Class Lesson for November 15, 2026

  New Series: Being Light in a Dark World: A Study of 1 John

Sermon Recap

John moves from abiding in Christ to the hope of Christ’s return. Believers are already children of God, yet what they will be, has not fully appeared. When Christ appears, they will be like Him because they will see Him as He is. That future hope changes present behavior: everyone who hopes in Christ purifies himself. John then draws a sharp contrast between practicing righteousness and practicing sin. He is not saying a Christian never sins; the letter has already made that impossible. He is describing the settled direction and practice of a life. Jesus appeared to take away sins and destroy the works of the devil, so those born of God cannot be at peace with a life defined by sin.

 

1 John 2:28-3:10

[28] And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. [29] If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. [1] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. [3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

[4] Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. [5] You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. [6] No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. [7] Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. [8] Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. [9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. [10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)

 

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you most in 1 John 2:28-3:10?
2. How does being called a child of God shape your sense of identity?
3. Why should hope in Christ’s return affect present choices?
4. Where would living “ready” change your behavior?
5. What does it mean to you to be called a child of God?
6. How does assurance of future transformation give hope in present struggles?
7. Why is it dangerous to treat sin casually?
8. How can we distinguish ongoing repentance from settled rebellion?
9. What sin are you actively fighting right now?
10. What evidence of God’s transforming work can you thank Him for?

  

Closing Thoughts

Holiness is not withdrawal from mission; it gives credibility to mission. A church that talks about the transforming power of Jesus while making peace with sin sends a confused message. As we pursue purity, we show that Christ not only forgives but changes people. Encourage one another this week to fight sin from the security of being God’s children.

 

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Class Lesson for November 8, 2026

 New Series: Being Light in a Dark World: A Study of 1 John

Sermon Recap

John warns the church that deception does not only come from outside the church. False teachers had departed from the community and denied the truth about Jesus. John calls their teaching “antichrist” because it opposes the true identity of Christ. The issue is not merely theological trivia; what we believe about Jesus determines whether we truly know the Father. Believers are not left defenseless. John calls them to let what they heard from the beginning abide in them, and he reminds them that they have an anointing from the Holy One. The Spirit does not lead us away from the gospel into novelty; He confirms the truth about Jesus and helps believers remain in Him.

1 John 2:18-27

Warning Concerning Antichrists

[18] Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. [19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. [20] But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. [21] I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. [22] Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. [23] No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. [24] Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. [25] And this is the promise that he made to us — eternal life.

[26] I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. [27] But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie — just as it has taught you, abide in him. (ESV)

 

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you most in 1 John 2:18-27?
2. What makes false teaching spiritually dangerous?
3. Why does John make the identity of Jesus the central test?
4. What modern messages about Jesus might sound attractive while changing who He is?
5. What does it look like practically to let the gospel “abide” in us?
6. How do the Word and the Spirit work together in discernment?
7. What helps you remain steady when persuasive voices disagree?
8. How can familiarity with Scripture protect us from deception?
9. Where do you feel pressure to soften or redefine truth about Jesus?
10. What practice would help the gospel abide more deeply in you this week?

 

Closing Thoughts

A dark world is full of spiritual claims, confident voices, and competing versions of Jesus. Living on mission requires both conviction and discernment. We do not need to be afraid of every question, but we do need to know the gospel well enough to recognize a counterfeit. As a group, encourage one another to test teaching by Scripture and to speak about the real Jesus with clarity and grace.

 

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