First John 5:21

The apostle closes his epistle with an interesting command.

First John 5:20

This sermon focuses on the third “we know” statement by the apostle as he closes his letter.

First John 5:19

The apostle assures his readers that they are of God, which is a a great source of encouragement in the face of opposition from the world.

First John 5:18

The apostle affirms important biblical truths as he begins to close his letter.

First John 5:16-17

Following his assurance that God hears the prayers of his children, the apostle addresses a specific and important concern for prayer in this text.

First John 5:13-15

There is both encouragement and challenge for believers in this text.

First John 5:6-12

The apostle addresses the theme of belief, highlighting the role of the Spirit in witnessing to Jesus as the Son of God.

First John 5:1-5

As the apostle draws his letter to a conclusion, he reinforces key themes that he has discussed.

First John 4:11-21

The apostle continues to develop the theme of God’s love for us and our love for one another.

First John 4:7-11

from the hymn “Here Is Love” by William Rees (1802-1883):

Here is love, vast as the ocean,

Lovingkindness as the flood,

When the Prince of life, our ransom,

Shed for us His precious blood. . . .

On the mount of crucifixion

Fountains opened deep and wide;

Through the floodgates of God’s mercy

Flowed a vast and gracious tide.

Grace and love, like mighty rivers,

Poured incessant from above,

And heaven’s peace and perfect justice

Kissed a guilty world in love.

First John 4:1-6

The apostle continues to provide wise counsel to his spiritual children.

First John 3:19-24

This text focuses on assurance, a theme that is prominent in John’s letter.

First John 3:11-18

The apostle brings his readers to focus on what is perhaps the key theme of his letter–the command to love one another.

First John 3:4-10

In an era described by Charles Taylor as the age of expressive individualism, followers of Christ look to God himself for their identity.

First John 3:1-3

This message continues the sermon series from First John.

First John 2:18-29 part 2

We sang “Spirit of God, descend upon my heart…O, take the dimness of my soul away” prior to this message given prior to our observance of the Lord’s Supper

First John 2:18-29 part 1

The apostle speaks in this text to issues as relevant to the church today as they were when he wrote this short letter.

First John 2:15-17

These verses finish out the literary unit seen in 2:7-17. Echoed in verses 15-17 are the themes of love, passing away, and abiding that we saw in the verses 7-11. As darkness and light were contrasted in 7-11, love of the world and love of the Father will be contrasted in 15-17.

First John 2:12-14

These verses have a distinct poetic structure that renders them memorable, which emphasizes the important truths that they contain.

First John 2:7-11

The apostle continues this wonderful letter as he introduces the central theme of love.