Life Groups // Fall 2025 // Week 2
Posted September 12, 2025 — Lincoln Berean
Dancing In the Light Together // 1 John 1:5 – 2:6
Introduction
What could rats and dancing possibly have in common? In the sermon this week we found out! Rats hide from the light and a right relationship with God will always be a dance in the light. In your group time, you will discuss more about the importance of a true and authentic spiritual community.
Study Questions (to complete on your own)
1) Read 1 John 1:5 – 2:6 in a couple different translations of Scripture. Make note of words or phrases that are repeated. Look up unfamiliar words (e.g., advocate, propitiation) in a dictionary or thesaurus and identify a definition that best fits the way the word was used in the passage.
2) Read John 3:16-21 and John 9:1-4. How do these verses from John's Gospel line up with what he writes in this letter? What does it tell you about why people prefer the darkness?
3) John writes 3 statements of denial identified by the words "if we say" in verses 6, 8, and 10. Summarize those three statements and for each one, describe a person in our culture who would be characterized by that denial.
Discussion Questions (with your group)
1) How is sin viewed in our culture? What specific examples can you give to explain that viewpoint?
2) In verses 7 and 9, John gives two behaviors that mark a faithful person – walking in the light and confession. What role does spiritual community play in those actions?
How comfortable are you in letting the light shine into the dark places in your life?
Have you ever experienced confession in an authentic spiritual community? Share if you are willing.
What would it take for your Life Group to become that kind of community?
3) According to the text this week, the issue is not so much whether or not we sin, but rather how we respond when the light exposes our sin. What are two responses and what are the outcomes for each choice?
Think about your life this past month. How might you be dancing in the dark these days? What dark environments grab your attention and cause you to linger?
4) Pastor Bryan reminded us that God's purpose for exposing our sin flows from his love for us. Why do you suppose we more often perceive God to be condemning and judgmental rather than loving in those moments?
How can your Life Group help you see God's love rather than condemnation when you struggle with sin?
Personal Spiritual Exercises
Just like physical exercises help strengthen and stretch our bodies for healthy living, these spiritual exercises are meant to move us spiritually in ways that may be new so that we might experience inner growth. Since God longs for us to experience Him with our whole selves—mind, body, spirit— we invite you to strengthen your souls with exercises that challenge and stretch you in new ways. Choose one and commit to repeating it until you gain strength in that area.
1) Scripture Reading: to listen and soak in the Word as an experience of the words washing over you. Read or listen to the entire letter of 1 John at least twice/week. As you take it in, resist the impulse to study and parse the details. The point is not to gain “head knowledge” but a stirring in the heart as the Holy Spirit brings the Word to life in you.
2) Memorization:to internalize God’s Word. A key passage for this series is 1 John 4:7-14. Commit to memorize it yourself and encourage others in your group to do it with you.
3) Walk & Pray: to actively engage with the scripture passage. Write out the passage of the sermon each week on a note card and take it with you on a daily walk.
4) Journal Reflection: to practice remembering what God has done. Make time in your schedule to put down in writing the feelings and thoughts that are stirring as you interact with the Word of God.
5) Self-control Exercise: to help you come to stillness from a busy or hurried pace of life. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Sit upright but comfortably in a chair with your palms open and upward on your lap. Focus on a word or short phrase about the character of God the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. When your thoughts wander to the things on your to-do list or other people’s needs, redirect them back to the character of God. When the 10 minutes is up, close in a short prayer of gratitude.
Prayer
Praying together in a group is different than praying alone with God. It's a conversation that can help you grow closer to each other as you are in God's presence. One way to pray follows this often-used pattern in scripture – acknowledge who God is, recognize the need we have for Him, and ask to partner with Him on behalf of others. When possible, use the passage of scripture from this week's sermon as your starting point, then form a prayer that follows this pattern:
God, our Father, this week we learned that you are ________________ and ________________ .
As I looked into your Word, I understood how I need you to __________________________. Help me to be faithful to ________________________ in the week ahead.
Other people are on my heart, and I trust that you have put them there for a reason. I ask for your will to be accomplished in their life as they ______________________________. Help me to know how to respond well to the needs of __________________________, even as my first step is in praying for them right now.
Each group engages in prayer differently. Some groups go around and allow anyone to pray that desires to do so. Other groups have several people pray or maybe 1 person closes the group in prayer. Still other groups split into smaller groups of 2-3 people and those people pray for each other. How you choose to engage in prayer is dependent on your group and your choice to ENGAGE! We learn to pray by praying and by listening and praying with others!