Community Group Questions
Do you ever find yourself carrying around the weight of your past sins? Do your old mistakes ever sneak up behind you in an attempt to remind you of who you “used to be?” Sometimes we can believe the lie that we are too far gone or that our past sins are so bad that we can no longer be of any use to God. When we find ourselves taken captive by this lie, let’s remind ourselves of the power of the gospel and the all sufficient price that was payed for us on the cross. The enemy loves to tell us we are unforgivable, unlovable and unusable, but the gospel tells us differently!
This week we continue in our sermon series “Standing Firm on the Promises of God” as we look at 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What a gracious God we have!
Read: 1 John 1:5 - 2:12, Proverbs 28:13, Psalm 32:1-5, Acts 3:19
Discuss:
1. (1 John 1:5) What is “the message” that John proclaims to us? What does it mean that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all?
2. (1 John 1:6-7) What lie are we told that convinces us to stay in darkness rather than walking in the light?
What is it about confession that brings about God’s mercy and grace?
3. (1 John 1:8-9) What security do you find in God’s promise of forgiveness?
4. (1 John 2:1-2) What does it mean that Christ is our “advocate?” How does this truth (and the image it brings) combat the lie that we are unforgivable, unlovable and unusable?
Memorize/Meditate: Psalm 32:5 - I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
