Sermons from St. Andrew's ~ Mt. Pleasant

Bible Study

Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: Deuteronomy 15:7–11; I John 3:11-18

Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Tim Winkler ([email protected]).

Bible Study

Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon:

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Big Idea: Spiritual sight enables us to perceive the Father’s love, live in the hope of future transformation, and persevere in Christ’s victory over sin.

Introduction: The Importance of Seeing

• Landscape artist, Olympic skeet shooter, crime scene investigator.
• Each requires clear sight and accurate perception.
• John’s command: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us” (3:1).

1. See a Fatherly Love (3:1)

• God’s love is far greater than we imagine—deeper and wider than expected.
• Being called children of God is a gift of grace, not something we deserve or achieve.
• Through Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, God brings us into his family.
• Application: Marvel at the love that sought us, rescued us, and brought us home.

2. See a Purifying Hope (3:2–3)

• We are God’s children now, but our future transformation is still to come.
• When Christ appears, we shall be like him, seeing him as he is.
• This hope gives perseverance, strength, and purpose.
• The promise of eternal joy reshapes our present desires and purifies our lives.
• Application: The best is yet to come; don’t settle for the lesser pleasures of this world.

3. See a Decisive Victory (3:4–10)

• Genuine children of God do not make a practice of sinning.
• Christians still struggle with sin, but they confess it, repent, and keep fighting.
• A prolonged struggle does not invalidate our identity as God’s children.
• Jesus came not only to forgive sin but “to destroy the works of the devil” (3:8).
• Victory ultimately comes through Christ, not our own strength.
• Application: Keep fighting sin by fixing your eyes on Christ’s cross and empty tomb.

Discussion Questions

1. In your experience, are spiritual truths easy or hard to see? What helps your spiritual perception?

2. Do you recall an experience when you encountered God's love for you? Describe that experience. Was it surprising?

3. According to John and Paul, how does one become a child of God?

4. Describe a time in your life when hope gave you strength? In what way can Christian hope purify us?

5. Why is the victory of Christ important for a personal struggle against sin?

Questions?

Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester (

).

Bible Study

Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon:

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Big Idea: How do we discern authentic Christian faith from deception? John gives us three exhortations.

1. Don’t Be Surprised (vv. 18–19)

• We are living in the “last hour”—the climax of God’s great story in Christ.
• Spiritual conflict and false teaching are to be expected.
• The goal isn’t fascination with the Antichrist, but heightened spiritual awareness.
• Application: Wake up to the spiritual realities of the age in which we live.

2. Don’t Be Deceived (vv. 20–23, 26)

• False teaching ultimately centers on denying, distorting, or diminishing Jesus.
• Jesus is fully God and fully man; to deny the Son is to lose the Father.
• Sincerity and strong feelings are no guarantee of truth.
• Four ways we distort Jesus today:
  • Relativize him: Jesus is one way to God, but not the only way.
  • Reduce him: Embrace his socially acceptable moral teaching while ignoring his claims about himself.
  • Ignore his lordship: Claim Jesus as Savior without submitting to his teaching.
  • Separate spirituality from Christ: Seek spiritual experiences while sidelining Jesus.
• Application: Receive Jesus as the apostles proclaim him in Scripture—not a version we have fashioned for ourselves.

3. Don’t Be Discouraged (vv. 20, 24–27)

• The believers already possess the authentic apostolic gospel.
• “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you” (v. 24).
• God has given us both his Word and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
• The Spirit teaches us the truth and empowers us to live it.
• Application: Abide in the Word and the Spirit rather than chasing supposedly superior or novel spiritual knowledge.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever been confused about what to believe in your Christian walk? How did you resolve it?

2. How did the sermon explain John's point about "the last hour"? Why is it important to realize we're living in a spiritually climactic time?

3. Which of the four ways Jesus is denied, distorted, or diminished seems most prevalent to you in the wider church today?

4. Is it possible to claim that Jesus is the only way to God without being arrogant? How?

5. How can Word and Spirit together help us stay grounded in authentic Christian faith?

Questions?

Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester (

).

Bible Study

Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: 1

Sermon Notes

• The flesh that hungers for all it senses
• The eyes that hunger for all they see
• The preening arrogance of glorious living

Sermon Questions

1. Whose "glory story" are you living in? How do our personal fantasy stories—where we make ourselves the invincible hero—get punctured by life's turbulence, and how can we move away from our false selves to abide in God's love?

2. The sermon contrasts performance-based, "clipboard-carrying" religion ("if I obey, then God loves me") with transformational faith ("because God loves me, therefore I obey"). How does viewing obedience as "tuning an instrument" for virtue change your approach to Christian growth?

3. St. John highlights three specific disordered desires: "flesh hungry for all it senses," "eyes hungry for all they see," and the "preening arrogance" of pride. Which of these three feels most subtle or tempting in your daily routine?

4. To counter these three desires, the sermon points to three targeted disciplines: fasting (for the flesh), generosity (for the eyes), and silence (for preening arrogance). Which of these disciplines would be most helpful for tuning your heart to Christ right now?

Resources Consulted

• Augustine, Homilies on First John (Homily 2)
• Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Gospel of John (Lecture 3)
• Raymond Brown, The Epistles of John (Anchor Bible Commentary)
• Maximus the Confessor, The Four Centuries on Charity (2.53 and following)
• St Seraphim of Sarov, On the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit
• F.P. Harton, The Elements of the Spiritual Life, Ch. 8, “The Enemies of the Soul” (pp. 98–120)
• Theos Think Tank Report, A Theology of Investment (see especially the case studies of "common good investment")
• Rebecca Kondyck DeYoung, “Vainglory: How to Share Your Virtue without Showing Off” (also, her Vainglory: The Forgotten Vice)

Bible Study

Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: 1 John 2:7-14; John 13:34-35;  Other scriptures referenced: John 14:26; Matthew 11:28-30, 7:13-14, 7:8, 19:26; Luke 9:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:17; Galatians 6:7; Colossians 2:14

1. The New Commandment and the Old Commandment
2. The Test of the New Commandment
3. The Encouragement to the Church Family

• Where are the tensions in your life where you are searching for balance? in relationships? in habits? in disciplines? in your spiritual life?
• What is the commandment referred to in both 1 John 2:7 and 8?
• In what sense is the commandment old?
• In what sense is the commandment new?
• Why does John stress the oldness and the newness of the love commandment?
• What are the ways you are seeking to fulfill the love commandment in your relationships/
• Do you consider yourself one of the little children, one of the fathers, or one of the young men in 1 John 2:12-14?
• What are the strengths, encouragements, and promises being communicated to each of these groups and how are they lived out in your life?

Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email John Burley ([email protected])

Bible Study

Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: 1 John 2:1-6; Hebrews 10:19–23

Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Tim Winkler ([email protected])

Bible Study

Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon:

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I. God's Character: God Is Light (1:5)

A. Sin is understood in light of who God is

• "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
• God's moral perfection: Truth, Goodness, Purity, Justice, No hidden darkness

B. Sin distorts our purpose

• We were created to reflect God's glory.
• Illustration: a mirror reflecting light.
  • Tarnished mirror = sin corrupting God's image.
  • Turned mirror = idolatry and self-centeredness.
• Sin is anything that distorts or redirects God's light shining in and through us.

C. Sin remains a reality for believers

• Christians have a new identity.
• Yet the possibility of sin remains.
• "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves." (v. 8)

II. God's Provision: Jesus Cleanses Sin (1:7; 1:9; 2:1–2)

A. The gospel's repeated refrain

• Sin is real...
• But God has provided a Savior.

B. Jesus does what we cannot do

• "The blood of Jesus... cleanses us from all sin."
• We cannot cleanse ourselves.
• Christ's cross is God's answer to sin.

C. The tragedy of denying sin

• It separates us from reality.
• It also keeps us from experiencing forgiveness.
• The joy of being fully known and fully loved is found only through Christ.

III. Our Response: Walk in the Light Through Confession (1:9)

A. What confession is not

• Not the basis of forgiveness.
• Not obsessive self-analysis.
• We confess from acceptance, not for acceptance.

B. Practice confession corporately

• General confession in worship.
• Cultivates humility and dependence on God.

C. Practice confession privately

• Invite the Spirit's examination.
• Psalm 139:23–24.
• Not self-condemnation, but repentance and renewal.

D. Practice confession relationally

• "Fellowship with one another" (v. 7).
• "Confess your sins to one another" (James 5:16).
• Need a few trusted believers for Honesty, Accountability, Encouragement, and Gospel reassurance

E. The atmosphere of confession is grace

• The goal is not shame.
• The goal is walking in the light together.
• "The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin."

Discussion Questions

1. Do you agree that there is a tendency in our culture to diminish or deny the reality of sin? If you agree, what are some examples that you have noticed?
2. Why is understanding God's character important for a right understanding of sin? Also, how does the call to reflect God's image also help us understand sin?
3. If I am a Christian, should I still call myself a sinner?
4. What role does confession play in your life currently?
5. Is it possible for a Christian to totally conquer sin in this life?

Questions?

Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester (

).

Bible Study

Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon:

.

1 John 1:1--4 -- Jesus, Our Fixed Point of Reference

1. We are often spiritually disoriented

• Ancient sailors relied on the stars to navigate.
• Without visible stars, they could lose their bearings—and even their lives.
• Likewise, modern people can be technologically connected yet spiritually adrift.
• We need fixed points of reference for life’s ultimate questions.

2. 1 John gives us courageous clarity

• John speaks with courageous clarity about God, morality, love, sin, and Christian life.
• His words both challenge and comfort, helping us reorient our lives.

3. The fixed point is not merely a truth—it is a person

• 1 John 1:1–4 points us to Jesus Christ.
• Jesus is:
  • From the beginning.
  • The Word of Life and Eternal Life.
  • With the Father.
  • The source of all life.
• Jesus reveals who God is and what life is about.

4. The eternal Son became flesh

• Jesus did not remain distant or abstract—he was made manifest.
• John emphasizes his eyewitness experience: heard, seen, looked upon, touched.
• The reality of Jesus' life in the flesh is foundational to Christianity.
• Jesus is fully God and fully human.

5. Jesus brings us into fellowship

• John proclaims what he experienced so that others might share in it.
• The goal is koinonia—fellowship:
  • With the Father and the Son.
  • With other believers.
• Christianity is not merely an individual transaction with God.
• Fellowship with God and love for fellow believers are inseparable.

6. Fellowship around Jesus produces joy

• John writes so that “our joy” / “your joy” may be complete.
• Joy comes through sharing Christ and forming community around him.

Discussion Questions

1. Randy talked about how 1 John "rescues us from a foggy spirituality of mishmashed feelings, therapeutic platitudes, and cultural compromises." Can you think of any such examples of a "foggy spirituality"? How do they compare with the courageous clarity and conviction of 1 John?
2. Read the Gospel of John 1:1-5. What are some connection points to 1 John 1:1-4? Why does John start both his Gospel and his letter in this way?
3. John is an old man when he writes this letter. Do you think perspective would have been different if he had written it earlier in his life? In what ways has your perspective of Jesus changed over the years?
4. John establishes a connection between fellowship (koinonia) and joy. What is the basis of Christian fellowship? How does it complete joy?

1 John -- Study Resources:

Introductory

• BibleProjectGuide--1, 2, 3 John
• Ian Paul, "What do the letters of John teach us about faith, hope and love?"

Commentaries

• John R. W. Stott, The Epistles of John (TNTC)
• Colin G. Kruse, The Epistles of John (PNTC)

Notes for Small Group Leaders

• N.T. Wright, The Letters of John
• Michael LeFebvre, Knowing the Bible: 1--3 John

Watch The First Hymn Documentary 

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Questions?Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester (

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• To seek peace when peace seems beyond reach, we need
  • A humble spirit
  • A tender heart
  • A heavenly hope

• In the story of Franz Jägerstätter, he stood resolved in his allegiance to Jesus despite compelling arguments from the state, the church, and even his family to simply “obey". How do we handle situations where the "wise" arguments of the world—or even fellow believers—counsel us away from pursuing Jesus’s path of peace?

• The sermon links the humility of a little child to the work of peacemaking, describing a humble spirit as having "no face to save, no dignity to defend, no justice to mete out". Which of these three areas—saving face, defending your dignity, or wanting to hand out justice—is the hardest for you to lay down when a relationship is strained?

• We are reminded that "a hard heart wants payback," but "a tender heart wants its brother back". If you are currently experiencing an "impaired" or "broken" relationship with a fellow believer, what is one practical way you can keep your heart tender toward them rather than letting it harden?

• Jesus promises to be uniquely present—"in the midst of them"—when we put on a humble spirit and a tender heart to seek reconciliation. How does the "heavenly hope" of Jesus’s direct, irresistible presence change how you view the high personal cost of pursuing peace?

• Daniel Hallock, “Franz Jägerstätter, a Quiet Martyr,” The Plough (May 28, 2019)
• Gordon C. Zahn, In Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz Jägerstätter (Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, 1965)
• Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word: Volume II, Meditations on the Gospel according to St. Matthew
• W.D. Davies and D.C. Allison, Matthew 8–18, ICC (T&T Clark, 1991)
• Stanley Hauerwas, Matthew, BTC (Brazos, 2007)
• John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 4.12.5
• Michael Kee, “Why Just War Theory Isn’t Enough” (Notre Dame’s Church Life Journal)
• L. Gregory Jones, “The Craft of Forgiveness,” in Embodying Forgiveness: A Theological Analysis (Eerdman’s, 1995)

Bible Study

Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: Luke 10:1-12

Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester ([email protected]).