Don Carson teaches on 1 John 2:28–3:24, which centers on Christlike love, obedience, and transformation. Carson reflects on the depth of God's love and the joy of being called a child of God, arguing we must imitate Christ as we live out this new identity. Carson teaches on the nature of sin, the significance of personal holiness, and the hope of Christ's return, urging Christians to purify themselves as Christ is pure.

Don Carson teaches on the importance of obedience to God and his Word as a true demonstration of knowing him, as emphasized in 1 John 2:3–27. Central to the Christian life is having and displaying a genuine love for others, which Carson highlights as a key indicator of living in the light of Christ. He contrasts those who merely talk about faith with those who act on it and discusses the dangers of worldliness versus godliness.

Carson also explores the cultural differences in expressing faith through his observations of diverse groups at Cambridge. He addresses the concept of antichrists and the end times in 1 John 2, urging believers to persevere in their faith and remember their hope in Christ.

In this lecture on 1 John, Don Carson calls Christians to maintain gospel centrality, cautioning against an excessive focus on peripheral issues. He explores the details of John's letter, emphasizing our need for salvation through Christ, walking in the light of his righteousness, and demonstrating genuine love for others as evidence of true faith. Carson also teaches on confession, repentance, and how we’re forgiven and reconciled to God through Christ's sacrifice.

Don Carson teaches on James 1:12–25, reminding believers to persevere amid suffering and temptation, looking to God's promises, goodness, and sovereignty to anchor them. Though trials can become temptations to sin, God doesn't tempt his people; he tests them to strengthen their faith and obedience. Carson highlights the importance of abiding in God's Word for spiritual growth and freedom, and he encourages Christians to count trials as joy because they lead to deeper spiritual maturity and faith in Christ.

Focusing on God's providence in our suffering, Don Carson explains that suffering can be divine discipline but is not always directly related to personal sin, as shown in John 9:1–7 and 1 Corinthians 11:29. God's strength is perfected in human weakness, illustrated by Paul's experience with the thorn in his flesh. Carson delves into the theological concepts of propitiation and expiation, explaining how Christ's sacrifice on the cross embodies God's justice and love, ultimately calling Christians to take up their crosses and follow him, even in the face of suffering and persecution.

Don Carson reflects on Job's righteousness and the mystery of suffering, encouraging his audience to trust in God's sovereignty and justice in the face of trials. He discusses Job's initial silent suffering, his eventual repentance, and the theological debates surrounding God's goodness amid suffering. Carson concludes by highlighting the biblical tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility and how God purposes suffering for our good and his glory.

Don Carson outlines six theological pillars for a biblical understanding of suffering.

Looking into the philosophical problem of suffering, he references David Hume's skepticism about God's goodness in light of pervasive hardship, and he challenges his audience to consider how to reconcile the existence of a loving, omnipotent God with the reality of suffering.

A faith that remains steadfast despite life's trials requires a deep trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, which can sustain believers through the deepest valleys of suffering.