REFUGE KENOSHA

There is no shortage of opinions that we have access to. Social media influencers, news outlets, and blogs all produce their opinions as to what is right. However, have you considered that God has a point of view? The Bible describes Jesus as someone who testifies about the true of the world. As we dive into 1 John 5:6-12, we will look at what God's testimony is and how we should respond.
 

How would you describe a "win" in life? Does it depend on career advancement? Does it depend on financial well-being? Does it depend on romance? The Bible describes what true victory actually is. As we explore 1 John 5:1-5, we will see that victory is found where faith, love, and obedience meet.

Is our love only allowed to be directed at one specific person or group? Can that love be separated from our love for God? As we look at 1 John 4:13-21, we will see that love is necessarily multi-directional, that it is first and foremost a reaction, and that in order to love God rightly, we must love one another.

Love is no option for someone who follows Jesus--It is an absolute. must. Because God Himself is love, those that He saves have no choice but to become more like Him.  As we explore 1 John 4:7-12, we will see that because is the essence and giver of love, and that we are called to reflect His character.

Does everyone who claims to have Holy Spirit authority actually carry that authority? No...no they don't. The Apostle John was experiencing people who claimed that the Holy Spirit gave them new revelations, but their "revelations" were actually false. We are not to stifle the gifts of the Spirit, but we are also not called to blindly accept any spiritual claims. As we look at 1 John 4:1-6, we will see that truth demands persistence in resistance.

Everyone wants assurance. We want assurance in our friendships, at our jobs, and with those we love. Christians are no different. We want assurance that we belong to Jesus, but life can be hard and filled with failures. Can we have assurance of our salvation? As we look at 1 John 3:19-24 we will see that through sacrificial love, obedience to God's commands, and the Holy Spirit, we can come into a place of assurance.

Are Christians allowed to only know and affirm the right things? Or, does God have a higher standard that we are to live up to if we call ourselves His children? As we look at 1 John 3:14-18, we will see God's picture of what true love actually is. We will see that the truest form of love is that which is sacrificial.

Why is there so much tension between Christianity and the rest of culture? Sure, Christians can be jerks sometimes. However, Christians carry with them the commands and righteousness of Christ, and this puts a target on their back. To Christians, Christians remind them of Jesus. To non-believers, Christians represent judgment and separation from God. As we look at 3:11-14, we will see how love and hate collide at righteousness.

There's something about being loved that can change us for the better. For Christians, there is an immense change that the Holy Spirit works in us when we come to realize that the God who made everything actually loves us! In Christianity, there's no such thing as an unchanged child of God. As we look at 1 John 2:28-3:10, we are going to see that God's kids are truly different.

People can become paralyzed when thinking about having to stay in one place in life for too long. In a culture that almost worships change, we are not to have the same idea when it comes to the Gospel of Jesus. The message that was handed down to us a long time ago is to be the same message that we remain in. However, as we look through 1 John 2:24-25, we will see that remaining is both a pursuit and a gift.