first john

‘getting into your Bible more’, ‘eating your Bible’, ‘diving into your Bible’, these are all phrases surrounding the Connecting Groups mission for this year. What could be more important than learning about the heights and depths of God’s love for us in the only book he sent to us, written by Him!!

It is so great t just open His word and dive in, choc full of meaning and messages. Speaking of His book, and His love I just happened to have the book of 1 John ‘pop-up’ in my weekly readings, daily devotionals, etc. And what an amazing little book that is. Only 5 chapters, but it is a power house of verses that have timeless meaning and wise instruction beyond our knowledge.

Chapter 1 has a familiar refrain (for us Lutherans) v. 8-10:

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

A familiar confession, that makes us look at ourselves and humbles ourselves before the Creator of the Universe. Chapter one also confers or confirms that Jesus IS the Word made flesh and that God IS light. Classic images of the Son and Father, but important and fundamental in understanding the fullness of scripture.

Chapter 2 continues on about Jesus’ Righteousness, and a reminder of one of the two great commandments the Jesus gave us ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ in v.10-11:

10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Chapter 2 continues with warnings not to love the world, and beware of ‘anti-Christ’-types. I have recently heard that ‘anti’ can mean ‘against’, as we usually know, but it can also mean ‘in place of’, which expands our scope of people that ‘supplant’ Christ in their seeming importance.

Chapter 3 talks about the Father’s love for us, and how he lavishes it on His children (v.1). And verse 10 gives us instruction to know who is a ‘child of God’ or a ‘child of the devil’. Another 3:16 (1 John 3:16) has an amazing parallel with John 3:16, summarizing the Gospel, that Jesus laid his life down for us. And what a gem v. 17-18 is:

17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Verses 20 and 22 go on to encourage us that God ‘is greater’ than our hearts and to ask for anything in His will and we can be confident to receive it.

Chapter 4 continues the theme of testing spirits and how to tell fakes and impostors from the real deal. Twice in chapter four we are told ‘God is love’ (v. 8 and 16), and might be one of the best depictions of what love is.

Finally Chapter 5 expounds on faith. I love verses 3 and 4:

‘And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world.’

That, subsequently this is what hope is…overcoming the world via God through Jesus…so here in this chapter we have ‘faith, hope and love’ being mentioned, shades of 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter).

And what a way to conclude this chapter with verses 14 and 15:

14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

If you want to read more amazing things about the book of 1 John please check out this web page:

http://biblewheel.com/Wheel/Spokes/Tzaddi_Comma_Johanneum.asp

Oh, what treasure and depths you reveal to us in your word, God our Father in heaven!! You are the Alpha and the Omega, and we praise you for your love story you have sent us, the Living Bible!

Cultivating Spirit Filled Friendships

Since it’s inception we have been talking about the importance of inviting people to Connecting Groups as a way to help build the ministry and help deepen people’s walk with Christ.  Telling people about CG’s or asking people to join you is an awesome way to invite.  It’s quick, it’s convenient.  But does this method work for everyone?  Does everyone you ask respond with an eager yes?  Of course there are some who will agree to check out a group after the first invite.  But for most it takes a bit more work than that.  It’s easy to tell yourself, “I asked, I tried, my work is done here.”  We are called to do more than that.  We are called to be fishers of men. 

Do fishermen catch a fish on their first try?  Not usually.  They need to study the lake for the best fishing holes, try different bait and lures, understand the weather to know the best conditions in which to fish.  Most importantly they spend time with the sport and that time requires patience.  They intimately learn the techniques to be successful at getting a catch. 

What then is our bait for catching fish for building God’s Kingdom and Connecting Groups?  Spirit filled friendships. A spirit filled friendship is a relationship that is built around being a Christ-like friend to someone.  The other person may not know that it’s a Christ-centered friendship. Spirit filled friendships are about conversation and relationships. It’s about influence, and companionship.  Brian McLaren, author of More Ready Than You Realize says, “In order to be someone’s spiritual friend you need to like, approach and serve them.” 

Building this type of relationship as a method to invitation works because for many reasons.  Perhaps, if we ask them to come check out a group they will more likely say yes because they trust our invitations and intentions.  Maybe our friend has gotten to know us, sees we have this light about us, and wants to learn more about our faith.  Or maybe this new friend may want to know where they can learn about God in a close knit setting.  All in all though when we ask a friend to try out a Connecting Group, s/he has greater investment in us and are more willing to say yes than a stranger would.  One thing to note however, unlike a fisherman who lures a fish out of water, we should not become a spirited friend with someone to lure them to Connecting Group.  We should form spirit filled friendships as a way to build God’s kingdom first and if our friend joins our group, count that as an extra blessing.  If our friend turns us down, still be friends with this person and let God do His work. 

Who then should we seek for spirit filled friends?  Take a look around you!  Your neighbors, co-workers, an in-law, your child’s friend’s parent.  It should be someone you see on a regular basis.  If no one comes to mind pray about it and ask God to place a person in your life.  When you think of a person assess the relationship you currently have with them.  Ask yourself:

• Do I know this person?
• Do I pray for them?
• Do I engage in activities with them?
• Do I have heartfelt discussions with them?
• Do I care and serve them?
• Do I share the Good News of Christ with them?
• Do I encourage them on their walk of faith?

 

If you find gaps to your answers to these questions, use this as your starting point for building a relationship.  For example if you know the person but don’t engage in activities with them, start with inviting them over to dinner, a walk, or coffee.  If you do things with the person but don’t serve them, start with finding opportunities to serve.  Work on one thing at a time but through it all pray for this person.

Like a fisherman works hard to catch fish and build up the food supply we are called to work hard and build relationships to build up the Kingdom of God.  We plant the bait, but remember God will work His will for our friends.  Spirit-filled friendships and Connecting Groups may just be the tool God uses to bring a rejuvenated faith or a brand new faith to someone.  Cultivating spiritual friendships is our challenge, our opportunity; it is something we are called to do.