Life Groups // Fall 2025 // Week 3
Posted September 19, 2025 — Lincoln Berean
Are You Dancing in the Darkness // 1 John 2:7-11
Introduction
Light and darkness, love and hate. Two stark and graphic contrasts. In this week's passage, John weaves these concepts together to teach us some challenging lessons on walking in the light, loving God, and loving others. How we orient our lives (towards self or towards others) will ultimately determine the life we experience.
Study Questions (to complete on your own)
1) Read 1 John 1:1-2:6. What have you either learned or been reminded of so far in our study of community? What is necessary for true deep rich community to take place?
2) Read 1 John 2:7-11. Notice what words, phrases or ideas are repeated in this passage. From your first reading, what one word or phrase stands out to you in these verses? What captures your attention about this word or phrase?
3) Try to write a 1-2 sentence summary of what John is saying in these verses.
Discussion Questions (with your group)
1) What is meant by the old command that is from the beginning? Check out these passages to affirm what John is saying: Lev. 19:18, Deut. 6:5, Matt. 22:37-40. Based on these verses, what is the importance placed on this command?
In 1 John 2:8, John says in another way the command is new. Look up John 13:34-35. What is new about the command Jesus gave? What makes it new for the believers John is writing to and for us?
2) In verses 9-11, when you think about “walking in the light”, is being loving toward others usually what comes to mind? Do you think of hating others as “stumbling around in the darkness?” Why or why not?
In 1 John 2:9 John speaks of “hating” his brother. At first glance it would be easy for most of us to dismiss this verse because we don’t hate others. However, the word hate is not a term of emotion as we may think. It is a contrast to love. Love is to think of others as more important than ourselves, so hate would be to think of our own needs before we think of others.Based on this definition of hate, how often do we “hate” others? Is this something we just turn on and off or is this a way we choose to live our lives?
In what ways do Christians naturally love like this and in what situations might they choose not to?
3) Authentic Christian community demands that we think of others as more important than ourselves. John clearly states that if we "hate" others we are in the darkness. What is at stake if you are only a relational consumer? What happens to your relationship with Jesus when you remain in the darkness?
In verse 10, the word "stumbling" can be translated as a trap. How does selfishness trap us in a miserable life?
How does darkness blind us?
4) What is one step you could take towards living in the light the way it is described in this passage?
How can your Life Group help you move in this direction in your life?
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!