Grounded in Truth

Pastor emphasizes the importance of understanding the true identity of Jesus amidst challenges and false teachings in the church. He highlights that love for God and love for one another are interconnected, encouraging believers to faithfully obey God’s commandments as a reflection of their love. The sermon stresses that faith in Jesus provides victory over the world’s difficulties, and it is essential to maintain an ongoing relationship with Him to navigate through life’s storms. Ultimately, Pastor invites the congregation to embrace Jesus as the source of life and transformation, leading to a deeper understanding of their faith and daily decisions.

Grounded in Truth

Message Summary
Pastor emphasizes the importance of understanding the true identity of Jesus amidst challenges and false teachings in the church. He highlights that love for God and love for one another are interconnected, encouraging believers to faithfully obey God’s commandments as a reflection of their love. The sermon stresses that faith in Jesus provides victory over the world’s difficulties, and it is essential to maintain an ongoing relationship with Him to navigate through life’s storms. Ultimately, Pastor invites the congregation to embrace Jesus as the source of life and transformation, leading to a deeper understanding of their faith and daily decisions.
Key Scripture
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. So we have these three witnesses—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.”
1 John 5:1-12
Additional Scriptures

5 Day Devotional

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to truly love others in the context of the church, as discussed by Pastor?  
  • Pastor emphasizes that we can’t authentically love one another without first loving God and that our love should not be motivated by selfish desires.
  • Can you think of a time when your love for someone in the church was tested? How did your relationship with God influence that situation?
Why is it important to remember the different witnesses that testify to who Jesus is, such as the spirit, the water, and the blood?  
  • Pastor mentions these three witnesses to affirm the truth of who Jesus is and how they support the belief in Him as the Son of God.
  • How can understanding these witnesses help strengthen your faith during tough times when you might doubt?
How does having faith in Jesus help us face the challenges and difficulties that come our way?  
  • Pastor explains that through faith, we defeat the evil in the world and remain grounded in the love and truth of Jesus.
  • Can you share a personal experience where your faith in Jesus helped you overcome a challenge?
In 1 John 5:11-12, it says, ‘Whoever has the son has life; whoever does not have God’s son does not have life.’ How do you interpret this Scripture?  
  • Pastor reads these verses to underline the importance of having a relationship with Jesus for true life.
  • What does it mean for you personally to have life through Jesus, and how does that impact your daily decisions?
What role does love play in our obedience to God’s commandments, according to Pastor’s message?   
  • Pastor states that loving God means keeping His commandments, and he reverses the thought to emphasize loving others stems from loving God.
  • Reflect on a commandment that you might struggle to follow. How could deeper love for God help you obey that commandment?

Prayer

• Ask God to help you reflect His love in your relationships this week.
• Seek guidance in keeping His commandments as a joyful response to His love.
• Pray for strength to confront any doubts about His faithfulness in your life.
• Lift up any prayer requests within the group.