Download discussion questions:  1 John 3:23-5:1

After our usual beginning time of looking over the passage and discussion questions individually, one attentive member of the group made the observation:  “This is the same passage as last week.”  The text of 1 John 3:23 to 5:1 had much to say related to the second section of the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in Jesus Christ….”  Likewise, the same passage has several statements relating to this week’s topic:  “I believe in the Holy Spirit….”  This is a good example of the richness of Scripture.  Spending an hour discussing or several hours studying a passage never exhausts the depth of God’s message in that text. Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 3:23-5:1

John’s letter continued to warn against deceivers and those who would misrepresent who Jesus is.  Since one of the functions of the Creed is to provide a framework for understanding the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 1 John provides a good starting point for this study. Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 3:1-24

After last week’s introduction to the Apostles’ Creed, the next three weeks will be spent on each section of the Creed:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 2:18-3:3
Download a copy of the Apostles’ Creed

A four-week study of the Apostles’ Creed will of necessity be a cursory overview.[1]  Cursory does not mean superficial.  The goal is to use Scripture as our foundation and starting point.  We want to examine each section of the Creed (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in light of Biblical teaching:  Does the Bible really say that?  Does the Creed provide an accurate (if not exhaustive) description of our faith?  Are there topics not in the Creed that are essential to saving faith?  Are there parts of the Creed that are not necessary? Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 2:9-17

After spending ten minutes or so looking at the passage individually, our discussion started with, “What questions come to mind as you read this passage?”  The numerous responses were mostly about the central section (verses 12-14).  “Those verses don’t seem to fit with what John was saying.  Who is he writing to?  Does he mean literal children and fathers and young men?  Is he describing stages of spiritual life?  Why doesn’t he mention women?”  Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 2:1-11

In the passage last week, John had a lot to say about spiritual maturity and how our claims can be measured by our conduct (1 John 1:5-2:2).  This week we picked up with the beginning of chapter 2.  John’s desire for writing, “so that you may not sin,” applies to both what he wrote before in chapter 1 and what we looked at in chapter 2. Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 1:3-2:2
Download outline format:  1 John1:3-2:2

Last week we saw John’s emphatic introduction about first-hand “sensory experiences” (1 John 1:1-5).  Now he immediately moves into a practical (if uncomfortable) topic of how sin affects the fellowship and joy (1 John 1:3) he desired for his readers (and for us). Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 1:1-5

Our first discussion group began with what is intended to be our weekly pattern:  we spent about ten minutes to read through the passage individually and to work through the discussion questions.  Since this was our first time together, I then spent a few minutes describing the inductive method we will be using:  What does it say?  What does it mean?  What does it mean for me?  (For more detail, see the article Inductive Study Guidelines.) Continue reading →

This blog is a record of the discussion group of Calvary Institute at Calvary Restoration Church in Aurora, Colorado.  The group started in January 2018 at Calvary Restoration (a part of CFC, the Calvary Family of Churches).  Calvary Institute is a part of the process of training joyful, passionate disciples to “Grow to know God deeply,” one of the core commitments of CFC.

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”  And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” – Luke 10:25-28 (ESV)

Jesus certainly agreed with the answer that the religious leader gave – the response was right from the Scriptures!  The emphasis from the Lord was “Do this.”  How do we do this? Continue reading →