Clinton Methodist Church

July 5, 2025 –Faith Conquers the World  – 1 John 5

1 John 5 emphasizes that true belief in Jesus as the Christ results in being born of God, leading to love for God and His children. This love is demonstrated through obedience to God’s commands, which are not burdensome. The chapter also highlights the victory over the world through faith in Jesus, the Son of God, and the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood. Furthermore, it discusses the “sin that leads to death” and the importance of prayer for believers.  

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Faith and New Birth:
1 John 5:1 states that everyone who believes Jesus is the Christ is born of God, signifying a spiritual transformation and entrance into God’s family.  

Love and Obedience:
This new birth is accompanied by love for God and His children, demonstrated through obedience to His commandments. John emphasizes that these commands are not a heavy burden.  

Overcoming the World:
The chapter explains that true believers, those born of God, have the power to overcome the world, and this victory is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ.  

The Testimony:
1 John 5:6-8 discusses the testimony of the Spirit, the water, and the blood, which points to Jesus’s divine nature and work.  

Sin and Prayer:
The chapter also touches upon the concept of “sin that leads to death” and the importance of praying for fellow believers who are struggling with sin.  

Confidence in God:
1 John 5:13 states that believers can have confidence that God hears and answers their prayers when they ask according to His will.   

Faith Conquers the World
5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ[a] has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5 Who is it who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Testimony concerning the Son of God
6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.7 There are three that testify:[b] 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. 9 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 10 Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God[c] have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Epilogue
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.[d]

14 And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. 16 If you see your brother or sister committing what is not a deadly sin, you will ask, and God[e] will give life to such a one—to those whose sin is not deadly. There is sin that is deadly; I do not say that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

18 We know that those who are born of God do not sin, but the one who was born of God protects them, and the evil one does not touch them.[f] 19 We know that we are God’s children and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one.20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true;[g] and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.[h]

June 29, 2025 – Love Without Borders – 1 John 4:4-9; 20-21

1 John 4:4-9 and 20-21, in the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), emphasize that God is love and that true love is demonstrated by loving others, especially fellow believers. Those who claim to love God but hate others are liars, and love is perfected in believers as they reflect Jesus’s love in this world.

1 John 4:4-9 (NRSV):
Verse 4:
It highlights the power of God within believers, stating that the one who is in them is greater than the one who is in the world.

Verse 7:
It calls for love among believers, emphasizing that love comes from God, and those who love are born of God and know God.

Verse 8:
It states that whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Verse 9:
It describes how God’s love was revealed by sending his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.

1 John 4:20-21 (NRSV):
Verse 20:
It presents a strong statement: those who claim to love God but hate their brothers or sisters are liars. The logic is that if one cannot love those they see, how can they love God whom they have not seen.

Verse 21:
It reiterates the commandment from God that those who love God must also love their brothers and sisters.

1 John 4:4-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 Little children, you are from God and have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

God Is Love

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.

1 John 4:20-21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

June 22, 2025 – This Is How We Know – 1 John 3:11-24

1 John 3:11-24 emphasizes the importance of loving one another as a defining characteristic of being a child of God. It contrasts loving actions with hatred, highlighting that true love is not just words but also deeds, mirroring the sacrificial love of Jesus. This love is a demonstration of having eternal life and abiding in God, while hatred is associated with the spirit of murder and the “evil one”.

Here’s a breakdown of the key themes:

Command to Love:
John states that believers are commanded to love one another, a message that has been present since the beginning of the Christian faith.

Love as Evidence of New Life:
Loving one another is not just an option but a sign that one has been transferred from death to life, from being a child of the devil to a child of God.

Contrast with Cain:
John uses the example of Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother, to illustrate what love is not.

Love in Action:
True love isn’t just a feeling or expression, but involves actively laying down one’s life for others, similar to how Christ laid down his life for believers.

Confidence Before God:
Obeying God’s command to love, alongside believing in Jesus, brings confidence before God.

Abiding in God:
Those who obey God’s commands, including loving one another, abide in Him and experience His presence.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Love One Another

11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brothers and sisters. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. 16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

18 Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

June 15, 2025 – Wake Up to the Father’s Love – 1 John 3:1-10

John 3:1-10 (NRSV) emphasizes the love of the Father, God’s children, and the contrast between those who are born of God and those who are not. It highlights the importance of righteousness and love as characteristics of God’s children. The passage states that the world does not know God’s children because it didn’t know God, and that we are God’s children now, with our future state not yet revealed. It also contrasts the nature of sin with that of righteousness, emphasizing that those who practice sin are of the devil, while those who practice righteousness are of God.
1 John 3:1 – NRS – See what love the Father has given us …

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
1 John 3:1-3: Emphasizes the love of God and how believers are now His children. The passage also hints at the future glory that believers will experience when Christ appears.

1 John 3:4-6: Contrasts sin and lawlessness, stating that sin is lawlessness and that anyone who abides in Christ does not sin continually.

1 John 3:7-8: Highlights the importance of righteousness as a mark of God’s children, contrasting it with the sinfulness of the devil.

1 John 3:9-10: Reinforces that those born of God do not practice sin and that righteousness and love are signs of being God’s children.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he[a] is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

4 Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children,[b] let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 Everyone who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born of God do not sin because God’s seed abides in them;[c] they cannot sin because they have been born of God. 10 The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love a brother or sister.

June 8, 2025 – The Jesus Way – 1 John 2:3-11

1 John 2:3-11 emphasizes the importance of love and obedience as indicators of a genuine faith in Christ. It highlights that those who claim to know God but don’t obey His commandments are in darkness and deception. Conversely, those who love their fellow believers and live in obedience to God’s word are in the light and have their love for God made complete.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Verses 3-6:
These verses establish that true knowledge of God is demonstrated through obedience to His commands. Someone who claims to know God but doesn’t obey is lying and not in the truth. Living as Jesus did is a further mark of being “in him”.

Verses 7-8:
John introduces both an old and new commandment, emphasizing the enduring importance of loving one’s neighbor. The new commandment is the love seen in Christ and in believers, reflecting the passing of darkness and the arrival of true light.

Verses 9-11:
These verses address the implications of love and hatred for fellow believers. Those who hate their brothers and sisters are in darkness and cannot see their way. Conversely, those who love their brothers and sisters live in the light and have nothing in them to cause them to stumble. Hatred is a clear sign of spiritual darkness, and love is a mark of belonging to the light.

1 John Series – Week 2: “The Jesus Way” – Text: 1 John 2:3-11

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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 Now by this we know that we have come to know him, if we obey his commandments. 4 Whoever says, “I have come to know him,” but does not obey his commandments is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; 5 but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we know that we are in him: 6 whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk in the same way as he walked.

A New Commandment

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because[a] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister abides in the light, and in such a person[b] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates a brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.

June 1, 2025 – The Lie We Tell Ourselves – 1 John 1:1-10

1 John 1:1-10 emphasizes the importance of walking in the light and confessing our sins to maintain fellowship with God.It highlights that God is light, and if we deny our sin or claim to be sinless, we are lying and deceiving ourselves. The key message is to recognize our sinfulness, confess it to God, and trust in Jesus’ blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

Elaboration:
1 John 1:1-4:
The apostles declare what they have seen, heard, and touched regarding the Word of life, Jesus Christ, and they share this good news with others to unite them in fellowship with the Father and Son.  

1 John 1:5:
God is light, and if we claim to have fellowship with him while walking in darkness (denying our sin), we lie and do not practice the truth.  

1 John 1:6-7:
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This confession leads to a restored fellowship with God and with other believers.  

1 John 1:8-9:
John further emphasizes that if we claim to be sinless, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Confessing our sins brings God’s forgiveness and cleansing.  

1 John 1:10:
If we deny our sin and claim to be without sin, we make God a liar, and his word is not in us. This highlights the importance of acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking forgiveness through Christ. 

New Living Translation

1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning,[a] whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.[b]
Living in the Light

5 This is the message we heard from Jesus[c] and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

May 25, 2024 – Love Your Body – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 explains that believers’ bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and they were purchased at a high price through Christ’s sacrifice. Therefore, believers should glorify God with their bodies by avoiding sexual immorality and other actions that would dishonor Him.

The sermon explores the concept of identity, specifically gender, from both secular and Christian perspectives. The secular view, influenced by a two-story worldview, posits that individuals determine their own identity, separating the body (lower story) from the inner self (upper story). This dualistic approach devalues the body and elevates personal feelings and desires, impacting how gender identity is understood.

The postmodern worldview, particularly among Gen Z, rejects the binary nature of gender based on biology, asserting that gender is fluid and self-determined. This shift has led to a culture of anxiety and a push for medical transitions, which studies show have no mental health benefits. The Christian perspective, however, emphasizes the importance of biology in defining identity, drawing from biblical teachings and the belief in God’s design for human sexuality and gender.

The Christian worldview emphasizes the body’s value as part of God’s intelligent design, rejecting the separation of biology and identity. Christians should offer a compassionate response to those struggling with gender dysphoria and same-sex attraction, affirming the body’s value and unity with the soul. This response involves presenting a positive biblical worldview, celebrating diversity, and providing a place of healing and grace within the church.

A benediction from Ephesians chapter 3 is shared, emphasizing God’s power and glory.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple[a] of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

May 25, 2024 – Love Your Body – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 explains that believers’ bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and they were purchased at a high price through Christ’s sacrifice. Therefore, believers should glorify God with their bodies by avoiding sexual immorality and other actions that would dishonor Him.

Elaboration:

Body as a Temple:
The passage emphasizes that a believer’s body is not their own, but rather a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. It’s a sacred space where God resides.

Bought at a Price:
The “high price” refers to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, which redeemed believers from sin and slavery. This purchase establishes a relationship of ownership where believers now belong to God.

Glorifying God in the Body:
Because believers are purchased and dwell in God’s presence, they are called to use their bodies to honor Him. This means abstaining from sexual immorality and other actions that would be disrespectful or harmful to their bodies and to God’s presence within them.

Avoiding Sexual Immorality:
The passage specifically addresses the issue of sexual immorality, which the Corinthians were struggling with. Paul warns that sexual sin is against the body, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Living with a Renewed Perspective:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 encourages believers to view their bodies with a new appreciation, understanding that they are not merely physical vessels but also a part of a sacred relationship with God.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple[a] of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

May 18, 2025 – 9 to 5 – Genesis 2:5-8, 15-25

Genesis 2:5-8 describes God’s creation of the earth and man. Before rain, the earth was watered by mist, and no plants or shrubs had appeared. Then, God formed man from the dust of the ground, breathed life into him, and planted him in the garden of Eden, according to the Bible Gateway. 

Elaboration:
Genesis 2:5-6: The passage highlights that before the world was “ready” for man, there was no rain, and the land was watered by mist. Also, no shrubs or plants had yet appeared, says the Bible Gateway. 

Genesis 2:7: God then formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life, making him a living soul. 

Genesis 2:8: God planted a garden in Eden and placed the man there. 

Genesis 2:15-25 describes God placing Adam in the Garden of Eden, giving him responsibility to care for it, and forbidding him to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God recognizes that it’s not good for Adam to be alone and creates Eve from Adam’s rib, making her a suitable helper and companion. The passage concludes with the two remaining naked and unashamed, showcasing their intimate and vulnerable bond before sin enters the world. 

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Adam’s Role: 
God places Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it, giving him dominion over creation. Adam is also given the responsibility of naming all the animals. 

 The Prohibition:
God commands Adam not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, stating that eating from it will result in death. 

Creating Eve:
God recognizes that Adam needs a helper suitable for him. He creates Eve from Adam’s rib, making her his companion and wife. 

Naming the Animals:
God brings all the wild animals and birds to Adam to see what he would name them, and whatever name Adam gave them, that was their name. 

Union and Nakedness:
The passage emphasizes the close bond between Adam and Eve, stating that they become “one flesh” and are naked yet unashamed. 

Marriage Pattern:
Genesis 2:24 highlights the significance of marriage, emphasizing that a man leaves his parents and joins his wife, becoming “one flesh”. 

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Genesis 2:5-8

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

5 when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no vegetation of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground, 6 but a stream would rise from the earth and water the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground[a] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:15-25

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” 19 So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle and to the birds of the air and to every animal of the field, but for the man[a] there was not found a helper as his partner. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones

    and flesh of my flesh;

this one shall be called Woman,

    for out of Man this one was taken.”

24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

May 11, 2025 – Crowned with Glory – Genesis 1:26-28

Genesis 1:26-28 outlines God’s creation of humanity. God declares, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness,” and grants them dominion over the earth and its creatures. He then creates humanity in his own image, both male and female, blesses them, and instructs them to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it.

Here’s a breakdown:
Genesis 1:26:

Genesis 1:27:

Genesis 1:28:

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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
26 Then God said, “Let us make humans[a] in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth[b] and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

27 So God created humans[c] in his image,
in the image of God he created them;[d]
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”