Introduction: If you need to talk with someone about a challenge and maintain a good relationship with them, there are ways to begin that conversation and ways you shouldn’t begin that conversation. If you start the conversation with criticism, contempt, defensiveness, or not listening, you can expect accelerated conflict. The Apostle John addresses the issue of sin, a relational challenge between God and us, by first identifying us as God’s little children.

Who You Are – 1 John 2:1a
• Correction struggles to be received without connection.
God tells you who you are before He tells you what to do.
As Christians we don’t work for our identity, we work from our identity.

Death to Sin – 1 John 2:1b-2
Sins vs. Mistakes:
• Sin is direct disregard for God’s Word, will, and plan.
• Mistakes are part of the human learning experience.
The joy comes when you know you are a child of God, who has been forgiven due to the blood of the Lamb of God, the Great Substitute.

“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”  2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

Walking with Jesus – 1 John 2:3-6
1. Belief – Acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice for your forgiveness.
2. Behaviors – Walking with Jesus changes you.
3. Belonging – Associating and being accountable to God’s forgiven family.

Lip Service or Lifestyle – 1 John 2:7-11
• When you walk with Jesus, you love God and love people.
Jesus wants to walk with you and forgive you so you can be loving and forgiving.
God won’t force you to love, but He invites you into a relationship that leads you down a pathway of learning to love like He loves.

Weekly Questions:
1. How do you live out the idea of loving God and loving people? Where do you have your greatest challenges?
2. What helps you daily walk in Jesus’ love?