July 16, 2018
Date: July 15, 2018
Text: 1 John 5:16-17 (HCSB)
Series: 1 John, Exposing Counterfeit Christianity
Title: Three Spiritually Life-Changing Truths We Should “Know!”
Pastor John Black
Listening Guide
I. Three Spiritually Life-Changing Truths we all should “know”
- We have the power to be Victorious over Sin.
- We belong to God, not to the World.
- Jesus Christ is our one and only true God.
II. John’s final precautionary word of instruction
- We must guard ourselves from idols.
Idolatry is anything you love, enjoy, and pursue more than God.
III. How do we “Guard” ourselves from idols?
We must . . .
- Reveal them in our lives. (See listening guide appendix below.)
Possible problem points in my life include:
- ____________________________
- ____________________________
- ____________________________
- Repent of them from our lives.
- Return our hearts to the Lord.
- Resist them in the future.
Listening Guide Appendix
Questions to reveal potential idols in my life:
- What preoccupies or rules my heart, my thoughts, my time?
- What compels me, controls me, drives me, motivates me?
- To what does my heart cling?
- What competes for my time with God?
- What gives me a sense of worth?
- What defines my identity before others?
- What do I crave?
- If everything was to be taken away what is the one thing I could not bear to live without?
- Am I looking to something or someone to provide what only God can?
- What do family or friends think may be an idol in my life?
- Where did I devote most of my time last week?
- Where did I expend most of my energy last week?
- Where do I spend most of my money?
- What prohibits me from serving and worshiping God faithfully?
July 9, 2018
Date: July 8, 2018
Series: 1 John, Exposing Counterfeit Christianity
Title: Your Prayers, Answered! (Part 2)
Text: 1 John 5:16-17 (HCSB)
Pastor John Black
Listening Guide
I. John’s Promise:
- God will answer our prayers when they align with His will!
II. John’s Application:
- Our prayers have the power to Restore a Christian who has Wandered off into Sin!
III. Our Application:
- Who do I need to pray for?
________________________________________________________________
July 2, 2018
Date: July 1, 2018
Series: 1 John, Exposing Counterfeit Christianity
Title: Your Prayers Answered! (Part 1)
Text: 1 John 5:14-17 (HCSB)
Pastor John Black
Listening Guide
Your Prayers Answered!
I. John’s Promise:
- God will answer our prayers when they Align with His Will!
II. Our Problem:
- How do we pray according to God’s Will?
- We must be Saved.
- We must be living a Righteous life.
- We must pray in His Name and for His Cause.
- We must Listen more than we Talk.
- We must seek to Know God’s Will.
- We must be willing to Do God’s Will.
III. Reflection Questions:
- What Decisions are you facing?
- Are you truly Praying for God’s Will or are you really praying for Your will?
June 4, 2018
Date: June 3, 2018
Text: 1 John 2:12-17
Title: Christians Beware! Part 1
Series: 1 John, Counterfeit Christianity, Part 5
Pastor John Black
Big Idea:
- A Christ Follower must be careful not to fall in love with the world!
- How can we protect ourselves from falling in love with the world?
I. Know what the world offers but cannot give!
- The world cannot give you what you need.
- The world cannot give you what it promises.
Worldly promises . . .
- If it feels right, it is right! (Desires of the flesh)
- If it looks good, it is good! (Desires of the eyes)
- If I can get more, I will gain more! (Pride of life)
- The world cannot give you what will last.
II. Remember what we already have and cannot lose!
- Forgiveness and Eternal life.
- Relationship and fellowship with the Lord!
- Strength, Knowledge, and the Truth.
- Victory over sin!
Reflection Question:
- Does your life resemble that of Paul or Demas?
May 30, 2018
Date: May 27, 2018
Title: The Power of Fervent Prayer!
Text: Acts 12:1-19 (CSB)
Pastor John Black
I. What is Fervent Prayer?
- A Prayer of Priority
- A Prayer of Focus
- A Prayer of Intensity
- A Prayer of Faith
II. What Power does Fervent Prayer produce?
- Supernatural Peace
- Angelic Presence
- Answered Prayers
May 14, 2018
Date: May 13, 2018
1 John: Exposing Counterfeit Christianity
Part 3: Unconditional Love
Text: 1 John 2:1-11
Pastor John Black
Listening Guide:
I. The Main Points:
- True Believers do what Jesus says!
This includes . . .
- Loving others unconditionally!
We must be willing to . . .
- Apologize when we have done wrong
- Forgive when we have been done wrong
II. Three Reflection Questions:
- Who do you need to extend unconditional love to?
- What does that require from you?
- What steps must you take to make this happen?
May 8, 2018
Date: April 29, 2018
Text: 1 John 1:5-10
Title: Three Forms of False Faith!
Series: 1 John: Exposing Counterfeit Christianity
Pastor John Black
Listening Guide
What is God?
Light Darkness
The Bottom Line
The Salvation given to us produces a Righteous hunger within us.
John clearly defines three forms of false faith:
- Make – Believers (Those who walk in darkness)
- Misperceivers (Those who are ignorant of the truth)
- Truth Deceivers (Those who cover-up their sin)
April 9, 2018
Date: April 8, 2018
Series: 1 John / Exposing Counterfeit Christianity
Title: Some things never change!
Text: 1 John 1:1-4 (HCSB)
Pastor John Black
Listening Guide
I. The Gospel never changes!
- God has revealed Himself to us
- Jesus Christ is God in the flesh
- Salvation is through Christ alone
April 2, 2018
Date: April 1, 2018 (Easter Sunday)
Text: Ephesians 3:14-19 (HCSB)
Title: Love is a Cross
Pastor John Black
Listening Guide
“I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
- Paul’s prayer for us: To be Fulfilled
- Our answer to Paul’s prayer: To understand Christ’s Love for us
Just how much does Jesus love us?
Jesus loves us so much that He …
- Length - Left heaven for us!
- Width - Seeks after us!
- Height - Traded places with us!
- Depth - Gave His life for us!
