The Apostle's Aim
Sunday Service
August 24, 2025
In this powerful exploration of 1 John 1:3-4, we delve into the profound concepts of everlasting fellowship and never-ending joy. The apostle John reminds us that true fellowship isn't just about our relationships with each other, but our deep, unbreakable connection with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. This fellowship, rooted in the gospel, is the foundation of our faith and the source of our joy. As we embrace the teachings of Christ and the apostles, we grow in this divine partnership that transcends our earthly existence. The message challenges us to examine our understanding of joy, urging us to move beyond fleeting worldly pleasures to the complete, satisfying joy found in Christ. This joy becomes our strength, sustaining us even in times of difficulty. We're called to reflect on how we can deepen our fellowship with God and experience the fullness of joy that comes from walking in His truth.
Scripture Reference
Here are the scripture references mentioned or alluded to in the sermon:
1. 1 John 1:3-4 (main text)
2. 1 John 2:19
3. Deuteronomy 19:15
4. Matthew 18:16
5. Titus 2:15
6. 1 Corinthians 12 (general reference)
7. Romans 8:31-39
8. Hebrews 13:5
9. 1 John 4:6
10. 2 John 9-11
11. John 17:3
12. John 17:20-26
13. 1 Corinthians 1:9
14. Psalm 16:11
15. Psalm 21:6
16. Nehemiah 8:10
17. James 1:2
18. John 15:12-15
19. Hebrews 12:2
20. Philippians 2:8
21. 2 John 4
22. 3 John 4
23. John 15 (general reference to joy)
24. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
25. Galatians 5:22-23 (fruit of the Spirit)
26. Genesis 2 (reference to marriage)
27. Romans 10:9-10
28. 1 Corinthians 6:19
29. Ephesians 2:20
30. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
31. 2 Timothy 4:6-8
32. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
33. Job 20:4-5
Key Takeaways:
1. True fellowship is an everlasting, unbreakable bond with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and other believers through the gospel.
2. Authentic fellowship is tethered to apostolic teaching (Scripture) and cannot exist apart from it.
3. Biblical joy is God-centered, gospel-gifted, eternal, and completely satisfying to the soul, unlike worldly joy.
4. Christ is the center and source of both fellowship and joy.
5. Obedience to God's Word is key to experiencing true fellowship and joy.
Discussion Questions:
1. How does the sermon's explanation of "fellowship" differ from common understandings of the term? How does this impact your view of your relationship with God and other believers?
2. The pastor emphasized the importance of apostolic teaching. How can we ensure we're grounding our faith in Scripture rather than human ideas or philosophies?
3. Reflect on times when you've experienced worldly joy versus biblical joy. What were the differences in terms of satisfaction and duration?
4. How does understanding Christ as the center of joy change our perspective on difficult circumstances or suffering?
5. The sermon mentioned that Jesus found joy in pleasing the Father. How can we cultivate this same attitude in our own lives?
6. Discuss the connection between obedience to God's Word and experiencing true fellowship and joy. Can you share an example from your own life?
Practical Applications:
1. Daily Scripture Reading: Commit to reading a portion of Scripture daily this week, focusing on passages about fellowship with God and joy in Christ.
2. Joy Journal: Keep a daily log of moments of joy, reflecting on whether they stem from worldly or biblical sources.
3. Obedience Challenge: Identify one area where you struggle to obey God's Word. Pray for strength and take concrete steps to grow in obedience this week.
4. Fellowship Focus: Make an effort to deepen your fellowship with other believers. This could involve reaching out to someone from church, joining a ministry, or being more vulnerable in your small group.
5. Pleasure in God's Will: Before making decisions this week, pause to consider what would bring pleasure to God rather than just yourself.
6. Memorization: Commit to memorizing a key verse about joy or fellowship (e.g., Psalm 16:11 or 1 John 1:3) to meditate on throughout the week.
August 24, 2025
In this powerful exploration of 1 John 1:3-4, we delve into the profound concepts of everlasting fellowship and never-ending joy. The apostle John reminds us that true fellowship isn't just about our relationships with each other, but our deep, unbreakable connection with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. This fellowship, rooted in the gospel, is the foundation of our faith and the source of our joy. As we embrace the teachings of Christ and the apostles, we grow in this divine partnership that transcends our earthly existence. The message challenges us to examine our understanding of joy, urging us to move beyond fleeting worldly pleasures to the complete, satisfying joy found in Christ. This joy becomes our strength, sustaining us even in times of difficulty. We're called to reflect on how we can deepen our fellowship with God and experience the fullness of joy that comes from walking in His truth.
Scripture Reference
Here are the scripture references mentioned or alluded to in the sermon:
1. 1 John 1:3-4 (main text)
2. 1 John 2:19
3. Deuteronomy 19:15
4. Matthew 18:16
5. Titus 2:15
6. 1 Corinthians 12 (general reference)
7. Romans 8:31-39
8. Hebrews 13:5
9. 1 John 4:6
10. 2 John 9-11
11. John 17:3
12. John 17:20-26
13. 1 Corinthians 1:9
14. Psalm 16:11
15. Psalm 21:6
16. Nehemiah 8:10
17. James 1:2
18. John 15:12-15
19. Hebrews 12:2
20. Philippians 2:8
21. 2 John 4
22. 3 John 4
23. John 15 (general reference to joy)
24. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
25. Galatians 5:22-23 (fruit of the Spirit)
26. Genesis 2 (reference to marriage)
27. Romans 10:9-10
28. 1 Corinthians 6:19
29. Ephesians 2:20
30. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
31. 2 Timothy 4:6-8
32. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
33. Job 20:4-5
Key Takeaways:
1. True fellowship is an everlasting, unbreakable bond with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and other believers through the gospel.
2. Authentic fellowship is tethered to apostolic teaching (Scripture) and cannot exist apart from it.
3. Biblical joy is God-centered, gospel-gifted, eternal, and completely satisfying to the soul, unlike worldly joy.
4. Christ is the center and source of both fellowship and joy.
5. Obedience to God's Word is key to experiencing true fellowship and joy.
Discussion Questions:
1. How does the sermon's explanation of "fellowship" differ from common understandings of the term? How does this impact your view of your relationship with God and other believers?
2. The pastor emphasized the importance of apostolic teaching. How can we ensure we're grounding our faith in Scripture rather than human ideas or philosophies?
3. Reflect on times when you've experienced worldly joy versus biblical joy. What were the differences in terms of satisfaction and duration?
4. How does understanding Christ as the center of joy change our perspective on difficult circumstances or suffering?
5. The sermon mentioned that Jesus found joy in pleasing the Father. How can we cultivate this same attitude in our own lives?
6. Discuss the connection between obedience to God's Word and experiencing true fellowship and joy. Can you share an example from your own life?
Practical Applications:
1. Daily Scripture Reading: Commit to reading a portion of Scripture daily this week, focusing on passages about fellowship with God and joy in Christ.
2. Joy Journal: Keep a daily log of moments of joy, reflecting on whether they stem from worldly or biblical sources.
3. Obedience Challenge: Identify one area where you struggle to obey God's Word. Pray for strength and take concrete steps to grow in obedience this week.
4. Fellowship Focus: Make an effort to deepen your fellowship with other believers. This could involve reaching out to someone from church, joining a ministry, or being more vulnerable in your small group.
5. Pleasure in God's Will: Before making decisions this week, pause to consider what would bring pleasure to God rather than just yourself.
6. Memorization: Commit to memorizing a key verse about joy or fellowship (e.g., Psalm 16:11 or 1 John 1:3) to meditate on throughout the week.
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