Life Groups // Fall 2025 // Week 7
Posted October 17, 2025 — Lincoln Berean
Blessed Assurance // 1 John 3:11–24
Introduction
Who among us hasn’t felt guilt over poor choices? We can all recognize that sin has consequences, but every believer in Jesus Christ needs to live as a person radically changed and never condemned by God. This week, Pastor Clark reminded us that our love for one another gives evidence to the radical change that has taken place within us.
Study Questions (to complete on your own)
1) Read 1 John 3:11–24 in a couple different translations of Scripture. Make note of words or phrases that are repeated and characters that are mentioned. What do you know about the characters mentioned and how are they relevant to this passage?
2) Throughout the book of 1 John, we’ve been exposed to John’s writing style – he continues to cycle through 3 elements of Christian community. What did John say about each of these in his first cycle?
Truth, 1:1-4
Light, 1:5-2:6
Love, 2:7-11
How did he expand his teaching about community in the second cycle?
Truth, 2:18-29
Light, 3:1-10
Love, 3:11-24
3) Compare John’s words in 1 John 3:16 with Jesus’ statement in John 15:12-13. How is the way of Cain (verse 12) in contrast to the way of Christ we see in these verses?
4) Summarize the main point of this passage in your own words.
Discussion Questions (with your group)
1) The passage this week moves us forward from verse 10 which states that how we treat one another makes it obvious whether we are children of the devil or children of God. Read Jesus’ words on the matter in John 13:34-35. How would you describe the kind of change that takes place in a person who is transformed by this kind of love?
How have you been transformed by the love of Jesus?
2) John makes a strong statement in verse 15, calling anyone who hates another person a murderer. Compare it to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:21-22. Based on those verses, discuss the difference between a person who hates and murders another and a person who hates but doesn’t act on it
You don’t need to look far to notice our culture is bent toward hate – nearly everyone is running on a short fuse, ready to explode in anger. When we look through the lens of scripture, what can help us deal with hatred, both outside and within us?
As Christian brothers and sisters, how can we begin to help one another work through this kind of hate?
3) Verses 16-18 give us a glimpse of what John has in mind for a true spiritual community. James 2:14-18 adds more distinction to what it means to lovingly help one another. How do we know if we are loving in deed and truth?
Practically as a church body, what does it mean to actively help in deed and truth? Are there any limits, considerations of need, or elements of discernment to consider
How would you explain to someone outside our church what it looks like for us to help those in need?
4) We are told in verses 19-22 that we can have confidence even when our hearts condemn us. How did Pastor Clark explain what it means for our hearts to condemn us?
What assurance can you take away from this part of the passage about God’s care for you?
5) John explains God’s one commandment has two parts: to believe and to love. Based on what we’ve studied so far, can those parts be separated? Explain your answer by giving verse references.
Make two lists based on this passage – one list of what we need to do less and another list of what we need to do more – to show what it takes to experience authentic Christian community.
Considering our desire as a church to be Intentional to Grow + Multiply this year, what can you begin to put into practice in order to breathe life into our church community, your Life Group, or people in your neighborhood? Is anything holding you back from beginning today?
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!