September 8, 2019
by Jon Schock
Our
to the
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5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. —1 John 5:5-12
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- What was a high point of your summer? What was a low point of your summer?
- Read 1 John 5:4-5. What do you think John means by “overcoming the world”? Look for clues by reviewing the earlier chapters in the book.
- “Our Faith Testifies to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.” What other things have you experienced that people will “testify to” when it comes to religion? How should our testimony differ?
- Read through the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4. Discuss all the ways that “water” is used. What conclusions can we draw from John’s use of “water” in this passage?
- Why do you think the Spirit seems to be given priority in testimony over the “water and the blood”? Look back through 1 John at how he writes about the Spirit.
- In your everyday world, is it easier to talk about the Person of Jesus, or the Work of Jesus? What danger is there in separating the two?
- Read 1 John 5:11-12. Talk about what those verses should mean for our lives today – and everyday.
Prayer Time