1. 1 John: Knowing a Loving God Sermon 4: Loving Others “Motherly Advice”

2. Getting Started This text is a call to love one another. 1 John 2:28-3:10 – Obedient Children and “The Nudge.” Last Year: Moses’ Mother – Jochebed. Her name yaw-keh-bed means “glory of Jehovah” or, “Jehovah (is her or our) glory.”

3. Influence Nothing will have a more profound and lasting influence in the lives of our children than having good, godly examples in their homes.

4. 5 Ways to Have a Godly Influence 1. One who prays for and with their children (James 5:16) 2. One who studies God's Word and teaches it to their children (Deut 6:4-9) 3. One who sets an example by the life they lead (2 Timothy 1:5) 4. One who has a compassionate heart (Psalm 103:13) 5. One who stands firm in the faith (Philippians 1:27)

5. Are we Still in 1 st John? Let’s look at 1 John 3:11-25 on page 1901 as good Motherly advice. That may seem a bit funny coming from John one of the “sons of thunder” [Mark 3:17] but John has changed because of God’s love at work within him as he came to know a loving God.

6. Phrases Mother’s Use: Behave, be ready, get along, be more like your brother, share, trust your conscience, don’t overthink things, you are not alone. Many of these thoughts John heard from Jesus as He taught his disciples just before his arrest in Jesus’ last teaching section in John 13-17.

7. “Behave!” 1 John 3:11-12 page 1901 11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.

8. “Be Ready.” Vs 13 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. Where did John hear this one? John 15:18-20

9. “Get Along!” Vs 14-15 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. John heard this from Jesus in John 13:34-35.

10. “Be More Like Your Brother.” Vs 16 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. This idea is also shown in Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17:20-26 or Romans 5:6-8.

11. “Share.” Vs 17-20 17 If 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? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

12. “Trust Your Conscience.” Vs 21-22 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. John also heard the truth about being obedient to God’s commands in John 14:15-21.

13. “Don’t Overthink Things.” Vs 23 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Love God and love others is a key aspect of the Christian faith (Matthew 22:36-40).

14. “You Are Not Alone.” Vs 24 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. John 14:21 and 15-31 applies if the Spirit mentioned here is the Holy Spirit. If it is speaking of a spirit, or attitude, of obedience and brotherly kindness then we can make application of those traits as well

15. Sound Familiar? Were you raised with some of these instructions? Can you see how John was influenced by Jesus and wanted to pass along His instructions? As you use these phrases consider the good company that you are keeping. Also, take some time to say “thank you” to those Jochebed’s in your life who have “Jehovah (is her or our) glory.”

16. Keep Up The Good Work! 1. Pray for, and with, the children in your life. (James 5:16) 2. Study God's Word and teach it to children (Deut 6:4-9) 3. Set an example by the life you lead (2 Timothy 1:5) 4. Show a compassionate heart (Psalm 103:13) 5. Stand firm in THE faith (Philippians 1:27)