Leader Guide Week of 7-20-08 / 1John 1:1-4

Small Group Leaders Guide
July 20, 2008

Walking In Light
1John 1:1-4

Getting Started:
1. Of the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which were eyewitnesses to the life and ministry of Christ on earth?

• Matthew and John. Mark may have encountered Jesus at some point (possibly in the garden of Gethsemane) but that is not clear. He was certainly not one of The Twelve and it is believed that his gospel was written based on what he heard from Peter.

Going Deeper:
2. What are three ways John, the author, personally experienced the “Word of life?”

• According to verse 1, he saw Him, heard Him and touched Him.

3. Read 1John 1:1 and John 1:1. In both of these verses, John uses the word, “beginning.” What is he talking about? Is he referring to the time before Jesus was born to Mary? When did Jesus begin to exist?

• Jesus has existed as long as God the Father has existed. In theological terms, we call this “Eternal Sonship.” In fact, there are passages which state that Jesus created all things. (Colossians 1:13-16, Hebrews 1:2, John 1:2-3)

4. Read John 14:6 and 1John 1:2. What do you think it means that Jesus is the life?

5. In 1John 1:3-4, John gives two reasons for writing this letter. What is the connection between the fellowship that John describes and “making our joy complete?”

6. The word, “proclaim” is used twice in 1John 1:1-4. Why do you think John feels the need to “proclaim?”

• I think you can try to answer this question at least two ways. You can look toward the historical setting and the heretical teaching of the time that John may be addressing. You could also look “into John’s heart” so to speak. I think the majesty and awe inspiring greatness of God’s glory in Christ are burdening John and filling him to overflowing in a way that causes him to feel he has to let it out! After all, he saw Him, heard Him and even touched Him!

7. John calls Jesus, the “Word.” How is this a good name for Jesus? Why do you think John uses this “nickname?”

• The most significant use of “word” in the Old Testament is in contexts where God’s revelatory word to man is clearly in view. Hundreds of times the phrase “the word of Yahweh” is found in the Old Testament, and there are hundreds more that speak of God’s sending His word to His people or that identify a particular message as a word from God. Psalm 18:30 says the word of God is flawless.
• The book of John opens with the statement that Jesus is the preexistent word, who was with God and was God from eternity (John 1:1). This person, the agent of creation and source of life, became flesh and lived among humanity. The use of “word” here, takes the Old Testament’s concept of the word of God and personalizes it, showing how fully God expresses Himself in revelation. The use of “word” bonds the natural and supernatural aspects of the written word. Jesus the living Word, like the written word, becomes the place of meeting, where God’s hidden glory is unveiled and the Father becomes known.
• What passages in the Bible can you find that describe the word of God? Which of those descriptions could also be applied to Jesus?

8. On Sunday, we talked about four ways that knowing God shows up in your life. (Walking in light, Walking in love, Walking in obedience, Walking in truth) Which of these do you struggle with most?

9. How would you describe Jesus’ relationship with John the apostle? What Bible passages would help answer this question?

• John 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," 27 and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
• While Jesus maintained a close circle of 12 disciples, there was also an inner circle of 3. They were Peter, James and John. (Matthew 17:1, Mark 5:37, Mark 13:3, Mark 14:33, Luke 8:51, Galatians 2:9)
• John is called the disciple whom Jesus loved. (John 13:23, John 20:2, John 21:20)

Putting it into practice:
10. This week, pray in your groups about how knowing God shows up (or doesn’t show up) in your life. Ask Him for a renewed commitment to living your life in a way that increases your fellowship with the brotherhood of believers and with Jesus Himself.

Quote Of The Week:
If God does not enter your kitchen, there is something wrong with your kitchen. If you can't take God into your recreation, there is something wrong with your play….
We all believe in the God of the heroic. What we need most these days is the God of the humdrum, the commonplace, the everyday.
--Peter Marshall