The Disciples Diaries: New Sermon Series on the Epistles of John

Around September 1 we will begin a new sermon series on all three of the Epistles of John. It will probably take about four months for us to work through all of them. I would like your help in crafting this series. What I need is everything! Graphics, themes, sermon illustrations, props, music, songs and multimedia clips. If you know of a good sermon taken from the Epistles of John and would like to link me to it, that would be helpful. Any and all ideas are appreciated.

Included is a proposed breakdown of the sermon series. This is always subject to change. Please prayerfully consider helping me.

The Epistle of 1 John
Key verse: 1 John 5:13 (NASB95)
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 1 Experience the Light
A true experience with Jesus Christ

1 John 2:1-14 Experience Love
The love of Christ and the love for each other

1 John 2:15-24 Experience Boundaries
What to love and love not

1 John 2:25-29 Experience the Promise
Eternal life: how do we get there?

1 John 3:1-12 Practice, Practice, Practice
The practice of righteousness
1 John 3:13-24 Practice Love
Love as a verb and not a noun. Compare and contrast

1 John 4:1-6 Testing
Knowing the Spirit of God. Knowing the spirit of error

1 John 4:7-5:3 Testing Love
Compare and contrast God’s love with word’s love and our love

1 John 5:4-12 Testify
Apologetics, Spirit indwelling, experiential
If I can prove Jesus would you become a Christian?

1 John 5:13-21 Know
Know salvation, answered prayer, truth and even hard truth

2 John 1-6 Take a Walk
Walk in truth and love

2 John 7-13 Take a Hike
False teachers

3 John 1-8 Act
Act faithfully

3 John 9-14 Act Out
Church controllers vs Church consolers

Below is Nelson’s Teaching Outlines for the Epistles of John that I used to help with the passage breakdowns. I didn’t follow it exactly. It’s always helpful when I start to plan for series. Thanks in advance for your help.

Part One: The Basis of Fellowship (1:1–2:27)
I.
Introduction
1:1–4

II.
The Conditions for Fellowship
1:5–2:14


A. Walk in the Light
1:5–7


B. Confession of Sin
1:8–2:2


C. Obedience to His Commandments
2:3–6


D. Love for One Another
2:7–14

III.
The Cautions to Fellowship
2:15–27


A. Love of the World
2:15–17


B. Spirit of the Antichrist
2:18–27

Part Two: The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28–5:21)
I.
Characteristics of Fellowship
2:28–5:3


A. Purity of Life
2:28–3:3


B. Practice of Righteousness
3:4–12


C. Love in Deed and Truth
3:13–24


D. Testing the Spirits
4:1–6


E. Love as Christ Loved
4:7–5:3

II.
Consequences of Fellowship
5:4–21


A. Victory over the World
5:4–5


B. Assurance of Salvation
5:6–13


C. Guidance in Prayer
5:14–17


D. Freedom from Habitual Sin
5:18–21

Second John: A Study and A Study and Teaching Outline

I.
Abide in God’s Commandments
1–6


A. Salutation
1–3


B. Walk in Truth
4


C. Walk in Love
5–6

II.
Abide Not with False Teachers
7–13


A. Doctrine of the False Teachers
7–9


B. Avoid the False Teachers
10–11


C. Benediction
12–13

Third John: A Study and Teaching Outline
THIRD JOHN:
A Study and Teaching Outline
I.
The Commendation of Gaius
1–8


A. Salutation
1


B. Godliness of Gaius
2–4


C. Generosity of Gaius
5–8

II.
The Condemnation of Diotrephes
9–14


A. Pride of Diotrephes
9–11


B. Praise for Demetrius
12


C. Benediction