As we close the letters of John, we look back on the joy that John so frequently points to. We rightly long for joy, but we fail in our search for joy when we try to find joy based on circumstances, because joy points to something else. True joy points to the one who holds all of our circumstances, and all of us. Therefore when you see joy as a signpost, not a destination, you’ll find joy in God himself. 

Scripture: 1–3 John

In the last letter of John, we see two different lives: one self-centered, one other-centered. While pieces of both men live inside us all, the antidote to a selfish heart isn't white-knuckled effort, but locking our eyes onto Jesus—the ultimate King who emptied Himself to serve and save us. When Christ becomes our greatest joy, our lives naturally transform into beautiful expressions of generosity and discipleship that build up the family of God.

Scripture: 3 John 1:1–12

In a world full of theological disagreement, how do we hold truth and love together? Should our respons be the same in every kind of disagreement? 2 John helps us see truth in love means having an others-centered, Christ-exalting agenda behind the sharing of truth.

Scripture: 2 John

The story of Peter is a reminder of how Jesus calls each of us out of the life of sin and shame that we find ourselves, and into is a better one; a life that rests in our identity in Christ, our trust in Christ, obedience, and God’s sanctifying work in us to change us more into the image of Christ. 

Scripture: John 21: 4–19

In the conclusion of 1 John, God’s people are charged to confidently carry on in Christ. As our blessed assurance steadily rests in Jesus, it transforms how we talk to God, how we fight for each other, and how we survive a culture filled with idols. Scripture: 1 John 5:13–21

There’s a battle for control in the world, but the victory has already been won by Jesus Christ. And yet sometimes we lose where we are in the story, and we feel discouraged by suffering and sin. But John reminds us in his letter, how the Christian has indeed overcome, because in Christ, victory lies in our faith. 

Scripture: 1 John 5:1–12

John is reminding us again that it’s not our commandment keeping that justifies us, it’s the saving work of Christ and the transformation that God brings in his children. Because God is holy and righteous, so too is his love. And as children of God, we can only love because He first loved us. 

Scripture: 1 John 4:17–19

This passage in Revelation is a warning for the lukewarm Christian—the Christian who can know the gospel, and live for Jesus but does so moderately, and worse, not realize their mediocrity. Because we can get lost with being comfortable in our faith. God doesn’t require his church to be perfect, but the cure to lukewarmness is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Revelation 3:14–22

Guest Preacher: Ajay Thomas

We can only reflect what we have received, therefore in Christ, we are able to love one another because he first loved us. And so through Christ’s cross shaped love, we become a cross shaped people. Scripture: 1 John 4:7-12

We are being formed by everything we take in. We need discernment to test the ways we might be deceived by false teaching, and the ways we might be distracted from the gospel. Scripture: 1 John 4:1–6