1. Welcome to A Sunday Community for Couples of all ages!
Welcome to TeamMates!  TeamMates is a welcoming community which connects couples interested in strengthening their marriage and helps tehm become effective disciples individually and through their marriage so they can impact their sphere of influence and our world for Jesus Christ!  Again, welcome to TeamMates!
A Sunday Community for
Couples of all ages!
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

2. Teammates Guests Who has “Guests” at their table?
It is our tradition that a TeamMate introduces guests!  So, is there a TeamMate who needs a microphone to introduce a guest at your table!
And, now we have a special presentation from Romy and Kaye Kapuli!

3. Thanks for the great snacks !!

4. Have a prayer request? CONFIDENTIAL
Fill out a prayer request form found on your table.
Then… just leave it on the table, or take it to the back table as you exit.
All prayer requests will be sent to all TeamMates members unless they are clearly marked
CONFIDENTIAL

5. Debbie & Bob Sibert Please continue to Pray for Bob, and for Debby,
as Bob heals
and recovers.

6. Praise Report

7. Just a Few
Reminders

8. FREE Want Help Memorizing 1 John? Search “MBC-Memory”
There’s an App for That!
Go to the Apple App Store
(iPhone and iPad)
FREE
Admin: - Each should have 1) Handout; 2) hard-copy of Bible
Memory
Review
Search “MBC-Memory”

9. Join us as we serve those in need.
Sundays 9 am -12 pm Thursdays 5 – 9 pm
Tuesdays 10 am -9 pm Saturdays 8 am – 1 pm
Wednesdays 7 – 8:30 pm
OR - You can speak with our own Susan Wyant!

10. Contact Sunny Bender at Sunny. Bender@mcleanbible
Contact Sunny Bender at for additional information.

11. Open Group for 8 Weeks
CLICK to “End of Announcements” – This runs through to the Presentation.

12. End of Reminders

13. And now!

14. Today’s Teacher -

15. Jim Battle

16. Teammates 1 JOHN 3:11-24
October 14, 2018
Jim Battle

17. Review 1 John 1:1-2:2 Walk in the light Confession of sin
Jesus is our propitiation
1 John 2: 3-27
Obey his commandments
Love one another
Love of the world (NOT)
THE ANTICHRIST(S)
1 John 2:28-3:10
Abide in him
Children of god
When he appears

18. 1 John 3:11-18 the message
Love one another

19. 1 John 3:11
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

20. John 13:34-35
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
In Jesus words – which John heard in person at the Last Supper
3x in two sentences! Do you think this is important to Jesus?

21. Just thinking … How’s your love life?
The standard is for the world to know we are Christ’s disciples. How much loving one another does it take?
Don’t mean your marriage – not the context here (Obviously marriage is important too)
Apparently more than we are doing. Obviously we are not yet loving one another like Christ loved us. Yes, there are some bright spots. But we need to focus on that more.
Let’s see what John prescribes

22. 1 John 3:12
12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
Follow John’s logic
Negative, then positive
Cain is the polar-opposite lf love
Of the evil one – i.e. the source of Cain’s actions were from the evil one, not that Cain belonged to the evil one (BKC vv )

23. 1 John 3:12-13
12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
What else can the world be expected to do? It is hatred among believers that is so abnormal, and against which John was fundamentally warning. (BKC)

24. 1 John 3:12-14
12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.
A little positive encouragement here, even in the midst of John’s negative example
What he is not saying is that eternal life is earned by loving others, but rather that loving others is evidence that we already have eternal live (CCE)
John says it is really quite simple: no love, no life. Love and hate are moral, spiritual opposites. Both cannot reside at the same time in the same heart. “Our love for one another is the flower and fruit that indicates eternal life is at the root” (Anyabwile, unpublished sermon notes) (CCE)

25. 1 John 3:12-15
12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Who would want to ‘abide in death’?
You are abiding somewhere. Where is your focus? In Christ, or (by default) in death?
All those poor people out there - but we have the privilege, first that we know and have accepted the message, and second that we can deliver the message to those in need

26. 1 John 3:11
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

27. 1 John 3:11, 16
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not …
16 We know love by this,

28. 1 John 3:11, 16
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us;
love is the opposite of murder – giving His life, not taking a life (BKC)

29. 1 John 3:11, 16
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Implication/application
I think of the Marine who throws himself on a hand-grenade to save his buddies. But most of us will never be in that situation. So what does this mean for us?
Love at its core is about self-sacrifice and self-substitution. And in our case it is for those who are completely and totally unworthy. (CCE)
‘Self-preservation’ is the first law of physical life, but ‘self-sacrifice’ is the first law of spiritual life. (Wiersbe, Be Real)

30. Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

31. 1 John 3:11, 16-17
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
‘closing your heart’ is a problem – it is seriously and intentionally NOT loving

32. 1 John 4:20
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

33. Table Talk – “lay down our lives”
How do I do that in a practical way?
(lay down my life, share world’s goods)
What am I giving to those in need?
What are some activities at MBC that would help us do this?

34. Mbc opportunities Clothing shop – work, donate, winter clothes
Food pantry
Career Network Ministry
Title 1 schools – tutoring
Serve DMV
Note: Helps + the Gospel

35. Idea: Homeless bags Water bottle Granola bars Cheese crackers
Travel size tooth brush & tooth paste
Travel size shampoo
Anti-bacterial soap
Kleenex
Soup kitchen card
Four Spiritual Laws/Bridge to Life
You cannot drive from here to Tysons Corner without seeing several people holding signs about being homeless and asking for money. What do you do?
Change lanes at the last minute. Look the other way and pretend they are not right outside your window. Give a dollar but feel guilty because they might use it for drugs or booze.
LaurieAnne’s kids assemble these – keep in their car, compete to spot homeless people and be the one to give them out
Most of this you can get in bulk from Costco or Walmart – just takes intentionality
Only required item is the Gospel tract. Use your imagination on other stuff.

36. 1 John 3:18
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
Words can be empty and actions can be hypocritical. You may choose to do nothing, though your words promise much. On the other hand, you may do something for someone, but your motives are impure and your intentions evil. We call this manipulation. God cares about both our motives and our actions. (CCE)

37. 1 John 3:18-20
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

38. Self-condemnation
Self-condemnation can be due to a number of factors. It can be a matter of disposition; some people are just more introspective and melancholy than others. It may be a question of health; how a person feels inevitably affects how he thinks. It may be due to specific sin. It may be due to circumstances. But whatever the cause, the problem is a real one and quite widespread. How is a believer to deal with such doubt?
James Montgomery Boice, The Epistles of John

39. Romans 8:1
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. (Romans 8:31–34)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23–24)

40. Table Talk – “heart condemns”
Why would a person’s heart ‘condemn’ them?
How can we help a person get past that?
We know that the Bible teaches that it is possible to be saved and yet have doubts and become discouraged. In such instances, we would be wise to take the threefold test we have already seen in 1 John:
Belief: Do I really believe rightly about Jesus?
Obedience: Am I really obeying God as I ought?
Love: Is my love for others what it should be?
Sometimes I doubt; sometimes I disobey; sometimes hate comes, seemingly out of nowhere, and these things bother me. That is bad, right? No, it is actually good. Those who do not know Christ ask none of these questions! Such issues do not bother those with hard hearts. But they can trouble the Christian. (CCE)

41. 1 John 3:18-22
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

42. John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

43. Confidence before god
The boldness with which the son appears before the Father, and not that which the accused appears before the Judge.
Westcott, The Epistles of St. John

44. 1 John 3:18-24
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
How do I abide in Him? Keep His commandments

45. about “abide” This is a command (2:28)
The Greek word is sometimes translated ‘stay’ or ‘remain’ or ‘continue’
live in Him – spend your time with Him/in Him – include Him in what you are doing – make Him the center of your thought life – practice the presence of God

46. abiding
Keeping God’s commands and abiding in God always go together. Having the Spirit of God and abiding or remaining in God always go together.
From Christ-Centered Exposition Exalting Jesus in 1, 2 & 3 John

47. 1 John 3:11
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

48. Teammates 1 JOHN 3:11-24
October 14, 2018
Jim Battle