1 John 4:1-6

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

SERMON NOTES

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Gnosticism

We are commanded to “test the spirits”.

We are admonished to recognize the Spirit of God.

We are encouraged to overcome false prophets.

GROUP STUDY

READ

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MEMORIZE

1 John 4:4
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

REVIEW

What is gnosticism and why was John so adamant to address it in his letter?

How do we test the spirits to see whether they are from God?

REFLECT

Why is it important to test the spirits, and how can we do it practically?

What does it mean to acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh?

How does knowing we are from God help us overcome the challenges posed by false teachings?

In what ways can we cultivate an environment in our church that values truth and discernment?

RESPOND

Think of ways you can apply the principles of discernment in your personal spiritual lives, such as through prayer, studying the Bible, and being part of a community that holds each other accountable.