The Stream at Riverside

Nate gives the children's sermon on 1 John 2:18-27.

Sermon Discussion Questions 1. John lists three things in 2:15-17 that constitute "the world" (desires of flesh, desires of eyes and pride of life). How are you currently wrestling with these tendencies of the sinful flesh? 

2. The Riverside elders are calling the church to a fast during Lent (see link). How do you feel about this? How is God calling you to "put off the flesh" and "put on Christ?" How can we help each other practically do that? See Colossians 3:1-17 as a helpful launching point for this concept. 

3. Part of the world system includes the Satan, "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31), which the modern church does not teach much about. How has that impacted your view of sin, your flesh and the world? What lies and half-truths has he tempted you to believe about yourself and God? (Help others consider truth from the Word to combat these lies and half-truths). 

4. Loving the world is bad investment strategy, because it is passing away. Loving God is worth it because he will fulfill his promise to bring his kingdom in full (Rev. 21). What lesser kingdoms are you tempted to put your hope in? How does the hope of Jesus' kingdom (Rev. 21) help you endure today? 

Stacy gives the children's sermon on 1 John 2:15-17.

Sermon Discussion Questions 

1) To love one another as we ought is to love one another with our our all (“we ought to lay down our lives for one another,” 3:16). Where do you find yourself “holding back,” in self-protection or self-preservation in ways that are ultimately unloving? What are you afraid you will lose? 

2) How can we discern the difference between a Christ-like love that gives our whole selves up to God for the flourishing of one another, and a disordered love that sacrifices ourselves to one another, and is finally idolatrous or man-fearing? 

3) We often feel we cannot love as we ought, for lack of love in ourselves. How does 1 John 2:8 give the lie to this fear as those united to Christ by faith?

Stacy gives the children's sermon on 1 John 2:7-14.

Sermon Discussion Questions 

1) John, time and again, assures us that it is possible to truly know that we know God, and also gives key indicators that we can test ourselves and others by (1 John 3: 3-5). In the midst of so much misinformation and confusion about what is actually true (regarding current events), and about who is actually “on the Lord’s side”, how does this truth reassure you? 

2) Can you think of a time in your life (past or present) where you’ve been the one referred to in 1 John 2:4, the one who “talked the talk”, but didn’t “walk the walk”? - If in the past, how did God convict you and lead you to repentance? - If you feel convicted presently about this, feel free to confess and share with your small group family. 

3) John states in 1 John 2:6 that “Whoever says He abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.” In a manner of speaking, John is really saying that it’s not possible to walk like Jesus unless you walk with Him. In what ways can we encourage each other to walk more closely with Jesus?

Nate gives the children's sermon on 1 John 2:3-6.

Sermon Questions 

1) John summarizes the message he received from Jesus simply as: "God is light, in whom is no darkness at all” (1:5). What darkness do you sometimes fear might linger in God? Be honest. 

2) What does it mean that Christ is our propitiation (2:2)? How is God thereby both “faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1:9)? Why is this so important for us to understand if we are to walk in the confidence of being forgiven? 

3) John writes that “if we confess our sins,” then "we have fellowship with one another,” and so are cleansed from all our sin and unrighteousness (1:9, 7). How do we become a safe place to confess our sins together - to God and to one another (James 5:16)? That is, how do we cultivate true fellowship in the light together?

Alex gives the children's sermon on 1 John 1:5-2:2.

Sermon Discussion Questions 1) Read and discuss the following quote from J.I. Packer: "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord. The world today is full of sufferers from the wasting disease which Albert Camus focused as Absurdism (‘life is a bad joke’), and from the complaint which we may call Marie Antoinette’s fever, since she found the phrase that describes it (‘nothing tastes’). These disorders blight the whole of life: everything becomes at once a problem and a bore, because nothing seems worthwhile. But absurdist tapeworms and Antoinette’s fever are ills from which, in the nature of the case, Christians are immune, except for occasional spells of derangement when the power of temptation presses their mind out of shape-and these, by God’s mercy, do not last.” 

2) How can we know that we know God - that is, we not only know about Him, truthfully, but personally - and so have eternal life? (See also 1John 5:13; John 17:3). 

3) John writes to believers (in Asia Minor?) “concerning the word of life,” (v.1) not only so that they might have fellowship with them and, even more amazingly, the Trinity (v.3), but also so that “our joy might be complete,” (v.4). Why does including/affirming these believers’ into fellowship with God and the apostles bring joy to John? How have you experienced this joy?