BSF - Gospel of John - I John

Homiletics                                             Study of John

Lesson     21                                         Passage: I John

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Word of Life is to live in the light (I John 1-2:11) a. Proclaim the Word of life which personally seen, heard and touched (1:1-4) b. Message declared – God is light (1:4-10)   c. We have and advocate Jesus – Know Him and His commands (2:1-5) d. Live as Jesus did (2:6) e. New Command – Live in the light and life in love; don’t hate (2:7-11)

Message of Truth is living as God’s child (I John 2:12-3:10) a. Reason for Letter – beginning truths of God (2:12-14) b. Don’t love this world; do the forever things; the antichrist comes (2:15-19) c. Don’t be lead astray; remain in truth to us (2:20-29) d. Love is lavished and we’re called children of God and are purified  (3:1-3) e. Sin is taken way and is not the way of living for those born of God (3:4-10)

Loving faith is belief in the testimony water, blood and Spirit bringing Eternal life (I John 3:11-5:21) a. Love one another; come to life (3:11-15) b. Jesus is love in action and truth; belong faithfully to Him (3:16-24) c. Test the spirits relying on God’s love (4:1-16) d. God is foundation of love; love (4:17-21) e. Love is keeping God’s commands (5:1-5) f. Accept the testimony of water, blood and Spirit and believe Jesus for life (5:6-15) g. God protects and gives eternal life to those born of God (5:16-21)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Division	Scripture
Word of Life is to live in the light	I John 1-2:11
Message of Truth is living as God’s child	I John 2:12-3:10
Loving is faithful belief in the testimony water, blood and Spirit bringing Eternal life	I John 3:11-5:21

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

John describes Jesus follower’s requirement for life of love

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that believers are God’s children and commanded love by living as Jesus did.

Specific Application Questions

1.	How are you walking in the light of Jesus?  Where do you need to live more in the truth of Jesus?
2.	The world will hate you and tempt to deceive. What needs to change for reliance on God to live in love?
3.	Is there a place or situation where you don’t reflect God’s love?
4.

Principles to Remember

1.	We have an advocate our atonement for sin.
2.	The world will deceive and hates those who live in the light.
3.	Faithful is the testimony to Jesus our life
4.

Characteristic of God

Source of Love

Theme: 

God is life and love and calls us to walk as Jesus did.

I John

The book of 1 John - This is a great book and filled with great lessons.

Verses that have special meaning to me are: 

• 1 John 1:7   "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
• 1 John 2:6   "Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did."
• 1 John 3:1a "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 
• 1 John 4:19  ^"We love because he first loved us."
• 1 John 5:20 "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."

We could ask each your favorite verse.  Our memory verse for this next week is I John 4:9 -- "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."

Gospel of John - John 15:1-16:4

Homiletics                                             Study of John

Lesson     20                                         Passage: John 15:1-16:4

Content (List of Topics or Events)

True vine and Branches – Those who remain in the vine will bear much fruit (John 15:1-8) a. True vine and the gardener prunes for fruit (1-2) b. Followers are clean and must remain in Jesus to bear fruit (3-4)   c. Fruit bearing branches remain in Jesus  (5) d. Branches that do not remain are worthless gathered and discarded (6) e. Remaining in Jesus brings glory to Father and shows that we are His disciples (7-8)

Remain in Love – Complete Joy results and world’s hate rooted in sin (John 15:9-25) a. We are loved as the Father has loved Jesus – Remain (9) b. Keep commands as Jesus has kept Father’s; it brings Joy all around (10-11)   c. Chosen friends love so much for each other that would die for each other (12-17) d. Keep in mind the world hates followers just as much as it hated Jesus  (18-20) e. Persecutors are guilty of sin and hate God (21-25)

Spirit of Truth – Testifies of time with Jesus and our testimony brings persecution (John 15:26-16:4) a. Advocate sent from Father testifies of Jesus (26-27) b. No Surprises – Jews in name will throw you out and kill you (16:1-2) c. Persecutors don’t know Jesus or the Father. (3) d. Jesus warns of persecutors at His departure (4)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Division	Scripture
True vine and Branches – Those who remain in the vine will bear much fruit	John 15:1-8
Remain in Love – Complete Joy results and world’s hate rooted in sin	John 15:9-25
Spirit of Truth – Testifies of time with Jesus and our testimony brings persecution	John 15:26-16:4

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Fruit and love come from branches remaining in true vine.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that the gardener cultivates those who remain connected to the true vine resulting in sacrificial love.

Specific Application Questions

1.	What is that something in your life that needs to be pruned away so that you can be more fruitful?
2.	Love is demonstrated by keeping His commands; as God’s friend, how can you be more loving?
3.	Where are you failing to testify in the Spirit of Truth?
4.

Principles to Remember

1.	Fruit for the Kingdom comes through our connection to the true vine.
2.	Love brought through Jesus is sacrificial
3.	Faithful service in all circumstances comes through walking through the Spirit
4.

Characteristic of God

True Vine

Theme: 

Fruit that will last is from God.

Gospel of John - John:15-31

Homiletics                                             Study of John

Lesson     18                                         Passage: John 14:15-31

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Keeping commands demonstrate love for Jesus – Holy Spirit will help – Father’s love results (John 14:15-22) a. Love is demonstrated by keeping Jesus commands (15) b. Jesus will ask His Father for another forever advocate (16-18)   c. Jesus is going away, but on that day we will realize Jesus in us  (19-20) d. Love of Jesus results in the Father’s love (21-22)

Obedience to Jesus teachings bring Father’s love  - Holy Spirit will teach and remind us (John 14:23-26) a. Love of Jesus is obedience to His teaching (23) b. Our Father will love, come and make home obedient follower (24)   c. Jesus words are spoken while present with us; Holy Spirit will teach and remind (25-26)

Our love for Jesus and His love for Father is reason for gladness (John 14:27-31) a. Peace given by Jesus (27) b. Jesus going away and coming back brings gladness (28) c. Belief comes from Jesus prophecy seeing its fulfillment (29) d. The prince of this world is coming; learn this that Jesus does exactly what His Father commanded (30-31)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Division	Scripture
Keeping commands demonstrate love for Jesus – Holy Spirit will help – Father’s love results	John 14:15-22
Obedience to Jesus teachings bring Father’s love - Holy Spirit will teach and remind us	John 14:23-26
Our love for Jesus and His love for Father is reason for gladness	John 14:27-31

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Keeping Jesus words, commands and our obedience bring Fathers love.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that the Holy Spirit is our gift from the Father; he is advocate and teacher bringing Jesus words of comfort to those who love Jesus.

Specific Application Questions

1.	In what ways are you being reminded of Jesus’ commands for your life?
2.	How is the teaching of Jesus being put into practice? What is the Holy Spirit convicting you to do?
3.	Peace is being able to relax in the arms of God.  What needs to change to bring peace?
4.

Principles to Remember

1.	Holy Spirit is our help and will be with us forever.
2.	Holy Spirit will teach us and remind us of Jesus’ words.
3.	Gladness is doing as God has told us to do.
4.

Characteristic of God

Forever God

Theme: 

Triune Eternal God