Series: 1 John: That You May Know

Preacher: Pastor Brad Hillman

Summary

What does it truly mean that "God is love"? Pastor Brad explains that this isn't just an attribute God has, but His very character. Using 1 John 4, he contrasts the world's definition of love with the biblical truth: God's love is self-giving, ultimately displayed by sending Jesus Christ. This message challenges the idea that we've done anything to deserve or earn God's love. Instead, we find our ultimate confidence in Christ alone, and our active love for others becomes the tangible evidence that we truly love God.

Key Points

• God is love; it's His very character.
• God ultimately displays His love in and through Jesus Christ.
• We've done nothing to deserve God's love.
• We find our ultimate confidence in Christ.
• Loving others is the tangible evidence of our love for God.

Reflect & Discuss

1. How has culture influenced your understanding of love? How does 1 John 4 challenge or correct that view?
2. The pastor warns against trying to "earn God's love." In what subtle ways might you be trying to prove you deserve His love through your actions rather than resting in Christ?
3. How does actively loving others give you confidence in your relationship with God? What is one practical way you can show this love this week?

Main Passage 1 John 4:7−21

Supporting Passages

• Acts 4:12
• John 14:6,15
• 1 Peter 1:14−16
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1−8
• Philippians 2:14−15
• John 6:44
• Romans 5:6−10

Preacher: Pastor Brad Hillman

Summary

We are all on a mission, but is it our own or God's? This message contrasts the world's temporary, circumstantial peace with the perfect, eternal peace found only through Jesus Christ. Once we have this peace, we are called to our ultimate mission: to proclaim the gospel to a lost and dying world. Discover how to prioritize, prepare for, pray for, and push through for this mission in the everyday places God has sovereignly placed you.

Key Points

• Everyone is on a Mission: The sermon begins by establishing that every human being lives for a mission of some kind. The crucial question is not if we are on a mission, but what mission we are on—our own, or God's.
• The Christian Mission is to Proclaim the Gospel: For believers, the mission given by God is to proclaim the gospel—the good news that peace with God is possible—to a lost and dying world.
• Peace with God is the Prerequisite for the Mission: Before one can effectively be on mission for God, they must first have personal peace with God. This true, eternal peace is only attainable through repenting of sin and placing faith in Jesus Christ, not through the temporary and circumstantial "peace" the world offers (e.g., financial security, safety measures).
• We Are Sent as Jesus Was Sent: Using John 20:21 as a key text ("As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you"), the sermon explains that our mission is an extension of Christ's mission, which was to seek and save the lost.
• We Must Intentionally Live Out the Mission: The sermon provides four practical ways for believers to engage in God's mission in their daily lives:
  • Prioritize the mission by leveraging the specific times, places, and relationships God has given us (our jobs, homes, hobbies, communities) as opportunities for the gospel.
  • Prepare for the mission by deeply understanding the gospel ourselves and by equipping those under our care (especially our families) to live on mission.
  • Pray for the mission, asking the Holy Spirit for guidance and asking God the Father to do what only He can do: save people.
  • Push Through the inevitable difficulties and persecution that come with living a godly life, finding strength in the hope we have in the living God.

Reflect & Discuss

1. Do you have true, lasting peace with God through Jesus, or are you seeking peace in temporary, worldly things?
2. What worldly missions (e.g., career, social media status, gaming) might be distracting you from God's mission?
3. How can you intentionally use the places God has put you (your job, neighborhood, gym) to share the gospel this week?

Main Passage: John 20:19−21

Supporting Passages:

• Luke 19:10
• John 14:27
• Acts 17:26
• 2 Corinthians 4:3−6
• 1 Timothy 4:10
• Ephesians 5

Preacher: Pastor Brian Lowe

Summary:

This sermon, "Prepared for You," explores Ephesians 2:1-10, highlighting humanity's former state of spiritual death and God's miraculous intervention. It delves into the "bad news" of our natural condition, the "good news" of God's rich mercy and love that brings us to life in Christ, and the "great news" that we are God's masterpieces, created for good works He prepared beforehand. The message emphasizes that God uses ordinary, faithful individuals living intentional lives to make an extraordinary impact on the world, all for His glory.

Pastor Brian Lowe, the Lead Pastor at Exodus Church in Belmont, NC, with over a decade of faithful ministry leadership, delivered this sermon. Beyond his pastoral role, Brian also spearheads the 23Project foundation, an organization dedicated to the advancement of the gospel by partnering with church planters and providing vital resources, including sabbatical funding and coaching, for pastors.

Key Points:

• Bad News: We were dead in trespasses and sins, following the world and the evil one, driven by our sinful passions and deserving of wrath.
• Good News: God, rich in mercy and great in love, made us alive with Christ, saving us by grace through faith—a gift, not by works.
• Great News: We are God's workmanship, His masterpiece, recreated in Christ Jesus for good works He prepared for us to walk in.
• God uses regular, redeemed people living intentional lives to change the world, ensuring all glory goes to Him.

Reflect & Discuss:

• How does understanding our past state of "deadness" in sin deepen your appreciation for God's mercy and grace?
• In what ways have you seen the "play" of the evil one (doubting God's Word, doubting God's character, desiring forbidden things) at work in your own life or in the world around you?
• Considering that you are God's "masterpiece," how does this truth influence your self-perception and purpose?
• What "good works" do you believe God has prepared for you, individually and as part of your church community, to walk in?

Main Passage:

Ephesians 2:1-10

Supporting Passages:

• Lamentations 3:22-23
• Genesis 3:1-6
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• 1 Peter 4:10-11

Keywords:

Ephesians 2, grace, salvation, good works, mercy, dead in sin, God's workmanship, prepared works, Edward Kimball, Billy Graham, D.L. Moody, spiritual death, purpose, God's love, masterpiece, church, faith, Exodus Church, Belmont NC, 23Project.

Series: 1 John: That You May Know

Preacher: Pastor Mike Moore

In a world where it's hard to tell what's real, how can we discern what is from God? This message explores 1 John 4, revealing that the ultimate test of any spiritual teaching is its confession of Jesus Christ—fully God and fully man. We are commanded to test every spirit, not out of fear, but with the bold confidence that the Spirit in us is greater than the spirit of the world.

Key Points

• Discernment isn’t optional.
• Our enemy is real and seeks to deceive.
• Know who Jesus truly is through Scripture.
• Evaluate every influence.
• Don’t be afraid—Jesus wins.

Reflect & Discuss

1. In what areas of your life (media, teaching, etc.) do you need more spiritual discernment?
2. Why is the confession that “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” the critical test for what is from God?
3. How does the truth, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world,” empower you to face spiritual opposition without fear?

Main Passage: 1 John 4:1-6

Supporting Passages

• John 10:10
• Ephesians 2:19-22
• 2 Kings 6:16-17
• Revelation 19:11-16

Keywords

Spiritual Discernment, 1 John, Jesus Christ, False Prophets, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of Error, Antichrist, Fear, Authority of Scripture

Series: 1 John: That You May Know

Preacher: Pastor Brian Bone

When our hearts condemn us, how can we find assurance? This sermon explores 1 John 3:19-24, addressing the doubt that arises when we don't see the spiritual fruit we expect in our lives. Discover why doubt is a common but dangerous part of the Christian walk, as it creates distance from God. Learn the powerful antidote: looking away from our condemning hearts to a God who is greater, preaching the gospel to ourselves, and remembering the incredible privileges we have as His children, including confidence, answered prayer, and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Key Points

• Doubt is a normal part of the Christian experience, but it's dangerous because it creates distance between us and God.
• When your heart condemns you, remember that God is greater than your heart and knows everything.
• Actively preach the gospel to yourself, recalling that your salvation rests on Christ's work, not your own.
• As a child of God, you have privileges: confidence before God, power in prayer, and the presence of the Holy Spirit to help you live a fruitful life.
• The Lord's Supper is a way to preach the gospel to yourself, remembering Christ's sacrifice.

Reflect & Discuss

1. In what areas of your life does your heart condemn you, leading to doubt?
2. How does the truth that "God is greater than our heart" change how you view your weaknesses and sins?
3. What is one practical way you can "preach the gospel to yourself" this week?
4. Which reward of being a child of God (confidence, power in prayer, or the Holy Spirit's presence) resonates most with you right now? Why?

Main Passage: 1 John 3:19-24

Supporting Passages:

• Mark 4:38
• Matthew 14:31
• John 21:3-6
• John 20:25-27
• Ephesians 3:11-12
• Hebrews 10:19-22
• Psalm 42:11

Keywords: Doubt, assurance, condemnation, faith, gospel, 1 John, salvation, confidence, prayer, Holy Spirit

Series: 1 John: That You May Know

Preacher: Pastor Brad Hillman

Summary:

Preaching from 1 John 3:11-18, Brad delivers a potent message on the nature of sin and the essence of love. He establishes that loving fellow Christians is undeniable evidence of new life in Christ, a stark contrast to consistently practicing lawlessness, which signifies allegiance to the devil. Brad stresses there's no neutrality with God; one is either His enemy or His child. The sermon highlights Christ's voluntary, vicarious, and victorious sacrificial love on the cross as the ultimate model. Believers are called to demonstrate this love sacrificially, specifically, and Spirit-led, actively "doing" rather than just "talking." Brad concludes with a call to repent, embrace new life in Christ, and reflect God's transformative love.

Key Points:

• Love for Christians as Evidence: Loving fellow Christians proves new life in Christ.
• Actions Show Allegiance: Our deeds reveal whether we belong to God or the devil.
• No Neutrality with God: Spiritually, you're either God's enemy or His child.
• Christ's Sacrificial Love: Jesus' death is the blueprint for true, transforming love.
• Practicing Christ-like Love: Express love through costly, specific, and Spirit-led actions.

Reflect & Discuss:

• How does the sermon's emphasis on actions as evidence of faith challenge or affirm your understanding of discipleship?
• In what ways can you tangibly demonstrate sacrificial and specific love to those around you this week?
• How does Christ's victorious sacrifice empower you to overcome specific sin patterns in your life?

Scripture:

• Main Passage: 1 John 3:11-18
• Supporting Passages: John 13:34-35, Matthew 5:44, Genesis 4:1-8, James 1:15, Romans 6:14, Colossians 1:13, 1 John 1:8, Galatians 5:16-17, 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:12-13, Matthew 7:21-23, John 10:27-29, Romans 10:9-10, John 3:14-16, Numbers 21:4-9.

Keywords:

Sin, Rebellion, Lawlessness, Jesus, Salvation, Sanctification, Righteousness, Holiness, Abiding, Holy Spirit, Christian Life, Deception, Temptation, Grace, Faith, Perseverance, Love, Sacrifice.

Series: 1 John: That You May Know

Preacher: Pastor Brian Bone

Summary:

This Father's Day sermon, from 1 John 3:4-10, delivers a stark and impactful message about the nature of sin and the transformative power of Christ. Brian opens by highlighting the critical importance of a sure foundation for our spiritual lives, paralleling it to a building's stability. He emphasizes that sin is not mere misbehavior but rebellion against God and an alliance with Satan, leading to death.

The good news is that Jesus appeared to destroy sin's power and consequences, breaking its chains.

The sermon then powerfully asserts that true Christians do not keep on sinning, defining this as a pattern of habitual, unrepentant sin. Brian offers diagnostic "filters" (attitude, desire, pattern, and fight) to help listeners self-evaluate. He assures true believers of God's "inescapable sanctification," a Spirit-empowered fight that will always produce righteousness, even if through struggle. The sermon concludes with a fervent call to repentance and renewed faith, emphasizing that Jesus' healing comes to those who cling to Him.

Key Points:

• Sin as Rebellion: All sin is an act of lawlessness and willful rebellion against God's authority.
• Jesus' Victory Over Sin: Christ came to destroy both the consequences and the power of sin in believers' lives.
• True Christians Don't Persist in Sin: A genuine walk with Christ is characterized by a fight against habitual sin, not a continuous practice of it.
• Inescapable Sanctification: God's work in true believers ensures a progressive transformation toward righteousness, though it requires active engagement.
• Call to Abide: Encouragement to cling to Jesus for healing, victory over sin, and assured spiritual growth.

Reflect & Discuss:

• How does the sermon's definition of sin as "rebellion against God" challenge your perspective on personal failings?
• Which of the "filters" (attitude, desire, pattern, fight) resonates most deeply with your current struggle or victory over sin?
• How does the concept of "inescapable sanctification" empower you to engage in the fight against sin?
• What does it look like for you to "cling to Jesus" in a practical way this week for victory over temptation?
• If this sermon has convicted you, what is your next step in responding to God's call for healing and deeper faith?

Scripture:

• Main Passage: 1 John 3:4-10
• Supporting Passages: James 1:15, Genesis 4:6-7, Romans 6:14, Colossians 1:13, 1 John 1:8, Galatians 5:16-17, 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:12-13, Matthew 7:21-23, John 10:27-29, Romans 10:9-10, John 3:14-16, Numbers 21:4-9.

Keywords:

Sin, Rebellion, Lawlessness, Jesus, Salvation, Sanctification, Righteousness, Holiness, Abiding, Holy Spirit, Christian Life, Deception, Temptation, Grace, Faith, Perseverance.

Series: 1 John: That You May Know

Preacher: Pastor Brian Bone

Key Points:

• Jesus' Imminent Return: The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is coming back soon, and His second coming will be a glorious, visible event of judgment for which all must be ready.
• The Importance of Abiding in Jesus: To be ready and confident at Christ's return, believers must "abide" in Him, meaning to hold fast and not let go, drawing life and sustenance from Him as branches from a vine.
• The Wonders of God's Love and Salvation: Be amazed by God's eternal, sovereign love that chose you before creation, saved you from sin and spiritual death, and continually sustains you by grace.
• The Beatific Vision and Transformation: Believers will literally see Jesus as He is in His glorified form, and this single glimpse will perfectly transform them, removing all desire for sin and providing infinite, unending satisfaction.
• Daily Gaze for Ongoing Transformation: While the full transformation is future, daily "gazing" at Jesus through spiritual disciplines like Bible reading and worship incrementally transforms believers, purifying them and preparing them for His return.
• Call to "Wake Up and Look at Jesus": A practical exhortation to intentionally prioritize focusing on Jesus every day, making Him the central gaze of one's heart above worldly distractions, temptations, and anxieties.
• Salvation through Belief: For non-believers, salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit are immediately available through simple belief in Jesus Christ, who was lifted up for their healing and eternal life.

Reflect & Discuss:

• How does the reality of Jesus' imminent return impact your daily priorities and long-term planning?
• What does "abiding in Jesus" practically look like in your life, especially when faced with distractions or temptations?
• How can you cultivate a deeper sense of amazement at God's love for you and the salvation you've received?
• Considering the concept of the "beatific vision," how does the promise of seeing Jesus and being transformed encourage you in your spiritual walk?
• What is one specific step you will take this week to "wake up and look at Jesus" more intentionally each day?

Scripture:

• Main Passage: 1 John 2:28-3:3
• Supporting Passages: John 15:1-8, 1 Peter 1:8, 1 Corinthians 13:12, Matthew 17:2, Revelation 1:12-16, Revelation 21:23, Psalm 16:11, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Matthew 6:22-23, John 3:14-16, Numbers 21:4-9, Romans 10:9-10.

Keywords:

Jesus' Return, Second Coming, Abiding in Christ, Last Hour, God's Love, Salvation, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Transformation, Beatific Vision, Perseverance, Discernment, Worship, Bible Study, Eternal Life.