Generosity within the early Church, was particularly focussed on those who served Christ in peripatetic ministries: apostles, prophets, evangelists and teachers. Jesus had taught them that anyone who merely gave a cup of water to one of His prophets, would receive a prophet’s reward. The church at Antioch no doubt funded Paul and Barnabas’s initial mission expenses. Lydia offered Paul and Barnabas open-ended hospitality. And the Philippians partnered with Paul when he fi

As we’ve previously seen, John has three tests of the genuineness of anyone’s claim to know God and be in fellowship with Him.  Do they believe Jesus Christ is the light of the world, the Son of God come in the flesh?  Are they disciples - do they keep His commandments?  And do they manifest the love of God?  Using the Graeco-Roman rhetorical method of repeating and amplifying his themes, he comes back to these three themes time and time again. It is as if he is taking us up

On superficial reading, these verses from the Apostle condemn us all. Yet we know John’s intention was to bring assurance not despair. And we know that he saw claims of sinlessness as evidence that we have not been born again! So what can he have meant? The answer (in my view) lies in the Greek tenses, and in the ongoing efficacy of God's seed within us. In 3:6 & 3:9, the verbs are in the ‘present continuous’ tense. Whoever 'practices the presence of Jesus', doesn’t cont

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS How does this passage make you feel? Joyful? Hopeful? Despairing? Condemned? Or just confused? Why? How can we reach a place of confidence and assurance, unashamed in God's Presence, while "it does not yet appear what we shall be" ? In all honesty, how strong a feature in our own personal faith, is the hope of Christ's return? What might be needed to strengthen it? How can John's statements that "If we say we have never sinned we deceive ourselves" , and

QUESTIONS TO PONDER What is truth? Is it relative, or absolute? Is it defined by a person's beliefs? How do we 'know' truth? Is it cognitive and mind-based, or spirit-based? How does deception work? Does the Devil ever speak the truth? If God is 'the only true God', how much can we trust Him? ...! Why is it so important not to deny Christ? What is the Holy Spirit's role in revealing truth to us? How does discernment work? Have you had any experiences of it? THE SPIRITUAL

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION (See Matt 6:19-34; 1 Cor 2:14-3:4; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 2:1-6, 6:12; Col 2:8,15-23; Jas 4:12-9) What is 'the world' to which John is referring? How are 'the world' and 'the flesh' related? How is its value system inculcated in us? How do worldly values commonly manifest amongst Christians? (and in ourselves) When & how did Christ overcome the world? (Jn 16:33) How can we overcome the world? John says it was a good thing that people left the church. Shou

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS Why the sudden switch from prose to poetry? Does John see these as age groups or levels of spiritual maturity? Why does he seem to repeat himself? In what sense have the young men already overcome the wicked one? How does the passage connect with what’s before, and what’s after it? NOTES ON THE PASSAGE Asking questions as you read, is key in studying the bible. These few verses pose several conundrums! When you reach such a passage, slow down: they

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER What is the old commandment? And the new? How is it new? And how is it not new? How is this commandment operating in our lives? How does being unloving affect ourselves, our fellowship with God, and others? What is stumbling ? What scriptural and personal examples can you think of? Review John's teachings on love. (read John 13:1-17, 34-35; 15:9-13,17; 17:20-21,25-26 and then 1 John 2:7-11; 3:1-2, 10-19; 4:7-5:1). How is his emphasis di

NOTES ON THE PASSAGE Having shed light on the reality of sin in Christians’ lives, John now moves from from sin to righteousness, from negative to positive. His aim in writing, is 'that you may not sin' . [N.B. We tend to use 'holiness' and 'righteousness' as synonyms, but there is a difference: righteousness is a lifestyle that reflects God's character, whereas holiness is the indwelling Presence of God in us that manifests in righteousness.] Keeping Christ's commands John

As our Advocate, Christ prepares us to enter the Father's Presence, and expresses our hearts' desires to Him

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION What does John mean by 'God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all'? He says Jesus taught this - but when? Where do we find it in the gospels? Is John being repetitive, or are his three statements about sin distinct? If so, how? Should Christians be continually repenting & confessing, or is that lack of faith? Is there a difference between repenting of sins, and repenting of sin? How do we, though Christians, deny, or minimise the importance of

QUESTIONS TO PONDER Read John's Prologue (Jn 1:1-18)  and the Upper Room discourse (Jn 14-16)  first! Why does John start with the physicality of his experience of Jesus? What do you think was the most central thing about Jesus's identity, for him? And why? What is fellowship? How do you know (experience) God? Would you describe your relationship as 'fellowship with the Father and the Son'? Which member of the Trinity would you say you know best? And which, least? How far doe

We tend to think of fellowship as meaning sharing our joys and sorrows when we meet together. The Greek word meant shared resources, shared purposes, or shared work; a practical union. The Pentecost converts "continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" : and "all who believed were together, and had all things in common" . But it is also translated as communion, which implies a deeper level of connection altoget

John's letters were probably written from Ephesus, where he was bishop to the seven churches listed in Revelation. Originally having been founded by Apollos (Acts 18:24ff ), the church in Ephesus had experienced explosive growth during Paul's two-year ministry there, and the gospel had spread to the other cities in the province (Acts 19:10) . Paul later prophesied to the Ephesian elders that the church would come under intense attack, both from non-believers and from heretic