Out of the three sensory interactions, John had with Jesus, which would mean the most to you with this place in your life. To see Him? Touch Him? Hear Him? (I realize some of these naturally overlap but don’t get too technical.)
“I love hugs, so as great as all three would be, I think I’d have to choose touch (embrace).”
Read 1 John 1:3–4. According to verse three, why did John proclaim what he’d seen and heard about Jesus?
“So that he could have fellowship with them”
Quick review: What is docetism?
“The belief that Jesus was only human because God wouldn’t debase Himself by becoming human.”
What obstacles keep you from having honest and regular fellowship? (For example: insecurities, fears, forms of busyness, bitterness that keeps you removed.)
“With believers, nothing – I make it a priority; with God in quiet time; early start days, (Kerstin), disinterest/boredom, basic chores, games, deadlines, etc.”
With whom else did John invite us to share fellowship? ‘with the father and with His Son, “Jesus Christ”.’
Jesus prayed that the church would be brought together in complete unity. He also prayed that we would dwell in the Father and in the Son, so that the world would know God had sent Jesus. How does our fellowship with other believers and with Jesus serve as an inviting testimony to those who have yet to believe?
“Hopefully, they see it as an appealing group they desire to become part of.”
If you’re retreating from fellowship, can you pinpoint any areas of selfishness?
“Sometimes I don’t answer phone calls because I’m in the middle of a TV show or game (or both).”
Briefly write about a memorable time of fellowship. What did you talk about? Who specifically encouraged you? How is Christ central to the occasion?
“They all blend together. I’m not good at remembering conversations. (I think I’m more of a visual learner/thinker.)”
What second reason [for writing his book] does God John give in verse 4?
“To make his joy complete”
Reflect on John’s exclusive attitude in Mark’s Gospel versus his passionate invitation in 1 John 1:3. How has his perspective significantly changed?
“He wants all who believe in Jesus to fellowship together.”
If you are lacking joy, push outside of yourself, and ask a coworker who needs you to coffee, invite someone to church who might not normally go, take a few friends and pray over someone who’s sick. Write down one tangible way you can extend the hand of fellowship to someone else.
“I’ll be talking to Joe again soon, I should call Jill to get my cell number on file, and it’s time I gave blood. I should pray for the right words with all of them.”
John’s physical and tangible experiences with Jesus, are vital to the premise of his letter for several reasons. Based on your understanding of the first three verses, why do you think John felt important to stress that he and the apostles had encountered Jesus so closely?
“With new false ideas, creeping in, he wanted to reiterate all he knew about Jesus personally.”
Dearest Rachel –
Your first comment certainly comes as no surprise; one of the love languages you ‘spoke’ so very well was that of touch. I’ve reminisced about this fact with you several times already. The idea of you embracing (and presumably being embraced by) Jesus – much the same way He would have gathered those little children He asked to have “come unto [Him], for of such is the kingdom of heaven” is easy for me to imagine.
As much as I’ve expressed concern about my own memory, especially of you, it’s something ever so slightly reassuring to see your assertion about events running together and conversations lost to your memory as well. Since I used to rely on you to keep my own stories straight from time to time, the fact that you had similar concerns as I did about remembering events and dialogue makes me feel less alone in my own concerns, even if I’m left as the only one able to remember anymore, for whatever it’s worth.
As for ignoring phone calls, I can’t tell when you did this study, but I’d wager that even by then, half the time, whatever calls we were getting were already spam, so neglecting to answer probably wasn’t that much of sin, however selfish you might have considered it to be.
And one of these days, I probably ought to spend some time dwelling on the fact that you have so much blood so often; one more aspect of your giving nature that was so inconspicuous as to pass under even my notice, for the most part.
But for now, I have to continue to teach myself to fellowship more with other believers as I continue to cope with the lack of your presence, and even wisdom. With that in mind, honey, keep an eye on me, and wish me luck; I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 