Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 18 “Letters of John”
Featured Passage: 1, 2, & 3 John
John had been with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry. He left his work as a fisherman to follow Jesus and be a “fisher of men”. The young John and his brother James with their zealous, fiery disposition were called “sons of thunder” by Jesus Christ (Mark 3:17). Now John was old, and far from being a “son of thunder”, he became known as the apostle of love. John writes about godly love more than any other author in the New Testament. Many of the other Apostles had faced martyrdom including his brother James. The young Church was suffering persecution from the Jews and the Roman authorities, as heresies began causing problems among the brethren. John was one of the only ones left to address the problems.
Discuss:
- What is sin? In what scripture does John give a definition for sin?
- What is the difference between committing a sin and practicing sin? What should Christians do when they commit a sin?
- What does John mean when he says we are not to love the world? How do we walk in the light?
- How did the Father and Jesus Christ show their love for mankind?
- How did John say we show our love for God?
- How are we assured that our prayers will be answered (1 John 5:14-15)?
- What did John say Christians should do if someone tries to bring them a false doctrine? What would you do if your friend tried to pressure you to do something you know is not right? Come up with a few scenarios and talk through what you would do.
Memory Challenge:
1 John 5:2-3
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
