Good morning, dear Church family!

Know that Gayla and I count it an honor and privilege to serve the Lord as we serve you. We want you to know that you are dearly loved. In fact, everything we do in our ministry at SVCC is motivated by our love for the Lord and you! Thank you for allowing us to serve you.  May the Lord use this short study to “refresh” you and give you a spiritual boost as you prepare your heart to hear God’s word this coming Sunday.

For most of John’s epistles he has exposed a huge problem with the church. The problem was and still is, that the false teachers claimed to believe in Jesus, but their claim was just empty words. By their deeds, they denied Christ. So, throughout the book of 1 John, the apostle gives us these tests of authentic faith. Do you obey God’s commandments? Do you love your brethren? Do you believe in the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, including His sacrificial death for you?

You may think, “Yes, but I don’t do those things perfectly. I often fall short.” It’s to you that John writes these verses. Do you see evidence of God’s working in your life through your loving others? Do you see answers to your prayers? Do you enjoy fellowship with Christ as you live to please Him? If so, know that God is greater than your heart!  He wants you to be confident in His love. He wants to assure you that you are His child. He does not want you to live in guilt.

Ice Breaker: What is one thing you did as a child that you got away with that still causes you to feel guilty today?

Overview: 1 John 3:19-24

• (3:19-20) When our hearts condemn us, we must rest on the basis of assurance.

1. Assurance is based on the knowledge of God’s work in our lives (3:19-20a).
2. Assurance is based on God’s greater knowledge of us (3:20b).

• (3:21-24) When our hearts are confident, we will enjoy the blessings of assurance.

1. Confidence before God gives us the blessing of answered prayer (3:22-23).
2. Confidence before God gives us the blessing of the abiding relationship through the Spirit (3:24).

Application Questions:

1. How can we know whether feelings of guilt stem from Satan’s accusations or from the Holy Spirit’s conviction? What is the difference between guilt and conviction?
2. Where is the proper balance between accepting our human limitations, but not tolerating sin or spiritual immaturity?
3. Is it a “cop-out” of faith to pray, “not my will, but Yours be done?” Why or why not?
4. How would you counsel a Christian who said that he doesn’t experience close fellowship with the Lord? Where would you start? Where in the Bible would you tell them to read regarding that topic?

May the Lord find you faithful in studying His word! Gayla and I are praying you have a good rest of the week and look forward to seeing Sunday in worship service. (And bring someone with you!)