1 John 1:5-10

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Listening guide

We become most like the people who ___________ ___________________ ________ ____.

Christians need to be good at _______________.

Fellowship means Jesus ___________ himself with us. 

Christians connect _____________.   

Discussion questions

  1. What are the biggest things that hinder you from sharing with someone else, or other people from sharing with you?  

  2. Verse 9 – what does it mean to “confess our sins”?  

  3. Verse 9 – John says that if we confess our sins, God will share something with us. He will share forgiveness and purify us. In your own words, explain how confession leads to fellowship with God.  

  4. Verse 9 and 10 – according to these verses, what keeps us from God?  

  5. What does these verses suggest will be the single biggest thing to strengthen our fellowship?  

  6. What do you think hinders fellowship in a congregation? Are they the same things that hinder you from sharing with someone else?  

  7. Share a time when you confessed and you found greater fellowship. Can you imagine if that would happen around here?