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In the opening message of a new series on 1 John, Michael Shockley introduces us to the incredible journey of John the Apostle - from a barefoot boy splashing in the Sea of Galilee to the last living eyewitness of Jesus Christ. Through the colorful backstory of "Johannan" (John's Aramaic name), discover how a hot-tempered fisherman's son became known as the "Apostle of Love." This message establishes that our faith isn't based on hype, legend, or secondhand stories, but on the real, tangible experiences of people who lived with Jesus daily for three years. John's opening verses in his first epistle emphasize what he personally heard, saw, looked upon, and touched - making the case that the Gospel is more than hype, more than history, but the very Life of Jesus living in believers today.

Core Message: The Gospel is more than hype, more than history — it's The Life of Jesus in us.

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- Born as "Johannan" in Bethsaida, son of Zebedee and Salome

- Growing up as a fisherman with calloused hands and stormy nights

- Transformation through John the Baptist's preaching and baptism

- John the Baptist pointing to Jesus as "the Lamb of God"

- The moment John's spiritual compass found "true North"

- Jesus choosing both John and James as disciples despite their rough edges

- The nickname "Boanerges" (Sons of Thunder) for their fiery tempers

- Jesus' correction when they wanted to call down fire on Samaritans

- Being part of the inner circle with Peter and James

- Witnessing the Transfiguration and Jesus' glory shining like the sun

- Sitting beside Jesus at the Last Supper, asking bold questions

- Being the only disciple to stand at the foot of the Cross

- Receiving the personal mission to care for Mary, Jesus' mother

- John's heartbreak at Jesus' death, not understanding the promise of resurrection

- Sprinting to the empty tomb on Easter morning

- Seeing and touching the Risen Christ for forty days

- Receiving the Great Commission to spread the news worldwide

- Becoming "a man on fire for the mission" after Jesus' ascension

- Multiple arrests and beatings for preaching the Gospel

- Watching his brother James become the first apostle martyred

- All other apostles dying violent deaths for their faith

- Moving to Ephesus to father the local churches

- Writing the Gospel of John to record previously untold stories

- Surviving execution by boiling oil through divine protection

- Exile to the rocky island of Patmos for his continued witness

- Receiving and recording the visions that became the Book of Revelation

- Returning to Ephesus in frail old age but with powerful words

- Writing three epistles recognized as Holy Spirit-breathed truth

- Written by eyewitnesses and those who interviewed eyewitnesses

- Composed within decades of the actual events, not centuries later

- Authors gained no earthly advantage - only persecution and death

- Hundreds of people could have disputed fabricated details

- The ultimate test: would you die for something you knew was false?

- John's emphasis on tangible, physical experience with Jesus

- Not debating an idea but introducing a Person he knew intimately

- God becoming physical reality because humanity couldn't reach God

- The Life and Salvation of Jesus "manifested" - made real and obvious

- Jesus putting on humanity, sandals, and walking dusty roads

- To share what he literally saw and heard with his own senses

- To bring others into fellowship with Jesus and the family of believers

- To continue the declaration started by all the apostles

- To help people connect with Jesus and avoid doing life alone

- That readers' "joy may be full" - complete joy found in Jesus

- We may not have literally seen Jesus like John did

- But we can testify to His miracles and power in our lives today

- Brokenness made whole, addiction overcome, selfishness transformed

- Bitterness replaced with forgiveness, anxiety with unexplainable peace

- The biggest miracle: people coming out of darkness into Light

- Joy isn't dependent on pleasant circumstances or material possessions

- People with easier lives often complain more than those with struggles

- Family and good things bring limited joy that can be broken

- True joy cannot depend on what we have or what happens

- Fullness of joy CAN be found in fellowship with Jesus

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"The Gospel is more than hype, more than history — it's The Life of Jesus in us."

"The compass needle found true North."

"Jesus wasn't like any Rabbi Johanan had ever known."

"The Kingdom of God would be built with love, not vengeance."

"Only the one who did not run from death escaped death."

"The Son of Thunder became the Apostle of Love."

"He outran Peter to the tomb, outlived all the others, and outlasted exile to bring you this message."

"Joy cannot depend on what we have or what happens. It depends on Who Jesus Is."

"Just like a healthy plant drops seeds that are able to sprout and grow new plants, a healthy believer spreads the seed of The Good News."

"I have seen Jesus. I have heard Him. I have touched Him. And it changed me forever."

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- Primary Text: 1 John 1:1-4

- Key Theme: Eyewitness testimony to the reality of Jesus Christ

- Historical Context: John writing as the last living apostle

- Emphasis: Physical, tangible experience with Jesus ("heard," "seen," "looked upon," "handled")

- Purpose Statement: Fellowship with God and complete joy in believers

- Connection: The Word of Life manifested in human form

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- Consider the historical evidence from multiple eyewitness accounts

- Remember these weren't legends written centuries later

- The apostles gained nothing earthly and died for their testimony

- Ask yourself: would you die for something you knew was false?

- Examine the transformation in the lives of the eyewitnesses

- Understand that Christianity is relationship with a Person, not a system

- Know that Jesus became physically present because we couldn't reach God

- Remember that faith is about knowing Jesus personally, not just knowing about Him

- Allow the reality of who Jesus is to transform your daily experience

- Let His life live in you rather than trying to follow external rules

- Recognize that fellowship is a core purpose of John's message

- Church isn't just a Sunday event but a family of believers

- Connect with people who know your name and walk with you through struggles

- Don't try to do life alone - God designed us for community

- Find or create spaces where genuine spiritual fellowship can happen

- Understand that joy doesn't depend on pleasant circumstances

- Remember that even good things like family have limitations

- Don't base joy on what you have or what happens to you

- Ground your joy in who Jesus is rather than temporary things

- Seek the fullness of joy that comes through fellowship with Jesus

- Ask yourself why you don't feel a nudge to share what you've experienced

- Remember that healthy believers naturally spread the Good News

- Consider what Jesus has done in your life that others need to hear

- Be an eyewitness to His power and miracles in your own experience

- Share your story of transformation and hope with others

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Maybe you've always thought of Jesus as just a historical figure, a good teacher, or even religious hype. But John's testimony calls us to something far greater - a personal encounter with the Living Christ. The same Jesus who walked dusty roads, ate with tax collectors, calmed storms, and rose from the dead is available to you today. Not as an idea to understand, but as a Person to know. Not as history to study, but as Life to experience. The little boy who splashed in Galilee became an old man who could say, "I have seen Jesus, heard Him, touched Him, and it changed me forever." Today, Jesus offers you the same life-changing encounter. Will you let His life live in you?

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- Website: recreatechurch.org

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Have you moved beyond seeing Jesus as just a historical figure or religious concept to experiencing Him as a living Person? What testimony do you have of His work in your life that others need to hear? The Gospel is more than hype, more than history - it's the Life of Jesus available to live in you today.