Sunday July 3
Over the coming weeks, we will be reading the book of 1 John. It is a short book, near the end of the Bible. A benefit of the shorter books of the Bible is that we can really dig in and still see the book as a whole in just a few weeks!
This Sunday, May 22, we will be considering the background of 1 John. There are a few helpful pieces of information for us to help make this letter “come alive” as a message to churches not unlike our own, even if we are dealing with different problems. First, the author of this letter was “John,” who is likely the same John who wrote the Gospel of John, the fourth book of the New Testament which recounts the story and meaning of Jesus’ life and ministry. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, John was part of the generation of “eyewitnesses,” or “apostles” — people who had known Jesus personally.
John eventually ends up in Asia, modern-day Turkey, where he shepherds the early Christian communities as a pastor, likely being part of a community around Ephesus, while encouraging other communities through visits and letters. That’s where the letter 1 John comes in. It is a letter that John feels compelled to write to the churches in his region as more eyewitnesses of Jesus die, and there is a new generation of Jewish and Gentile believers who did not know Jesus personally. This new generation of Christians are trying to understand how God could become human, as well as understand this God’s message. In good Roman fashion, these questions were both philosophical and practical: how can a God become human? (seems preposterous!) But also, what are we supposed to do to please this God?
“Pastor John” keeps bringing the churches back to two central points of faith: Jesus was indeed human, and there is just one command given by Jesus himself: love God and love neighbor.
Smell: Read 1 John 3:24-4:6
Taste:
Choose one of the following ways to engage this passage as you read. Have a piece of paper or notebook handy to write your thoughts down. Or, if you don’t want to write, talk it over with someone or process it out loud, either for yourself or as a prayer.
- Put the passage (or just a few verses) in your own words.
- Read it three times and choose one word or phrase that jumps out at you. Take 5-10 minutes or so to think about that word or phrase; why were you drawn to it? What do you think it means either for the churches John is writing to or you?
- Ask God to show you something in the passage that you need to apply to your life. Read it three times and listen for what that thing is. You may hear it as a voice, but more likely you will resonate in your mind or heart with something you read. How can you apply it to your life?
Eat:
In person: We gather Sundays at 5 PM. We eat a meal together, followed by a time of conversation and encouragement. No one will call on you. No need to bring anything, but if you are more comfortable with a contribution bring chips, bread, or a side dish. We hope to make you feel welcome! For more about what to expect, click here.
On Zoom: To join us for the conversation log on to Zoom around 5:40: click here for the link.
