Students of the Word

In this session, delve into the role of believers as witnesses testifying that "the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." Through an examination of the Greek term "soter," we connect this to Old Testament patterns of deliverance, like Moses and the judges, and reflect on the world as both victim and villain in need of God's transformative love.

In this episode, we dive into 1 John, paragraph 14, where John revisits the theme of seeing and testifying, echoing the epistle's opening. He introduces the pivotal idea of Jesus as the "Savior of the world," connecting belief in the Son with abiding in God's love. Through a deep exploration of the Greek, we uncover how God's love is held within us, perfecting us as we become like Him in this world, preparing us to stand confidently on the day of judgment.

This Bible study session emphasizes the importance of stepping back to see the epistle's broader themes, particularly God's love, the commandment to love one another, and the assurance of abiding in Christ, while setting the stage for deeper exploration of these ideas.

Let's talk about how God has given us His Spirit, and what that has done for us.

What prompts John to unexpectedly declare, 'Nobody has seen God'?

Once upon a time, a bible study group looked at 1 John and discussed the very good reasons why we should love each other.

...in which we look at how John connects being born of God with knowing the Son of God - and how this relates to the revelation of His love.

In what way was the love of God revealed, and why was that done?

A discussion on the nature of truth, and how we can recognize the spirit of truth.

We've studied Spirits both evil and of God, but what does John say about us, about those who listen to us, and how we can know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error?

In this session we continue to focus on distinguishing between the Spirit of God and the spirit of error and what it means that some spirits are of/in/from/out of the world.

In this session we back up a bit to more thoroughly re-examine and better understand the state of being in God and overcoming spirits.

Even more thoughts and dicussion about spirits - and why we must test them.

What does it mean to test the spirits, be they of God or other source?

We begin to discuss the commandment against trusting every spirit, and to test whether they are of God.

We talk about the degree in which the measure of sin in us - or lack of it - helps indicate the degree to which God is in us. But how do we know this?

We continue to study God's great commandment, and that the one keeping the commandments abides in Him. We also spend some quality time focusing on how extremely difficult it can be to seek out the truth in the Bible, especially for someone who intends to follow the commandments within.

We look further into the great commandment of God. John is very meticulous in his description.

Finally, we arrive at the great commandment of God. John has been leading up to this and this episode, we see it unveiled.

"This is how we know..." The way John assures us that we are in truth is very complicated. Let's try to untangle it.

How can we know that we are of the truth?

Join us as we begin a detailed analysis of the importance of "words, deeds, and truth." We also discuss how "brothers" implies the sibling connection of Cain and Abel somewhat differently than the colloquial "brothers and sisters." Bonus word: Teknia!

While exploring the various different meanings of the word 'life,' we really get to the 'guts' of the matter.

That big verb: 'KNOWING' - and the way in which John applies it to love and life.

In verses 14 and 15, we looked at murder and hatred. Today we ask the question: what exactly is this laying down of one's life?

In verse 13, we started exploring the concept of death. Now, we delve into the profound subject of murder. What does it truly mean to murder, and how does hatred play a role in this act? Join us as we unpack these complex questions.

Today we look at John's interesting expansion of the topic from just discussing Cain to one of the wider world, death and life.

We continue to examine how the order to 'love your brother' constrasts with the example of Cain and Abel. What does this sibling relationship demonstrate to us, and what does it imply about our positions as children of God?

This week we turn from the positive message about loving your brother to the (rather extreme) negative example: Cain. But why does John reach for this extreme example?

We look more closely at John's definitions of loving one another and loving God.

We begin to understand the connection between loving one another and loving God - and what the opposite might mean.

A breakthrough in our discussion of 1 John 3:7-10 as we come to grips with the meaning of John's convicting words.

We devote additional study to these important verses.

In this abbreviated study time, we spend more time focusing on 1 John 3:8&9.

...in which we finally begin to focus more closely on this vital, but sometimes troubling, verse 8.

This week we survey verses 7-9 of 1 John 3, a section that seems to serve as a glue, holding together the other adjoining sections that we will examine more closely in the future. And who is this Diablo fellow, anyway?

In this lesson, our focus is on a verse that has proven to be problematic for so many people.

In this lesson, Corey deep-dives into verse 5 of chapter 3, focusing on what is meant by the taking away of sin.

In this lesson, as we spend some time in review of the abiding in Him and living in righteousness, and of our destiny to be like Him. We then turn to 3:4-10 and look at sin and lawlessness. In turning to this paragraph, we look at the heart of the struggles that many people have with 1 John: the hard words that no one who abides in Him sins, and no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. A close look at the meaning of the word 'sin' in this context is warranted!

In this lesson, as we learn more about who we are, and who we are going to become, we study how everyone with the hope on Him, The Pure One, purifies themselves - and about the causal relationship between this and His own purity.

We are the children of God, but we do not yet appear so. When he appears, then we will be like Him. But what does it mean that he will appear, and what will we then be?

Because we are called children of God, The world doesn't know us ... but also because it doesn't know Him.

Before moving on to chapter 3, we review what we've learned from chapters 1 and 2. In particular, the relationship between abiding, being born of, and the anointing is considered. In chapter 3, we highlight the astounding idea that being called children of God is indicative of God's great love for us.

A Discussion of 1 John 2:28: Finally: Paragraph 8! The big word today is 'righteousness!' This seems to be a word associated with birth and parentage - but is there more?

A Discussion of 1 John 2:27-8: What would it mean to shrink away from Him in shame "in His coming?"

A Discussion of 1 John 2:27: What is the anointing, who has it, how do we get it, and what is it for? And what does it tell us about the anointed one?

Today: The Great Big Confusing Verse!

Finally: we move into verse 26 of 1 John Chapter 2!

A Discussion of 1 John 2:18-25, in which we abide in these verses for so long, you may wonder if you are already experiencing eternal life! Nonetheless, we must get to the bottom of them!

The one who denies that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one, is a liar. The one who denies Jesus and the Father is the antichrist, the anti-anointed one. We explore this theme in this episode, a Discussion of 1 John 2:18-25.

We take another, closer look at these compelling verses, and at the anointing, the anti-anointing, liars and the truth, denying the Father and the Son, and abiding.