Originally preached April 12, 2026.

scripture

1 John 3:1–10

series

Lessons in Community

summary

In 1 John 3, the Apostle John does what the sermon described as his signature move: he hugs you and punches you in the gut at the same time. The hug is enormous: see what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. The gut-punch is equally serious: if you belong to him, it will show in how you actually live, in your relationship with God and your relationships with people. The sermon drew on Luke 9 to put faces on the gut-punch: the disciples arguing about who was greatest, John trying to shut down an outsider, James and John wanting to call down fire on a Samaritan village. The heart-postures behind those moments (arrogance, self-righteousness, partiality, offended anger) are the same ones John is pressing on in his letter. And the answer to all of them is the same: the love that Jesus showed, right up to the cross, and extended again in the restoration of Peter and John afterward.

for reflection:

Which of the heart postures in Luke 9 (arrogance, self-righteousness, partiality, or offended anger) do you most recognize in yourself, and how does it affect your relationships with others?
How does the assurance that we are loved and called children of God in 1 John 3 both comfort you and challenge the way you live?
In what specific relationship or situation do you need to reflect the sacrificial love and restoring grace of Jesus rather than responding out of pride, rivalry, or resentment?