1 John 2:3–11

1. Read 1 John 2:3-6. What do you think John means in 1 John 2:3? Is he talking about perfectly keeping all of God’s commandments? Is that even possible?
2. What sins once felt acceptable to you, but with the Spirit’s help you now actively resist?
3. To be a Christian doesn’t mean you have ceased sinning. In salvation, your nature and your allegiance undergo a fundamental change. The sin that once felt like the most natural thing for you begins to feel foreign and unwelcomed, though you still struggle against it. And that struggle is not a sign of failure. It is a sign of life! Warring against sin is evidence that you are alive in Christ. Why? Because if you were still walking in spiritual darkness, there would be no struggle. What sins do you continue to struggle with? How open are you with God and others about those struggles?
4. Read 1 John 2:7-11. In this passage, John gets really specific about the kind of darkness (sin) he has in mind when it comes to diagnosing whether or not someone truly knows God. What is the specific sin John warns against? How have you seen that sin play out in your own life and the relationships around you?
5. Are you currently harboring any resentment, avoidance, coldness, or even hate in your relationships? If so, receive this moment as an invitation to bring your grief to God. What is one step you could take toward choosing to love them this week? Imagine what fully resolving your conflict with them could look like. What additional steps are needed to get to that place?
6. Spend some time in prayer with and for one another. Give God praise for the work He has already done in you. And confess to God where there are areas of your life where He still needs to do more work, freeing you from darkness and conforming you more into the likeness of Jesus.