toencourage John’s church to

move beyond simple faithdeclarations about Jesus and

toward a lifestyle grounded in love. Johnwants his church to understand that theirlives must be transformed by their lovefor God and for one another. This lovemust be grounded in their embracing ofJesus Christ. Their confession of faith inJesus is the beginning of a meaningfullife. Faith leads to a union between thebeliever and God that is otherwise impos-sible.


EMPOWERED

BY GOD’S LOVE

1 John 4:7–5:54

Teaching Guide 19

This affirmation of faith in Christ is theseedbed for a lifestyle of love and care foreach other and God. Faith brings a quietconfidence into our lives. We no longerhave to be afraid of God’s judgment, nordo we have to fear life. Our love propelsus toward a life of confidence, purpose,

and meaning. We have found the Truth—Jesus, the Son of God—and the Truth hasset us free. We abide in him. Everythingwe do is done in the light of our affirma-tion of faith. We love, not because it is themoral thing to do, but because God lovedus so much and showed us the depth ofthat love through Jesus Christ.


Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, A 2ndHelping of Chicken Soup for the Soul, (Deerfield BeachFL: Health Communications, 1993).

Ronald W. Johnson, How Will They Hear If We Don’tListen? The Vital Role of Listening in Preaching andPersonal Evangelism (Nashville: Broadman andHolman, 1994).

Henri J. M. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflectionson Christian Leadership (New York: Crossroad, 1989).

Stephen S. Smalley, Word Biblical Commentary: 1, 2, 3John (Waco TX: Word, 1984).

My Teaching Plan

Introduction: Faith and love rest at theheart of spiritual birth.

I. Be loving and faithful (4:7-16).A. Loving relationships are God’s inten-

tions for humanity (4:7-12).B. Our confession of faith in Jesus Christ

is the beginning point for a life full ofmeaning (4:13-16).

II. Love brings confidence (4:17-21).A. A foundation of love, centered in expe-

rience and faith, gives believersconfidence, both in this life and thenext (4:17).

B. This love is mutual. Human beings andGod form a loving partnership inwhich we gain courage (4:18).

C. God’s initiative of love rests behindevery act of loving (4:19).

D. Our love for others provides the onlyevidence of our love for God (4:20-21).

III. Faith brings confidence (5:1-5).A. The faith assertion, “Jesus is the

Christ...born of God,” is the center-piece of the Christian life (5:1).

B. Our faith and love are expressed inobedience to God (5:2-3).

C. The faith assertion that Jesus is theSon of God launches the Christianupon the life of love and obedience(5:4-5).

Conclusion: Our confident assertion offaith in Jesus Christ, possible only by thepower of God’s Spirit, ensures our spiritualbirth and brings meaning to life. This faithcommitment receives concrete expressionin obedience and love.

Offer IllustrationHow can I help learners think about the issues?

Dee Dee Robinson tells this story aboutthe conversation of little girl, Miss Lizzy,with an old man who says he’s looking forGod and has yet to see a sign. “Mr. OldMan, sir, God gives you a sign when youbreathe your next breath. When you cansmell fresh flowers. When you can hearthe birds sing...All of the signs are there,but do you not believe in them? Mr. OldMan, sir, God is in you and God is in me.There is no searching because he, she orwhatever may be is just here all of thetime.”

“Miss Lizzy, child, you are quite insightfulin your knowledge of God, but this thatyou speak of is yet not quite enough.”

Lizzy placed her hand over the old man’sheart and said, “Sir, it comes from in here,not out there,” pointing to the sky. “Findit in your heart, in your own mirror. Then,Mr. Old Man, sir, you will see the signs.”

(Canfield and Hansen, 306)

Questions➤ Why do we so often look for God to act

in grand, impressive ways?➤ How do you know that God is in you?➤ How can you talk about your relation-

ship with God with nonbelievers?

❍ Born AgainThe phrase “born again” was popularizedin the media during Jimmy Carter’s 1976presidential campaign. Carter, whodescribed himself as a born againChristian once taught a Sunday schoolclass at the First Baptist Church ofWashington, DC, in which he pointed outfive standards for a Christian:

1. Obedience to God’s commandments.2. The presence of the Holy Spirit (in

one’s life).3. A growing understanding, meaning

that all through life there has to besearching for a deeper relationship withChrist and with other people.

4. A life consistent with Christ’s life.5. An inner peace.

Questions➤ Do these standards adequately describe

new life in Christ? Why or why not?➤ If we exhibit these characteristics, will

people be attracted to the Christianfaith? Why?

➤ The five standards do not specificallyinclude sharing one’s faith with others.Why or why not?

➤ Which of the standards is mostneglected?

20 Lesson 4


❍ Living out of the Christian StoryRead the following story to your group.Instructing a class of nine- and ten-year-old candidates for baptism, the pastorasked them a question. He wanted to seeif they understood what it meant to live asa Christian. He asked, “What if you wentwith your mom or dad to a store and sawsomething you really wanted? You knewthat you could take it, put it under yourcoat, and nobody would ever know whatyou had done. Would you do it?”

The children responded with a chorus of“no’s!”

“Why wouldn’t you?” asked the pastor.

“Because it would be wrong?” said onegirl. “God doesn’t want me to,” said a boy.“It’s against the law,” said a third child.

And then one girl said, “Because Jesusloves the people in the store.”

Questions➤ What is different about the last child’s

response?➤ Why would this child’s response please

John?➤ Can such an attitude be adapted to

other areas of life? How?➤ Is this what it means to live life out of

the Christian story?

QuestionsQuestions about Scripture➤ How do you interpret verse 17 when

John says that God’s love is “perfectedamong us...that we may have boldnesson the day of judgment?” To what is hereferring? Why would we need bold-ness?

➤ What does John mean by perfection(verse 17)? How can love be perfectedamong us?

Questions for All Adults➤ Why is it difficult to profess our faith

in Jesus Christ? ➤ How might your life provide witness to

others about your love for Christ?➤ What does it mean to “confess that

Jesus is the Son of God?”

Questions for Mature Adults➤ Think about your experience of coming

to faith in Jesus. What did it mean toyou to be “born again?”

➤ What do you think John means whenhe says that we are to be “born ofGod?”

➤ What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Questions for Younger Adults➤ Who do you consider a good example

of a Christian?➤ How is living out of the Christian story

different from following rules?➤ How would you talk to a friend about

your relationship with God?

Questions for Adults with Children➤ How do we help our children under-

stand being “born of God?”➤ What evidence might your children see

in your life that would foster theirdesire to follow Jesus?

Teaching Guide 21

22 Lesson 4


❍ What did Jesus really teach?Ask the class to form groups of four orfive. Give each group pencil, paper, and acopy of page 24 of this teaching guide. Inthe first column on the page, ask them toidentify the five most important teachingsof Jesus. Ask them to support theirchoices with scriptural references and togive reasons they think these statementsare of utmost importance. Then ask thegroups to identify how these teachings arebeing practiced by Christians today. Whenthe small groups have completed theirwork, ask the following questions of thelarge group.

Questions➤ Where do you see evidence of

Christians practicing the teachings ofJesus?

➤ In what areas are we failing to commu-nicate the importance of theseteachings?

➤ Why do we support some teachings andignore others?

➤ How can we better practice the teach-ings of Jesus?

➤ What will you do this week to share theteachings of Jesus?

❍ The “Dreaming” SessionAsk your group to imagine that they areparticipating in a church “Dreaming”session. Church members are sharingtheir hopes and dreams for the church’sfuture. Several people have expressedconcern that the church’s missions andministry efforts are reaching only otherChristians. Others are concerned thatmany members are not comfortablesharing their faith in Jesus with others.

Have your class form at least two groupsto dream of possible solutions to theseconcerns. Allow time for the small groupsshare their ideas with the larger group.Ask how these ideas could be carried outin your church.


❍ Being Born AgainChallenge learners to think again aboutthe meaning of spiritual birth. Remindthem that spiritual perfection is a contin-uing dynamic process of maturing andgrowing, not something we attain andthen forget. The study of 1 John hastaught us that our calling as Christians isto follow Jesus Christ and to live life outof his story. Challenge each other to livein a way that others will notice the pathchosen.

Close with a prayer, asking God forstrength and courage to live life out of theChristian story.

Group 1A family from another country has moved into your community. Several of yourchurch members have befriended this family and have invited them to church.Friendship and a little curiosity bring them to your Bible study class. They areunfamiliar with Christianity. Your witness of love and caring encourages them towant to know more about your faith.

Explain to these new friends the Christian perspective of God's love.


Help these friends understand God's forgiveness.

A Different Perspective


Describe to this family the Christian concept of sin.

The Teachings

of Jesus

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Scripture

Reference

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