1 John ends with this important reminder, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

We look at 3 steps to guard our hearts from idolatry as we conclude our 1 John series.

1. Define It
2. Identify It
3. Replace It

Christianity is not a “I hope so” or “I think so” faith. It is an “I know so” faith.

4 Certainties a believer has:

1. We Know that God Answers Prayer
2. We Know Victory Over Our Sin
3. We Know that We Belong to God
4. We Know the One Who Is Truth

Adrian Rogers wrote, “It is much better to be a shouting Christian than a doubting Christian. We ought not walk around like a question mark with our heads bent over but like an exclamation mark.”

1 John 5:6-13 will help us be…

1. Sure of the Gospel
2. Sure of Eternal Life

As followers of Jesus Christ, see what kind of extraordinary faith we possess:

1. Our Faith Is Supernatural
2. Our Faith Produces Joyful Obedience
3. Our Faith Is Victorious

Last week we studied John’s third & final appeal for Christians to love one another. We learned that love is not a command that we have to follow begrudgingly, but a gift that we get to enjoy.

To help us practically be able to love, we look at a few pictures that further explain what it means to love like God does.

Beholding Him leads to us becoming more like Him.

Five pictures of God’s Love:

1. His Love Is Personal
2. His Love Is Gracious
3. His Love Is Compassionate
4. His Love Is Faithful
5. His Love Is Sacrificial

1 John 4:7-21

Our text this morning is the third and final time John appeals to the Christian to love.

This time around, John makes it clear that to love is not a command that we have to follow begrudgingly, but a gift that we get to enjoy.

“Love is a gift that only Christians can fully understand, experience, and live out.”

Three proofs to back up this statement:

1. God Is the Source of Love
2. God Enables Us to Love
3. God Graciously Fuels Our Love

1 John 4:1-6

As followers of Jesus, we are to have the discernment to know difference between truth & error.

1. A Command to be Careful
2. How to be Careful

1 Peter 3:8-12

As City Bible concludes it’s VBS week, we take a break from our series in 1 John to assess the definition of the good life. When you think of a good life, an ideal life, what comes to mind?

We ask 4 simple questions from 1 Peter 3:8-12 to determine if we are living the good life.

1. Do You Have A Living Hope?
2. What Virtues Dominate Your Life?
3. How Do You Respond?
4. Is Your Life Pleasing To God?

Guest Speaker @ CBC

Josh Petras

Josh serves as high school pastor at Grace Community Church and has been involved in student ministries leadership for 10 years. He earned an undergraduate degree from Cal State San Marcos and a master's degree from Azusa Pacific University. Josh has been married to his wife, Katie, since 2010 and they have one son, Jude. Josh and Katie moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to attend The Master’s Seminary, where Josh is currently working on his M.Div.