Ask, 6 July 2025
Ask
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
July 6, 2025
1 John 5:13-21
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: We can ask God for anything, including forgiveness.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:13-15
As we conclude our series on the book of 1 John written by one of Jesus’ three best friends, John, we read his closing remarks directed to early Christians. Throughout the letter, he has talked about light, love, antichrist, children of God, actions, and spirits, among other things. Our scripture reading today continues last week’s theme of life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
John wants them to be secure in their salvation, that they may know they have eternal life. This is the promise for those “who believe in the name of the Son of God.”
I’ve had many conversations with people of various faiths—including Christianity—regarding the certainty of their destiny. John says his purpose in writing is to assure them of eternal life…not because of their works, of course, but because of their faith in Jesus.
Do you know you have eternal life? If you believe in Jesus, if you believe he died and rose again, if you believe he is the way, the truth, and the life, if you believe he is the ultimate example of what it means to be human, if you have surrendered your life to Jesus, then you can know that you have eternal life. This is good news. This is great news! Furthermore, the writer of Romans declares,
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-29)
John continues with more great news for followers of Jesus.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)
Does this mean God always hears our prayers? Yes!
Does this mean God always answers our prayers? Yes!
Does this mean God always answers our prayers the way we want? No!
We have everything we have asked of God…if we are seeking first His will, His Kingdom, His way. God’s will is not for us to be the center of the universe. He provides for our needs but doesn’t necessary honor self-centered requests for our every desire. If we are truly following Jesus, our heart will sync with his heart. Let’s ask of God now.
Prayer is a popular church topic, but one often filled with negative emotions. Do I pray enough? Am I good at prayer? What if I get bored? What if I fall asleep? What if I simply forget? What if I don’t know what to say? Do I have to bow my head? Close my eyes? Pray out loud?
I used to think prayer was talking to God. Then I thought prayer was talking with God. But now I believe prayer is doing life with God. It is far more than a wish list we tell God. It includes petitions, but also praise, thanksgiving, confession, prayers for others, and I would add questions, fears, doubts, and moments of awe and wonder.
I like the three essential prayers of Anne Lamott: help, thanks, wow!
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Prayer is not only the utterance of the lips; it is also the desire of the heart.”
We could talk all day about prayer and we should pray all day…today and every day. What are you up to, LORD? What makes You happy? Sad? Angry? What is my next step in loving You? Loving others? What is Your will for my life? For College First? For our nation and world? For the sake of time, we must move on!
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. (1 John 5:16-17)
Sin is anything that separates us from God. It may be something we do. It may be something we fail to do. All sin ultimately leads to death…the death of a relationship, peace, eternal life, or even natural life. Earlier John said failing to believe Jesus came and died for sinners would result in death…eternal death. We have eternal life by believing Jesus died and rose from the dead and following him.
Failing to love may not result in physical death, but we are commanded to love, to pray for others, pray that God’s love would flow through us to others.
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. (1 John 5:18)
We all sin. We all continue to sin after encountering God. Followers of Jesus do not continue to sin without remorse and regret. We are not proud of our sin. We struggle with it, sometimes failing…and then turning to God with repentance for forgiveness. Christ followers are kept safe from the evil one.
We also need to turn to one another sometimes…to forgive or ask for forgiveness. As we journey together, we will inevitably step on one another’s toes. It’s usually accidental, but the other person may not be aware of the pain they caused. We need to take Matthew 18 seriously.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matt. 18:15-17)
Is this easy? No.
Does it involve conflict? Yes.
Is it biblical? Obviously!
The kingdom of this world cancels when hurt. In the kingdom of God, we confront…with love. We cry, “Ouch!” We seek reconciliation rather than retaliation. While others get bitter, we get better and restore the relationship. Family, we must speak up and say, “Help me understand.” There are exceptions, but often the conflict is based upon a misunderstanding, a mistake, or even someone simply having a bad day. We need grace and forgiveness and we need to be quick to extend it to others…as God has extended it so generously to us. Jesus said,
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)
You might feel as though you’ve sinned beyond God’s forgiveness, and I want to declare to you such a thing is impossible. If you seek forgiveness from God, it will be granted. Listen to a portion of Psalm 103.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust. (Psalm 103:10-14)
When Jesus died, he didn’t die for some of your sins. He died for all of them!
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)
This is why we feel tension in our world. It’s why we can’t keep up with the Joneses! This world is not our home. I’m baffled when Christians wonder why the world is evil. It’s under satan’s control…for now! His day will come. I can’t wait! Don’t ever expect the world to act like the Kingdom of God. It’s the world! We are called to life differently. We are called to forgive, to serve, to bless, …to love.
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
That is one true verse! Three sentences. Three uses of the word true!
Who is true? Jesus. He is the true God and eternal life. Last week we noted a conversation with Thomas.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Jesus is life. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. Truth is a person. Do you know him? Do you follow him?
Now we come to the last verse of the entire letter. John doesn’t end with a “sincerely” or “best regards” or even a blessing. He closes his letter by saying,
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)
His closing words are, “No idols.” First, he reminds them they are dear—dear children—and then says
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. (1 John 5:21, NLT)
Over 100 verses in the Bible speak about idols, including the second of the ten commandments.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. (Exodus 20:4)
Idols have been a part of the human condition almost from the beginning.
They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, “You shall not do this.” (2 Kings 17:12)
We do, too. Maybe you don’t bow down to a statue, but we are all drawn to other gods, other things that receive our attention…our time, our money, our energy, our thoughts, our worship. It’s possible that John had in mind not an idol of stone or wood, but false beliefs about Jesus. The Old Testament associates idolatry with injustice. It might represent a failure to love.
I struggle sometimes with the 2nd commandment. I want to be in control, comfortable, wealthy, powerful, secure, recognized, celebrated, privileged, safe, and pampered. The problem is when I’m focused on myself, I can’t see God. When I obsess about my fears, I can’t give God my attention. When I worry or fret or lust or covet or embrace bitterness or fail to love, I’m not walking in the light of God…and I’m certainly not living according to His will so of course my prayers will not be answered the way I seek. Of course I will eventually be anxious, lonely, and/or upset.
So What?
I don’t know what idols are in your life, but I want to give you time to acknowledge them and confess them. God is ready and willing to forgive, but we need to agree with Him that we have sinned and we need to repent, turn, return to following Jesus.
Remember,
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
We can ask God for anything, including forgiveness. Hallelujah!
Amen!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
July 6, 2025
1 John 5:13-21
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: We can ask God for anything, including forgiveness.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:13-15
As we conclude our series on the book of 1 John written by one of Jesus’ three best friends, John, we read his closing remarks directed to early Christians. Throughout the letter, he has talked about light, love, antichrist, children of God, actions, and spirits, among other things. Our scripture reading today continues last week’s theme of life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
John wants them to be secure in their salvation, that they may know they have eternal life. This is the promise for those “who believe in the name of the Son of God.”
I’ve had many conversations with people of various faiths—including Christianity—regarding the certainty of their destiny. John says his purpose in writing is to assure them of eternal life…not because of their works, of course, but because of their faith in Jesus.
Do you know you have eternal life? If you believe in Jesus, if you believe he died and rose again, if you believe he is the way, the truth, and the life, if you believe he is the ultimate example of what it means to be human, if you have surrendered your life to Jesus, then you can know that you have eternal life. This is good news. This is great news! Furthermore, the writer of Romans declares,
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-29)
John continues with more great news for followers of Jesus.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)
Does this mean God always hears our prayers? Yes!
Does this mean God always answers our prayers? Yes!
Does this mean God always answers our prayers the way we want? No!
We have everything we have asked of God…if we are seeking first His will, His Kingdom, His way. God’s will is not for us to be the center of the universe. He provides for our needs but doesn’t necessary honor self-centered requests for our every desire. If we are truly following Jesus, our heart will sync with his heart. Let’s ask of God now.
Prayer is a popular church topic, but one often filled with negative emotions. Do I pray enough? Am I good at prayer? What if I get bored? What if I fall asleep? What if I simply forget? What if I don’t know what to say? Do I have to bow my head? Close my eyes? Pray out loud?
I used to think prayer was talking to God. Then I thought prayer was talking with God. But now I believe prayer is doing life with God. It is far more than a wish list we tell God. It includes petitions, but also praise, thanksgiving, confession, prayers for others, and I would add questions, fears, doubts, and moments of awe and wonder.
I like the three essential prayers of Anne Lamott: help, thanks, wow!
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Prayer is not only the utterance of the lips; it is also the desire of the heart.”
We could talk all day about prayer and we should pray all day…today and every day. What are you up to, LORD? What makes You happy? Sad? Angry? What is my next step in loving You? Loving others? What is Your will for my life? For College First? For our nation and world? For the sake of time, we must move on!
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. (1 John 5:16-17)
Sin is anything that separates us from God. It may be something we do. It may be something we fail to do. All sin ultimately leads to death…the death of a relationship, peace, eternal life, or even natural life. Earlier John said failing to believe Jesus came and died for sinners would result in death…eternal death. We have eternal life by believing Jesus died and rose from the dead and following him.
Failing to love may not result in physical death, but we are commanded to love, to pray for others, pray that God’s love would flow through us to others.
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. (1 John 5:18)
We all sin. We all continue to sin after encountering God. Followers of Jesus do not continue to sin without remorse and regret. We are not proud of our sin. We struggle with it, sometimes failing…and then turning to God with repentance for forgiveness. Christ followers are kept safe from the evil one.
We also need to turn to one another sometimes…to forgive or ask for forgiveness. As we journey together, we will inevitably step on one another’s toes. It’s usually accidental, but the other person may not be aware of the pain they caused. We need to take Matthew 18 seriously.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matt. 18:15-17)
Is this easy? No.
Does it involve conflict? Yes.
Is it biblical? Obviously!
The kingdom of this world cancels when hurt. In the kingdom of God, we confront…with love. We cry, “Ouch!” We seek reconciliation rather than retaliation. While others get bitter, we get better and restore the relationship. Family, we must speak up and say, “Help me understand.” There are exceptions, but often the conflict is based upon a misunderstanding, a mistake, or even someone simply having a bad day. We need grace and forgiveness and we need to be quick to extend it to others…as God has extended it so generously to us. Jesus said,
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)
You might feel as though you’ve sinned beyond God’s forgiveness, and I want to declare to you such a thing is impossible. If you seek forgiveness from God, it will be granted. Listen to a portion of Psalm 103.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust. (Psalm 103:10-14)
When Jesus died, he didn’t die for some of your sins. He died for all of them!
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)
This is why we feel tension in our world. It’s why we can’t keep up with the Joneses! This world is not our home. I’m baffled when Christians wonder why the world is evil. It’s under satan’s control…for now! His day will come. I can’t wait! Don’t ever expect the world to act like the Kingdom of God. It’s the world! We are called to life differently. We are called to forgive, to serve, to bless, …to love.
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
That is one true verse! Three sentences. Three uses of the word true!
Who is true? Jesus. He is the true God and eternal life. Last week we noted a conversation with Thomas.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Jesus is life. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. Truth is a person. Do you know him? Do you follow him?
Now we come to the last verse of the entire letter. John doesn’t end with a “sincerely” or “best regards” or even a blessing. He closes his letter by saying,
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)
His closing words are, “No idols.” First, he reminds them they are dear—dear children—and then says
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. (1 John 5:21, NLT)
Over 100 verses in the Bible speak about idols, including the second of the ten commandments.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. (Exodus 20:4)
Idols have been a part of the human condition almost from the beginning.
They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, “You shall not do this.” (2 Kings 17:12)
We do, too. Maybe you don’t bow down to a statue, but we are all drawn to other gods, other things that receive our attention…our time, our money, our energy, our thoughts, our worship. It’s possible that John had in mind not an idol of stone or wood, but false beliefs about Jesus. The Old Testament associates idolatry with injustice. It might represent a failure to love.
I struggle sometimes with the 2nd commandment. I want to be in control, comfortable, wealthy, powerful, secure, recognized, celebrated, privileged, safe, and pampered. The problem is when I’m focused on myself, I can’t see God. When I obsess about my fears, I can’t give God my attention. When I worry or fret or lust or covet or embrace bitterness or fail to love, I’m not walking in the light of God…and I’m certainly not living according to His will so of course my prayers will not be answered the way I seek. Of course I will eventually be anxious, lonely, and/or upset.
So What?
I don’t know what idols are in your life, but I want to give you time to acknowledge them and confess them. God is ready and willing to forgive, but we need to agree with Him that we have sinned and we need to repent, turn, return to following Jesus.
Remember,
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
We can ask God for anything, including forgiveness. Hallelujah!
Amen!
Life, 29 June 2025
Life
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
June 29, 2025
1 John 5:1-12
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:1-5
Benjamin Franklin famously said, “…in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” We spend our lives trying to avoid both!
The subject of life and death has been very personal for me, especially this year. I have attended more funerals this year than any year of my life…and we’re not even halfway through the year! Some deaths are tragic, even horrifying. Others are expected, though none of us know our expiration date. As many of you know, I officiated the funeral of my grandma last weekend Missouri. It was truly a celebration of a life well-lived, serving people and loving Jesus. She was a remarkable lady. You can read about her in Proverbs 31! Our text today says,
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
Grandma knew Jesus. Grandma knew life.
We’ve been studying the book of 1 John for several weeks and today we’ll cover the first part of the final chapter, finishing next Sunday. It begins…
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. (1 John 5:1)
We frequently use the expression “Jesus Christ.” Christ is not Jesus’ last name. It’s a word that means anointed. Tragically, it has become a swear word to some people.
Do you believe Jesus is the Christ? This is not merely do you believe in God. Most USAmericans believe in God, but what do you mean by God? When we say Jesus is the Christ, we are declaring he is the promised Messiah of the Jews, the son of God, fully God, fully human, and worthy of not merely intellectual belief, but surrender, commitment, allegiance.
When we say yes to Jesus, we are adopted into his family. I often refer to you, church, as family because that’s what we are…brothers and sisters, spiritual siblings. If you love our heavenly Dad, you love His other kids, too.
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. (1 John 5:2)
We love others by loving God. We love God by loving others. We should never separate them. Jesus said the entire law is summarized by loving God and loving others as ourselves.
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. (1 John 5:3a)
I’ve said obedience is God’s love language. You can’t love God and hate people. You can’t love God and hate immigrants or Iranians or Jews or Palestinians or Wolverines or Buckeyes or whites or blacks or browns or anyone else. Love means love! Jesus died for every illegal alien, prostitute, drag queen, corrupt politician, drunk driver, child abuser, and preacher.
My heart is heavy when people claim to love God but hate people…any people!
This is so simple, but not easy. Love never is, because it requires humility, sacrifice, and service. One thing about loving God is He made the first move. Our love is a response to His.
And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3b-5)
Without God’s love, we can’t love others. We’ve been given power to resist evil, the fruit of the Holy Spirit which includes self-control, and the hope of heaven, eternity with God. We are not victorious because of what we’ve done, but we’re victorious because of the work of Jesus through the cross and the empty tomb.
Some of you saw the Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals yesterday. It’s like being on the winning team not because you got a hit, but rather your teammate hit a home run. He gives us the victory. He gives us the power. He has overcome the world. Hallelujah!
Side note: the Greek word here for victory is nike (NEE-kay). Perhaps you’ve heard of it!
This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (1 John 5:6-8)
Some taught Jesus was a man who became the Messiah when the Holy Spirit came upon him at his baptism…and left before the crucifixion. John is saying Jesus was already the Christ at his baptism—water—and crucifixion—blood. Jesus is fully God and fully human and the Holy Spirit, baptism, and death all bear witness to this reality…to say nothing of the empty tomb.
It's worth noting some have seen water and blood as referencing the ordinances of baptism and communion, and still others note both came from Jesus’ side when pierced on the cross.
We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:9-11)
The Greek word for “life” here is zoe. Eternal life is found in Jesus. It’s not from our good works, but his amazing grace.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
This is where we started. Jesus is life. No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.
Do you know Jesus? Do your friends? Family? Neighbors?
It doesn’t take long for any of us to encounter people who don’t know Jesus. I’m not talking about religion, but a relationship with Jesus. We have the privilege of introducing people to Jesus, the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah.
We live in exciting times when people are looking for answers. Young people are searching for freedom from anxiety. Chaos and stress surround us. Uncertainty fills the air. We can’t even trust the news. What is really true anymore?
Good news needs to be shared, and the greatest news is that Jesus is LORD. No president, king, prime minister, scientist, athlete, movie star, or social media pundit can back up that claim. Jesus is LORD means God is in control, this world has a purpose, heaven is for real, hope is here, love is boundless.
One of my favorite tools for sharing great news is a question: where are you on your spiritual journey? Many people today claim to be spiritual but not religious. Ask them about their spirituality. It may open a door for them to ask you to give the reason for the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15).
We can also participate in global evangelism—proclaiming good news—by praying, giving, and serving with Global Reach of the Churches of God, General Conference, our denominational family.
In a conversation with Thomas,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Jesus is life. He is the life. Do you want more out of life? Do you want more life? Do you want to experience life to the max? It’s not found online. It’s not found in money or pleasure or power. It’s not even found in roller coasters or ice cream, though I love those! Listen to Jesus again.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
Again, John uses the word zoe for life. Jesus came to give us life!
So What?
Perhaps the only thing worse than someone dying is someone who never really lives.
At my grandma’s gravesite, we sang an old Gaither song, Because He Lives. I often think of it as an Easter song, but it was fitting as we said “see you later” to one of the most godly women I’ve ever known. The final verse says,
And then one day, I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then, as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!
The chorus:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
Paul wrote,
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 2:21)
Jesus is life.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
June 29, 2025
1 John 5:1-12
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:1-5
Benjamin Franklin famously said, “…in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” We spend our lives trying to avoid both!
The subject of life and death has been very personal for me, especially this year. I have attended more funerals this year than any year of my life…and we’re not even halfway through the year! Some deaths are tragic, even horrifying. Others are expected, though none of us know our expiration date. As many of you know, I officiated the funeral of my grandma last weekend Missouri. It was truly a celebration of a life well-lived, serving people and loving Jesus. She was a remarkable lady. You can read about her in Proverbs 31! Our text today says,
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
Grandma knew Jesus. Grandma knew life.
We’ve been studying the book of 1 John for several weeks and today we’ll cover the first part of the final chapter, finishing next Sunday. It begins…
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. (1 John 5:1)
We frequently use the expression “Jesus Christ.” Christ is not Jesus’ last name. It’s a word that means anointed. Tragically, it has become a swear word to some people.
Do you believe Jesus is the Christ? This is not merely do you believe in God. Most USAmericans believe in God, but what do you mean by God? When we say Jesus is the Christ, we are declaring he is the promised Messiah of the Jews, the son of God, fully God, fully human, and worthy of not merely intellectual belief, but surrender, commitment, allegiance.
When we say yes to Jesus, we are adopted into his family. I often refer to you, church, as family because that’s what we are…brothers and sisters, spiritual siblings. If you love our heavenly Dad, you love His other kids, too.
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. (1 John 5:2)
We love others by loving God. We love God by loving others. We should never separate them. Jesus said the entire law is summarized by loving God and loving others as ourselves.
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. (1 John 5:3a)
I’ve said obedience is God’s love language. You can’t love God and hate people. You can’t love God and hate immigrants or Iranians or Jews or Palestinians or Wolverines or Buckeyes or whites or blacks or browns or anyone else. Love means love! Jesus died for every illegal alien, prostitute, drag queen, corrupt politician, drunk driver, child abuser, and preacher.
My heart is heavy when people claim to love God but hate people…any people!
This is so simple, but not easy. Love never is, because it requires humility, sacrifice, and service. One thing about loving God is He made the first move. Our love is a response to His.
And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3b-5)
Without God’s love, we can’t love others. We’ve been given power to resist evil, the fruit of the Holy Spirit which includes self-control, and the hope of heaven, eternity with God. We are not victorious because of what we’ve done, but we’re victorious because of the work of Jesus through the cross and the empty tomb.
Some of you saw the Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals yesterday. It’s like being on the winning team not because you got a hit, but rather your teammate hit a home run. He gives us the victory. He gives us the power. He has overcome the world. Hallelujah!
Side note: the Greek word here for victory is nike (NEE-kay). Perhaps you’ve heard of it!
This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (1 John 5:6-8)
Some taught Jesus was a man who became the Messiah when the Holy Spirit came upon him at his baptism…and left before the crucifixion. John is saying Jesus was already the Christ at his baptism—water—and crucifixion—blood. Jesus is fully God and fully human and the Holy Spirit, baptism, and death all bear witness to this reality…to say nothing of the empty tomb.
It's worth noting some have seen water and blood as referencing the ordinances of baptism and communion, and still others note both came from Jesus’ side when pierced on the cross.
We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:9-11)
The Greek word for “life” here is zoe. Eternal life is found in Jesus. It’s not from our good works, but his amazing grace.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
This is where we started. Jesus is life. No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.
Do you know Jesus? Do your friends? Family? Neighbors?
It doesn’t take long for any of us to encounter people who don’t know Jesus. I’m not talking about religion, but a relationship with Jesus. We have the privilege of introducing people to Jesus, the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah.
We live in exciting times when people are looking for answers. Young people are searching for freedom from anxiety. Chaos and stress surround us. Uncertainty fills the air. We can’t even trust the news. What is really true anymore?
Good news needs to be shared, and the greatest news is that Jesus is LORD. No president, king, prime minister, scientist, athlete, movie star, or social media pundit can back up that claim. Jesus is LORD means God is in control, this world has a purpose, heaven is for real, hope is here, love is boundless.
One of my favorite tools for sharing great news is a question: where are you on your spiritual journey? Many people today claim to be spiritual but not religious. Ask them about their spirituality. It may open a door for them to ask you to give the reason for the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15).
We can also participate in global evangelism—proclaiming good news—by praying, giving, and serving with Global Reach of the Churches of God, General Conference, our denominational family.
In a conversation with Thomas,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Jesus is life. He is the life. Do you want more out of life? Do you want more life? Do you want to experience life to the max? It’s not found online. It’s not found in money or pleasure or power. It’s not even found in roller coasters or ice cream, though I love those! Listen to Jesus again.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
Again, John uses the word zoe for life. Jesus came to give us life!
So What?
Perhaps the only thing worse than someone dying is someone who never really lives.
At my grandma’s gravesite, we sang an old Gaither song, Because He Lives. I often think of it as an Easter song, but it was fitting as we said “see you later” to one of the most godly women I’ve ever known. The final verse says,
And then one day, I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then, as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!
The chorus:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
Paul wrote,
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 2:21)
Jesus is life.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
My grandma had Jesus. My grandma had life. Today my grandma has life. Do you?
No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.
Pentecost, 8 June 2025
Pentecost
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
June 8, 2025
Acts 2
Big Idea: The events of Acts 2 transformed the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-4
What is your favorite holiday? Our calendar is filled with religious holidays like Palm Sunday and Passover. We have national holidays like President’s Day and Veteran’s Day. There are “Hallmark” holidays like Secretary’s Day and Groundhog Day. Each is a day to remember, celebrate, and/or appreciate. While Christmas and Easter get most of the attention, Pentecost belongs in the same conversation, a day commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
One of the hardest things in life is saying goodbye to those we love. It may be the result of an extended vacation, a relocation, or a death. I can only imagine the horror of the disciples on Good Friday as they watched their rabbi crucified, their hopes dashed, their loss unbearable. Of course, he told them he would die, though they didn’t understand. Easter undid their grief and pain, but Jesus would leave them again on a day known as Ascension Sunday, recognized on May 29 this year. This was all part of God’s plan, of course. Jesus said,
“If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth…I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:15-19)
Two chapters later, John records these words of Jesus:
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John 16:7-11)
Dr. Luke recorded Jesus’ prophecy concerning the Holy Spirit in the first chapter of Acts.
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. (Acts 1:7)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This is one of my favorite scriptures. It not only announces the coming of the Holy Spirit, it offers a glimpse at the trajectory of the early Church. Jesus says after the Holy Spirit comes, his friends will be his witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but in Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth. It’s worth noting “witnesses” in the original Greek language is martus, also defined as martyr. Indeed, it is generally believed that the twelve disciples would all become martyrs except for…John, who would be boiled in hot oil!
Although Acts was not written to us, it is certainly for us. When I think about the flow of the gospel in the first century, I envision a similar expansion of the gospel from College First as we love, equip, and send. Where do we send? Across the street and around the world, from Findlay to Finland and everywhere in between. Contextualizing Acts 1:8 might look something like this:
Jerusalem: our home, College First Church of God
Judea: our community
Samaria: the Great Lakes Conference
Ends of the earth: our broader denominational family, the Churches of God, General Conference with ministry in about a dozen countries outside of the USA
Church family, the Holy Spirit has come on us. We are God’s witnesses and even martyrs here and around the world. We’re part of a global movement changing the world one life at a time! What a privilege. What a joy! What meaning and purpose.
If you give, serve, or pray, you’re a part of this movement, the Kingdom of God. Thank you!
In Acts 1:8, Jesus prophesied what would happen in Acts 2, the day of Pentecost.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (Acts 2:1-3)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)
You may know the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. God confused the language of the whole world as people were trying to build a tower reaching to the heavens. Acts 2 was a reversal of the Tower of Babel. Reading on…
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. (Acts 2:5-6)
What a miracle! The Holy Spirit shows up, there’s the sound of a violent wind, they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire, people from around the world hear people declaring the wonders of God in their native tongue, and the people are “utterly amazed.”
Peter then preaches a bold sermon, calling people to repentance. The result?
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41)
The miracle of tongues captivates the crowd, but Peter’s preaching results in repentance, fulfilled prophecy (Joel 2, Psalm 16, 110), and baptisms. Many see this as the launch of the Church. 3000 people joined in one day! I’d call that revival! But this is only the beginning.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
This wasn’t the first Pentecost. It (Shavuot) was already on the Jewish calendar as a celebration of the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law at Sinai. But in Acts 2, we see a new covenant formed as the Spirit is poured out on all believers.
Throughout Acts, the Spirit continues to empower the Church with gifts, fruit, and miracles. Some Christians believe certain spiritual gifts have ceased. But in the Churches of God, General Conference…
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is God.
We believe the Holy Spirit has always been engaged in God’s work.
We believe the Holy Spirit revealed himself in a new way on the day of Pentecost.
We believe the Holy Spirit can be known and experienced.
We believe the Holy Spirit endows the followers of Christ with the unity of the Spirit.
We believe the Holy Spirit enables believers to grow spiritually.
We believe the filling of the Holy Spirit is ongoing, present, and active in the lives of believers.
We believe the Holy Spirit dispenses spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.
We believe the fruit of the Spirit is the essential evidence of a believer’s filling with the Holy Spirit.
So What?
After spending years saving up for a cruise, a man was delighted to board the massive ship, eager to enjoy the views, the entertainment, and fellow passengers. He met several friends throughout the voyage. At the end of the journey, he was asked why he disappeared during the meals.
“I packed peanut butter, jelly, and bread to eat. I could barely afford the cruise. I could never afford the extravagant food on the cruise,” he said.
His friends replied, “All the food is included!” He missed the benefits that were his all along.
In a similar way, many Christians who receive Jesus are unaware of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is included!
The Holy Spirit is not an abstract force or a ghost. He is a Person—God Himself—moving among us. Like the wind, we can’t control the Spirit, but we can follow His lead.
Today, I’m praying for more love, more power, more of the Holy Spirit in my life—and in the life of College First. I’m not interested in “playing church,” entertaining, or impressing. I want to be part of a Spirit-filled movement that makes disciples of all nations.
“Go and make disciples... baptizing them... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
June 8, 2025
Acts 2
Big Idea: The events of Acts 2 transformed the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-4
What is your favorite holiday? Our calendar is filled with religious holidays like Palm Sunday and Passover. We have national holidays like President’s Day and Veteran’s Day. There are “Hallmark” holidays like Secretary’s Day and Groundhog Day. Each is a day to remember, celebrate, and/or appreciate. While Christmas and Easter get most of the attention, Pentecost belongs in the same conversation, a day commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
One of the hardest things in life is saying goodbye to those we love. It may be the result of an extended vacation, a relocation, or a death. I can only imagine the horror of the disciples on Good Friday as they watched their rabbi crucified, their hopes dashed, their loss unbearable. Of course, he told them he would die, though they didn’t understand. Easter undid their grief and pain, but Jesus would leave them again on a day known as Ascension Sunday, recognized on May 29 this year. This was all part of God’s plan, of course. Jesus said,
“If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth…I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:15-19)
Two chapters later, John records these words of Jesus:
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John 16:7-11)
Dr. Luke recorded Jesus’ prophecy concerning the Holy Spirit in the first chapter of Acts.
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. (Acts 1:7)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This is one of my favorite scriptures. It not only announces the coming of the Holy Spirit, it offers a glimpse at the trajectory of the early Church. Jesus says after the Holy Spirit comes, his friends will be his witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but in Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth. It’s worth noting “witnesses” in the original Greek language is martus, also defined as martyr. Indeed, it is generally believed that the twelve disciples would all become martyrs except for…John, who would be boiled in hot oil!
Although Acts was not written to us, it is certainly for us. When I think about the flow of the gospel in the first century, I envision a similar expansion of the gospel from College First as we love, equip, and send. Where do we send? Across the street and around the world, from Findlay to Finland and everywhere in between. Contextualizing Acts 1:8 might look something like this:
Jerusalem: our home, College First Church of God
Judea: our community
Samaria: the Great Lakes Conference
Ends of the earth: our broader denominational family, the Churches of God, General Conference with ministry in about a dozen countries outside of the USA
Church family, the Holy Spirit has come on us. We are God’s witnesses and even martyrs here and around the world. We’re part of a global movement changing the world one life at a time! What a privilege. What a joy! What meaning and purpose.
If you give, serve, or pray, you’re a part of this movement, the Kingdom of God. Thank you!
In Acts 1:8, Jesus prophesied what would happen in Acts 2, the day of Pentecost.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (Acts 2:1-3)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)
You may know the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. God confused the language of the whole world as people were trying to build a tower reaching to the heavens. Acts 2 was a reversal of the Tower of Babel. Reading on…
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. (Acts 2:5-6)
What a miracle! The Holy Spirit shows up, there’s the sound of a violent wind, they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire, people from around the world hear people declaring the wonders of God in their native tongue, and the people are “utterly amazed.”
Peter then preaches a bold sermon, calling people to repentance. The result?
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41)
The miracle of tongues captivates the crowd, but Peter’s preaching results in repentance, fulfilled prophecy (Joel 2, Psalm 16, 110), and baptisms. Many see this as the launch of the Church. 3000 people joined in one day! I’d call that revival! But this is only the beginning.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
This wasn’t the first Pentecost. It (Shavuot) was already on the Jewish calendar as a celebration of the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law at Sinai. But in Acts 2, we see a new covenant formed as the Spirit is poured out on all believers.
Throughout Acts, the Spirit continues to empower the Church with gifts, fruit, and miracles. Some Christians believe certain spiritual gifts have ceased. But in the Churches of God, General Conference…
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is God.
We believe the Holy Spirit has always been engaged in God’s work.
We believe the Holy Spirit revealed himself in a new way on the day of Pentecost.
We believe the Holy Spirit can be known and experienced.
We believe the Holy Spirit endows the followers of Christ with the unity of the Spirit.
We believe the Holy Spirit enables believers to grow spiritually.
We believe the filling of the Holy Spirit is ongoing, present, and active in the lives of believers.
We believe the Holy Spirit dispenses spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.
We believe the fruit of the Spirit is the essential evidence of a believer’s filling with the Holy Spirit.
So What?
After spending years saving up for a cruise, a man was delighted to board the massive ship, eager to enjoy the views, the entertainment, and fellow passengers. He met several friends throughout the voyage. At the end of the journey, he was asked why he disappeared during the meals.
“I packed peanut butter, jelly, and bread to eat. I could barely afford the cruise. I could never afford the extravagant food on the cruise,” he said.
His friends replied, “All the food is included!” He missed the benefits that were his all along.
In a similar way, many Christians who receive Jesus are unaware of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is included!
The Holy Spirit is not an abstract force or a ghost. He is a Person—God Himself—moving among us. Like the wind, we can’t control the Spirit, but we can follow His lead.
Today, I’m praying for more love, more power, more of the Holy Spirit in my life—and in the life of College First. I’m not interested in “playing church,” entertaining, or impressing. I want to be part of a Spirit-filled movement that makes disciples of all nations.
“Go and make disciples... baptizing them... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
Actions, 1 June 2025
Actions
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
June 1, 2025
1 John 3:11-24
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Although it’s not an exact quote from the Bible, there’s a phrase I like to use. It was mentioned in 1628 by John Pym in the UK’s Parliamentary records. Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, and Dale Carnegie believed it. Thomas Mantono’s sermons 1693 refer to it. Cultures from Africa to Japan have spoken it. The phrase…actions speak louder than words.
We’re in the middle of a series on the short book of 1 John. It’s an epistle, a letter to first-century Christians. Throughout the series, we’ve seen certain words and phrases repeated including the word love which appears seven times in today's text.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:11)
I know it’s not popular to “should” people, but John “shoulds” his audience. Obviously this isn’t shocking news. Jesus said, “Love one another” in John 13:34. Romans 13:8 records it. Peter said it twice in his first epistle. John mentions it in both 1 and 2 John.
It has been heard from the beginning. Amazingly, the first use of the English word “love” in the NIV translation of the Bible besides husband/wife intimacy is in Genesis chapter 20! In the NLT, it’s not until the 22nd chapter of Genesis where God says to Abraham,
“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (Genesis 22:2, NLT)
Certainly the concept of love has been expressed by God since creation in the first verse of the Bible, both God’s love for us and human love for one another. The English language uses the same word “love” to describe many different things. The love I have for my wife, sister, mom, God, and ice cream are different. John uses the Greek word agapao, agape love. It means benevolence, goodwill, pure, sacrificial love. It desires the highest good of others and is the highest form of love, demonstrated in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, rooted in God’s character.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:11)
We should agape one another.
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
(1 John 3:12)
It’s obvious to say don’t murder, but the first brothers are a great example of the contrast between evil and righteousness. Murder is not love!
Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. (1 Jn 3:13)
It amazes me how people are surprised when the world doesn’t embrace the Kingdom of God. The world hates it. It hates Jesus. It hates his followers. You can’t love God and the world. You must choose who will you follow. Jesus said,
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13)
You cannot serve both God and money.
You cannot serve both God and fame.
You cannot serve both God and power.
You cannot serve both God and yourself.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. (1 John 3:14)
Love = life
No love = death
Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. (1 John 3:15)
You may be thinking, “I haven’t murdered anyone!” Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22)
Jesus always raises the bar, making it harder to achieve perfection. He knows we can’t, which is why we need him. We need the cross and empty tomb. We need forgiveness and mercy and grace, which we will remember in a few moments.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:16)
“Jesus, let’s not get carried away! Die for others?” That’s what love requires. That’s what following Jesus looks like in the real world. It’s radical! It’s not just a warm, fuzzy feeling in my head. It requires action.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? (1 John 3:17)
This one might be harder! How many opportunities do we have to die for someone? But how often do we see a brother or sister in need? Probably every Sunday! Maybe every day!
I’m going to open a can of worms for a moment. There are many reasons why people are in need. Some are self-inflicted, others are what people would call “bad luck.” Some people do not want to get well. Others require professional help. Often the worst thing we can do is offer handouts instead of hand-ups. I’m grateful for Christian Clearing House, City Mission, the Women’s Resource Center, and other local ministry partners who are able to screen people and assess if they really want to get well.
I have people show up on our campus frequently asking for help. I want to love them well, but what they want and what they need may be two different things. Hancock County has a great directory of over 100 different resources available to help with housing, mental health, food, crisis, clothing, transportation, and finances, just to name a few. We have copies at our office window.
Let’s not forget our brother and sister may be on the other side of the world, which is why I appreciate the work of the Global Reach of the Churches of God, General Conference and groups like Compassion International.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
Talk is cheap. Walk the talk. Actions speak louder than words. As my friends at That Neighborhood Church in Toledo say, “Love God. Love others. Prove it!” Sometimes prayer can be a way to love someone, but often people need time, labor, wisdom, money, a ride, shelter, or other things that require more than good thoughts or happy vibes.
This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. (1 John 3:19-22)
I like to say God’s love language is obedience.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. (1 John 3:23)
Love one another. That’s how we please God. That’s how we love God!
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:24)
We will talk more about the Holy Spirit next week on Pentecost Sunday at 10 AM before our annual picnic. I can’t wait!
So What?
Our world is filled with cultural Christians, Sunday Christians, religious Christians. The true test of our faith is a four-letter word…L-O-V-E. If you need a refresher, here’s what it looks like:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Does that describe your life, your love? I pray we would be known not for our politics, policies, or dogma, but by our love. Sacrifice. Actions speak louder than words.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
June 1, 2025
1 John 3:11-24
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Although it’s not an exact quote from the Bible, there’s a phrase I like to use. It was mentioned in 1628 by John Pym in the UK’s Parliamentary records. Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, and Dale Carnegie believed it. Thomas Mantono’s sermons 1693 refer to it. Cultures from Africa to Japan have spoken it. The phrase…actions speak louder than words.
We’re in the middle of a series on the short book of 1 John. It’s an epistle, a letter to first-century Christians. Throughout the series, we’ve seen certain words and phrases repeated including the word love which appears seven times in today's text.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:11)
I know it’s not popular to “should” people, but John “shoulds” his audience. Obviously this isn’t shocking news. Jesus said, “Love one another” in John 13:34. Romans 13:8 records it. Peter said it twice in his first epistle. John mentions it in both 1 and 2 John.
It has been heard from the beginning. Amazingly, the first use of the English word “love” in the NIV translation of the Bible besides husband/wife intimacy is in Genesis chapter 20! In the NLT, it’s not until the 22nd chapter of Genesis where God says to Abraham,
“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (Genesis 22:2, NLT)
Certainly the concept of love has been expressed by God since creation in the first verse of the Bible, both God’s love for us and human love for one another. The English language uses the same word “love” to describe many different things. The love I have for my wife, sister, mom, God, and ice cream are different. John uses the Greek word agapao, agape love. It means benevolence, goodwill, pure, sacrificial love. It desires the highest good of others and is the highest form of love, demonstrated in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, rooted in God’s character.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:11)
We should agape one another.
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
(1 John 3:12)
It’s obvious to say don’t murder, but the first brothers are a great example of the contrast between evil and righteousness. Murder is not love!
Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. (1 Jn 3:13)
It amazes me how people are surprised when the world doesn’t embrace the Kingdom of God. The world hates it. It hates Jesus. It hates his followers. You can’t love God and the world. You must choose who will you follow. Jesus said,
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13)
You cannot serve both God and money.
You cannot serve both God and fame.
You cannot serve both God and power.
You cannot serve both God and yourself.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. (1 John 3:14)
Love = life
No love = death
Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. (1 John 3:15)
You may be thinking, “I haven’t murdered anyone!” Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22)
Jesus always raises the bar, making it harder to achieve perfection. He knows we can’t, which is why we need him. We need the cross and empty tomb. We need forgiveness and mercy and grace, which we will remember in a few moments.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:16)
“Jesus, let’s not get carried away! Die for others?” That’s what love requires. That’s what following Jesus looks like in the real world. It’s radical! It’s not just a warm, fuzzy feeling in my head. It requires action.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? (1 John 3:17)
This one might be harder! How many opportunities do we have to die for someone? But how often do we see a brother or sister in need? Probably every Sunday! Maybe every day!
I’m going to open a can of worms for a moment. There are many reasons why people are in need. Some are self-inflicted, others are what people would call “bad luck.” Some people do not want to get well. Others require professional help. Often the worst thing we can do is offer handouts instead of hand-ups. I’m grateful for Christian Clearing House, City Mission, the Women’s Resource Center, and other local ministry partners who are able to screen people and assess if they really want to get well.
I have people show up on our campus frequently asking for help. I want to love them well, but what they want and what they need may be two different things. Hancock County has a great directory of over 100 different resources available to help with housing, mental health, food, crisis, clothing, transportation, and finances, just to name a few. We have copies at our office window.
Let’s not forget our brother and sister may be on the other side of the world, which is why I appreciate the work of the Global Reach of the Churches of God, General Conference and groups like Compassion International.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
Talk is cheap. Walk the talk. Actions speak louder than words. As my friends at That Neighborhood Church in Toledo say, “Love God. Love others. Prove it!” Sometimes prayer can be a way to love someone, but often people need time, labor, wisdom, money, a ride, shelter, or other things that require more than good thoughts or happy vibes.
This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. (1 John 3:19-22)
I like to say God’s love language is obedience.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. (1 John 3:23)
Love one another. That’s how we please God. That’s how we love God!
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:24)
We will talk more about the Holy Spirit next week on Pentecost Sunday at 10 AM before our annual picnic. I can’t wait!
So What?
Our world is filled with cultural Christians, Sunday Christians, religious Christians. The true test of our faith is a four-letter word…L-O-V-E. If you need a refresher, here’s what it looks like:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Does that describe your life, your love? I pray we would be known not for our politics, policies, or dogma, but by our love. Sacrifice. Actions speak louder than words.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
Children of God, 25 May 2025
Children of God
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
May 18, 2025
1 John 3:1-10
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: Children of God are loved beyond measure.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:1-6
Who are you? This is one of life’s two most important questions, I believe, the other being who is Jesus? The older I get, the more I value the importance of identity. There’s a primal dimension to self-awareness and how we view ourselves. I am pastor, husband, dad, papa, son, Findlayan, entrepreneur, musician,…but my primary identity is child of the Most High God.
If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’ve been adopted into God’s family (Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). You are His precious son or daughter, and any identity you attach to yourself above child of God is an idol. I’ve met so-called Christians whose primary identity is their politics, sports teams, or occupations. I appreciate those affiliations, but nothing compares to being a child of God.
We’ve been studying John’s first epistle or short letter written to early Christians. Today’s text in chapter three begins with two beautiful sentences:
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1a)
Great love.
Lavished.
Children of God.
What we are.
If we could grasp this, our lives would be transformed. College First would be transformed. Jesus died for us while we were his enemies. That’s crazy love!
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1b)
This echoes his earlier distinction between the world’s kingdom and God’s Kingdom. The world doesn’t know God, so they don’t know us…unless we introduce them to Him!
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
John drops more zingers in what may be the best verse in today’s text:
He repeats our identity as children of God.
We have a bright, hopeful future.
Christ will appear.
We will be like Jesus.
We will clearly see Jesus.
Hallelujah!
There is so much hope in this verse! I’ve mentioned new, resurrected bodies, but a glorious future, being in the presence of Jesus…I can’t wait! As the old song says,
It will be worth it all
When we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
When we see Christ
One glimpse of his dear face
All sorrow will erase
So, bravely run the race
Till we see Christ.
All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)
Jesus is pure, so we must purify ourselves and become like him. That’s the goal…to become like Jesus. The word Christian was originally a term of contempt or scorn or disdain by Gentiles from the Greek word christianos. But does it describe you? Do people confuse you with Jesus? In contrast to the purity of Jesus…
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. (1 John 3:4-6)
This does not mean Christians are perfect (see 1:8-10). We all sin, but are you proud of your sin or repentant? Children of God desire to follow Jesus, though we fail, at times. Children of the world have no interest in pleasing God and live for themselves. Sin is living in a state of rebellion against God.
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. (1 John 3:7-8)
I love that last sentence! Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work! The victory is underway, though not yet complete. But if I can skip ahead for a moment, in chapter 4 we will read,
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
Hallelujah! This is good news. This is great news! This raises some questions for me:
Why are victorious Christians often so downcast and discouraged?
Why are victorious Christians walking in darkness rather than light?
Why are victorious Christians often engaging in gossip, slander, pride, and greed?
Why are victorious Christians often filled with fear?
Why are victorious Christians often duped by conspiracy theories and fake news?
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. (1 John 3:9)
A true child of God does not live in habitual, deliberate sin. They know God and repent when they sin. If you struggle with sin, if you want victory over sin, that’s the sign of a true child of God. If that’s you, get help. Tell a friend. Talk to a pastor. Join a support group. There are many in our community and some here at College First. Jesus died for your sins. He wants to set you free. The power of the Holy Spirit is available to you.
Followers of Jesus are regenerated, born again. They have a new nature. They become new creations. They are justified with a new, right standing before God. They are playing a new song and even though they may play a wrong note occasionally, they have a new piece of music now, a new page, a new life. The “seed”—God’s word—is alive in them.
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. (1 John 3:10)
Are you a child of God or a child of the devil? John doesn’t indicate it’s based upon beliefs, theology, or church attendance. Do you love God and your neighbor? Prove it! What if they vote differently? What if they are here legally from another country? What if they speak a different language, lack a good education, smell different, look different? Love is the test of our faith, our identity, our adoption. It’s not religious activity, but love for God and others. There are counterfeit Christians…children of the devil.
So What?
Who are you? If you’ve said “yes” to Jesus, you are a child of God, created in His image with dignity, value, and worth. That means you are no longer of the world. You do what is right. You stop sinning. You love well.
Today, some of you need to repent. Confess your sins and turn from darkness. Jesus is waiting for you to say yes and follow him. We’re here to help you on your journey. Don’t go alone.
And if you are a child of God, be reminded of who you are…
Video: https://www.fathersloveletter.com
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
May 18, 2025
1 John 3:1-10
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: Children of God are loved beyond measure.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:1-6
Who are you? This is one of life’s two most important questions, I believe, the other being who is Jesus? The older I get, the more I value the importance of identity. There’s a primal dimension to self-awareness and how we view ourselves. I am pastor, husband, dad, papa, son, Findlayan, entrepreneur, musician,…but my primary identity is child of the Most High God.
If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’ve been adopted into God’s family (Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). You are His precious son or daughter, and any identity you attach to yourself above child of God is an idol. I’ve met so-called Christians whose primary identity is their politics, sports teams, or occupations. I appreciate those affiliations, but nothing compares to being a child of God.
We’ve been studying John’s first epistle or short letter written to early Christians. Today’s text in chapter three begins with two beautiful sentences:
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1a)
Great love.
Lavished.
Children of God.
What we are.
If we could grasp this, our lives would be transformed. College First would be transformed. Jesus died for us while we were his enemies. That’s crazy love!
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1b)
This echoes his earlier distinction between the world’s kingdom and God’s Kingdom. The world doesn’t know God, so they don’t know us…unless we introduce them to Him!
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
John drops more zingers in what may be the best verse in today’s text:
He repeats our identity as children of God.
We have a bright, hopeful future.
Christ will appear.
We will be like Jesus.
We will clearly see Jesus.
Hallelujah!
There is so much hope in this verse! I’ve mentioned new, resurrected bodies, but a glorious future, being in the presence of Jesus…I can’t wait! As the old song says,
It will be worth it all
When we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
When we see Christ
One glimpse of his dear face
All sorrow will erase
So, bravely run the race
Till we see Christ.
All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)
Jesus is pure, so we must purify ourselves and become like him. That’s the goal…to become like Jesus. The word Christian was originally a term of contempt or scorn or disdain by Gentiles from the Greek word christianos. But does it describe you? Do people confuse you with Jesus? In contrast to the purity of Jesus…
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. (1 John 3:4-6)
This does not mean Christians are perfect (see 1:8-10). We all sin, but are you proud of your sin or repentant? Children of God desire to follow Jesus, though we fail, at times. Children of the world have no interest in pleasing God and live for themselves. Sin is living in a state of rebellion against God.
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. (1 John 3:7-8)
I love that last sentence! Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work! The victory is underway, though not yet complete. But if I can skip ahead for a moment, in chapter 4 we will read,
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
Hallelujah! This is good news. This is great news! This raises some questions for me:
Why are victorious Christians often so downcast and discouraged?
Why are victorious Christians walking in darkness rather than light?
Why are victorious Christians often engaging in gossip, slander, pride, and greed?
Why are victorious Christians often filled with fear?
Why are victorious Christians often duped by conspiracy theories and fake news?
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. (1 John 3:9)
A true child of God does not live in habitual, deliberate sin. They know God and repent when they sin. If you struggle with sin, if you want victory over sin, that’s the sign of a true child of God. If that’s you, get help. Tell a friend. Talk to a pastor. Join a support group. There are many in our community and some here at College First. Jesus died for your sins. He wants to set you free. The power of the Holy Spirit is available to you.
Followers of Jesus are regenerated, born again. They have a new nature. They become new creations. They are justified with a new, right standing before God. They are playing a new song and even though they may play a wrong note occasionally, they have a new piece of music now, a new page, a new life. The “seed”—God’s word—is alive in them.
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. (1 John 3:10)
Are you a child of God or a child of the devil? John doesn’t indicate it’s based upon beliefs, theology, or church attendance. Do you love God and your neighbor? Prove it! What if they vote differently? What if they are here legally from another country? What if they speak a different language, lack a good education, smell different, look different? Love is the test of our faith, our identity, our adoption. It’s not religious activity, but love for God and others. There are counterfeit Christians…children of the devil.
So What?
Who are you? If you’ve said “yes” to Jesus, you are a child of God, created in His image with dignity, value, and worth. That means you are no longer of the world. You do what is right. You stop sinning. You love well.
Today, some of you need to repent. Confess your sins and turn from darkness. Jesus is waiting for you to say yes and follow him. We’re here to help you on your journey. Don’t go alone.
And if you are a child of God, be reminded of who you are…
Video: https://www.fathersloveletter.com