Evaluating the Evidence (1 John 2:3-11)

Redemption Bible Church Sermon Audio

Sermon Notes

Sermon Series: How to Live, How to Love

Sermon Title: Evaluating the Evidence

Passage: 1 John 2:3-11

Preacher: Ashley Herr

3 steps to help us evaluate the evidence:

1. WHAT we do: Those who know him obey the words of Jesus (v3-5a)

2. HOW we do what we do: Those who abide in him walk in the way of Jesus (v5b-6)

3. WHY we do what we do: Those who live in his light love like Jesus (v7-11)

The command to love is new in that

• It has been expanded in terms of who we are commanded to love

• It has been extended in terms of how far we are commanded to love

Reflection

1. What in my life am I not trusting Jesus with - failing to obey what he says or where he leads? As you read 1 John 2:3-5a, repent of your sin and disobedience.

2. How have I laid down my cross, rather than my life - choosing the easy path over the way of Jesus? As you read 1 John 2:5b-6, return to Jesus as you hear the voice of the Good Shepherd calling out to you

3. How have I limited who I am called to love and the extent to which I am called to love in order to love like Jesus? As you read 1 John 7-11, receive the love of Jesus, feeling his presence.

Sermon Footnotes

• “Every summons of Christ leads to death.” - translation of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s line provided by Scot McKnight (A Fellowship of Differents, p201)

• “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer (The Cost of Discipleship, p89)

• “We have defined the ‘one another’ so tightly that it means only ‘love the people who reinforce your own sense of who you are'.” - N.T. Wright (John from the NT Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guide, p95-96)