Don’t Believe All You Hear.
1 John 4:1-6.
WARM UP: Recall a time of learning a fact, skill, or truth that was impactful for you.
—-----------
1. KNOW THE VOICES (v 1): John warns believers not to believe every “spirit” but to test them, because not every message comes from God. As followers of Jesus in a world loud with voices, we must be awake and discerning.
Q. Where do you most often feel inundated by voices or information? How does this affect your attitude or decisions?
Q. What reasonable limits/ boundaries on secular media (music, TV, podcasts, etc.).
Q. With all the varied spiritual resources we have access to, how can we ensure solid content?
—-------------------------------
2. USE THE TEST (v 2-3, 5): The test centers on Jesus coming in the flesh. True teaching confesses that God came in flesh to rescue us as we stood in great need. Acknowledging Jesus as both God and man requires humility, repentance, and surrender of self.
Q. (This principle was an especially big deal for John at this time because of the false teaching of the Gnostics. In short, they separated the spiritual from the physical, making the incarnate Christ an issue.) Where do you see people separate spiritual and day-to-day life in our culture?
Q. Jesus coming in the flesh assumes our desperate need for him. What are some “voices” today that tell us we can save or complete ourselves? Why is the gospel abrasive to them?
Q. Practice this test together: Name popular and prominent “messages” in our community and culture and “test” them by the person and work of Jesus together.
—-------------------------
3. BE MOTIVATED BY THE ASSURANCE (v 4-6) This word, and a quick look around us, might be overwhelming. There are so many voices, but the greatest voice is in us through the Spirit.
Q. John informs our expectations. Share a time when wrong expectations caused you trouble. Share a time when proper expectations were helpful.
Q. How might adjusting our expectations of the world’s response to Jesus be freeing?
Q. Where recently have you been tempted to fear people’s opinions more than you love God’s truth?