Resources For Tackling 1 John 2:18-27

Y’ALL. I’m so sorry. I have to admit my lack of Bible study writing has mostly been because I was involved in a Bible study at our church and I recently entered our mentoring program and I’m going through a great book with my mentor! But also….there have probably been some days of laziness. Thankfully I don’t think that any of you beautiful people were doing the study week by week with me, so I’m hoping I didn’t let you down too much. I’m thinking that in the future I’ll keep my publish times for a live blog bible study for summer and Christmas break—times when most of us are not involved in any type of study.

But—I did want to share the approximately one million links to resources I DIVED into for a couple of weeks. It all began when I moved onto the next chunk of Scripture to study in 1st John. When I began studying verses 18-27 one of the questions that kept coming up was that if these "anitchrists" had once been part of them but now did not continue on...then how does that play out in light of the security of our salvation? I've always believed that once you are saved you are always saved in Christ...but I realized I did not understand this concept deeply enough to explain it (to myself or anyone else). It was just one of those things I had always taken at face value, and now I wanted to go deeper and truly understand it for myself. Then the same week one of my best friends struck up a conversation with me about assurance of salvation and perseverance of the saints. With the combination of the Scripture in front of me and a friend to go back and forth with…I seriously got a little obsessed on the subject. But I’m glad I did! I have a greater (not complete mind you…still waiting for that completeness until He takes me home) understanding of the topic and some Scripture to really meditate on and try to memorize.

If I tried to write a weekly study of this chunk of Scripture I would have a hard time doing it without stealing the ideas and words of the scholars that I turned to. So instead I’m just going to give you those resources for now. As previously mentioned…this isn’t really a time for me to dive into writing a ton of bible study material, although I will be poking in occasionally and posting. But behind the scenes I really hope to fill binders and journals with content for this summer while most bible studies take a break anyway. If you keep an eye out on the blog, I will be sharing more about choosing when to say no, and when to wait on things in my life. I’m really excited to share more on the blog about living slowly and surely so I hope you will join me there!

For now, here are some amazing resources!

Desiring God Interview Eternal Salvation: Vaccination or Therapy?

Desiring God Interview Can a Born-Again Christian Lose Salvation?

Desiring God Interview Is Your Doctrine of Perseverance a Contradiction?

Desiring God Interview Certain and Conditional: More on Eternal Security

Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology Podcast: Perseverance of the Saints Part 1

Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology Podcast: Perseverance of the Saints Part 2

You have a Purpose, no matter what your Place

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Light and Letter Photography

You have a place. You have value. 

1 John 2:12-14

This is my second draft of this piece. My heart just says, delete it all and then be short and sweet.  If this passage is a "pause and parenthesis" then my duty is to get out of the way. 

Listen, no matter where you are now, you have value in the Kingdom of God. It's easy to look at other believers and compare ourselves. It often happens that we measure ourselves short and step back, believing that we aren't far enough along to be useful.

 None of use has arrived, but all of us have the same call: to glorify and enjoy Christ. 

Little children: you recently found forgiveness, you have not been distracted but remember the sweetness of salvation. Help us remember His kindness toward us. Share the simplicity of your faith, remind us of our need for salvation and the wonder of the Cross. Remind us when we become lofty, that Jesus loves us. Refresh us with the faith of a child. 

Young men: You also have only just begun your walk with the Lord, but you have seen enough to have a passion that cannot be matched. No earthly cause could ignite the zeal you have. You make us uncomfortable with the norms and excited to live bigger. You would fight to the death for your King and you enlist everyone around you. Challenge us, inspire us, move us. 

Fathers: you have walked with God through valleys and mountain tops. You have known him longer than you hadn't known him. You have lived out his word, you have survived trials and seen more of the character of God on the other side. Lead us. Gently guide us when we doubt or stray. Let your wisdom be a reminder to us that perseverance produces character.

In Christ, there are no strangers. You have been welcomed into His fold. You have a purpose, no matter what your place on this Earth.

1st John 2:12-17

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This week we are reading and studying 1 John 2:12-17. Gary M. Burge describes this section as "a parenthesis, a pause, designed to reassure John's readers about their own relationship to God" (Burge, 110). I really resonated with this description because, if you have read ahead you know that we are about to jump into the deep end of the pool. This section is an important moment to stop, remember our identity in Christ and our separation from the world. 

As you study answer these questions which we will discuss next week:

1. Who are the three groups that John names in verses 12-14?

2. Who do each of these groups represent? Are these literal or figurative titles?

3. Where would you fall between these three groups?

4. Why do you think that John stops and makes this address to three groups and then seems to randomly start talking about not loving the world?

5. John names three forms of loving the world, list them.

6. Give an example of each of the three ways that loving the world might look in your own life if you didn't guard against it. (example: desires of the eyes for me may look like obsessing about my image, desires of the flesh for women today became a huge issue with the release of recent sexual movies geared toward women, pride in possessions is a huge one for us all and currently I'm having to keep that in check as we hunt for a house to buy!)

Join us back here next week as we jump into a discussion and our creative element! 

Creative Week 1 John 2:7-11

This week we're gonna draw some circles. 

A small circle: write the names of YOUR people. I believe the buzz word we're looking for here is your "tribe." These are the people you'd take a bullet for. But also probably the people you get most snappy with and the same people you let down your guard with do silly things you'd never let anyone else see. For most of us, this is our immediate family but for some of us this is a roommate or friend group--regardless of your legal or biological connection these people are the ones you call family.

A medium circle around your small circle: These are your friends. They may not be quite as tight as family but they are the people you enjoy spending time with. 

Bigger circle: coworkers, classmates and other people you are around on a daily or weekly basis in close proximity--but not necessarily by choice.

Biggerer (Yup, you read it here) circle: the masses. Your neighbors, fellow church members, or fellow employees, but not people that you have a personal touch with regularly.

Outter circle: orphans, widows, individuals with special needs, the homeless, the poor, the sick, the marginalized. 

“To know God and to abide in him mean to obey, and to obey is to exhibit Christlike love. But the ultimate test of such obedient love is whether we are able to love the unlovely.”

— The NIV Application Commentary, Burge 101.

Now take some time, think and pray and stare at the funnel of circles on your page. Color in the circles with a dark color for the people groups "know you by your love." Seriously consider, if a stranger were to ask each of these groups "Is So&So a follower of Jesus Christ? Have you experienced love from So&So?" What groups could give a definitive answer?

Which groups might know you by your love? You are pretty sure that you've been a good friend or neighbor and think they might know that your life is driven by your love for God and love for others? Color these circle groups red.

What groups don't even know you? What groups have you neglected completely? Color these circle groups in with a neon highlighter. 

Start praying for the people your neon highlighted circles represent. Make them a priority in your prayer life and faithfully commit to follow wherever God leads you to love those who are difficult for you to love. Are you called to be a prayer warrior on behalf of the marginalized? Do you need to give up some of your time to show love to a person in your periphery? 

Step up with the relationships represented in the red circles. Pray that God would convict you of any hindrance that is causing you to be less than all in with these people. Risk awkwardness, throw off chains of people pleasing and be free to love. What does that look like in each of these relationships? Could it be that you need to invite a coworker to eat lunch with you in the break room? Is there a neighbor that you have thought about inviting over, but have let busy schedules keep you distracted? Is there Truth that you know it's time to share? What action do you need to take?

Look at the circles that are filled in with dark colors, pray that God would produce fruit from these relationships. Pray against complacency, pray for deep community, and pray for salvation. Thank God for bringing these people into your life. 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

— John 13:34-35

A prayer, a shape, an action, a light

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Light & Letter Photography 

I'm pumped about this, not because I found some obscure bible verse that is rarely studied, or because I have some new fantastical illustration to bust out. I just genuinely love this passage both for what it is, what it says and all the doors it opens. 

There's some passages that you could study but never really think about in your daily life (I mean Revelation? That thing be like whoa...my mind might actually explode if I think on it too long). This is not one of those. This passage matters every day. It doesn't matter where you work, who you see, if you are a parent or a teenager, this passage has to be daily lived. We'd be wise to pray this over ourselves as we head out in morning traffic or as we pour the milk for our kids' cereal. 

"Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

This HAS to shape us. We need this truth in the little moments, while our mind wonders as we vacuum the too small rug in the living room. We need this truth as we enter into big, hard, heavy conversations. We need this passage as we grocery shop and as we give our lunch order to our waitress. Because if we don't get this, if we miss this--we've missed it all. We've cheated, we've fabricated, we have created a counterfeit Christian life if we keep this one up on a shelf in a cozy compartment with a lid. 

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

On the first read: "Meh, I'm pretty good at this. No major divisions or burned relationships in my life."

But then it sits with you. Love. Not just complacent fine-ness. LOVE. Love is active. Love bears all. Love believes all. How many times do I draw the line of my love? How often do I doubt another's word? How often do I settle for a quick, flat interaction rather than seizing it for a small chance to love? How often am I patting myself on the back for being a great Christian who has it all together whilst holding a grudge or judging a fellow believer? 

Loving that gossip at church who always always makes everything harder,

loving the brother who just annoys the crud out of me,

loving that sister who hurt me,

loving that couple who is, frankly, inconvenient to love,

loving the power couple that everyone loves,

loving the sister who makes me uncomfortable,

loving the brother whose theology is different from mine,

loving the sister who makes bad decisions,

loving the ones who drain you,

loving the ones who fill you.

Loving the highest and loving the lowest. 

“Love becomes a genuine value only when it is tested, only when we must reach beyond ourselves and love someone we do not wish to love. This is the caliber of love John has in mind. ”

— The NIV Application Commentary, Burge 101.

This week we've been studying how to love our brother, our fellow Christians. Usually when I think about the kind of love that matters I think about loving people who don't know God's love for themselves yet. Sometimes I blow off the importance of loving every single person in the family of God. But they really are the same love aren't they? Both are tools for glorifying God, both have the power to change lives. Both loves reveal areas of my heart that need sanctification. And why would I stand at the door and say to an unbelieving world "Come in, enter into His forgiveness and redemption! You are loved! And once you're here...it's every man for himself."

The world is watching. Are we a family who can come to the table after a long day of work and enjoy, respect, and support one another? 

In her book For The Love, Jen Hatmaker has a chapter entitled "Dear Christians, Please Stop Being Lame." This is one of my very favorite chapters, I've underlined so much of it and it goes perfectly with what we are talking about today.  Jen says "There is a clear correlation between how we treat each other and how a watching world will feel about Jesus" (Hatmaker, 192). She goes on to say that loving our brothers and sisters in faith is "not only our testimony, but also our reward. What a treasure we receive alongside salvation! The lonely, the outcast, the sick, and the sad inherit a family" (Hatmaker, 193).

We've been talking a lot about obedience. I always used to think that love and obedience were two separate things. While I've sat with this passage in 1 John 2, I've been so convicted that love and obedience are an endless cycle for the believer, one fuels the other. We love God so we obey Him, as we obey him we must love others, as we love others they love God and obey him, and as we walk alongside them we are encouraged in our love in obedience as well. These two parts of Christian living are anything but separate! As a rule follower, this is breaking down some serious walls for me and I hope it is for you too. 

Who is hard for you love? How can you love them in a way that points to Christ? When has someone loved you when you were hard to love?  Do you believe that God can supply you with love for others? 

**Loving someone who is difficult is part of our mission as Christians, but this doesn't mean enabling destructive behavior. Being safe and setting appropriate boundaries are important. Sometimes loving someone means modeling healthy, genuine love by rejecting sinful behavior and getting the help of elders or authorities. Abuse is not love and it is not what God is calling us to seek or permit. 

Burge, Gary M. "Letters of John." The NIV Application Commentary: Fro Biblical Text ... to Contemporary Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996. 53. Print.

Hatmaker, Jen. "Dear Christians, Please Stop Being Lame." For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards. Nashville: Nelson Booke, 2015. 192-93. Print.

1st John 2:7-11

This week has me pretty much standing up in my chair and fist pumping. God has done so much intensive work in my life to correct a chronically self-righteous, rule following, black and white mind set and heart values that this passage just hits me so good. This is a passage that both makes me look back at all God has brought me through and spurs me on to "get this" more and step up. 

I have so many things to say, but first you have to get your teeth into this thing for yourself. By this point I think you know what I mean, but I'll outline it anyway. 

1. Read 1 John 2:7-11
2. Draw a box around repeated words or phrases.
3. Write out the cross references for each corresponding verse.
4. Read through the cross references (if this is taking you a long time and thus discouraging you then use the ESV study bible online. You can click on the reference and all the verses will pop up in a separate window all in one place for you.)
5. In highlighter write the main word or thought which describes the references. 
6. Read 1 John 2:7-11 again. And then maybe again and again.
7. Write down whatever is vague or confusing to you. If you have any questions write them down.

Week 9 Meditation and Prayer

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This week is simple but powerful. Over the course of the week read through all the cross references for 1 John 2:1-6 (and write each verse reference near the reference point in this passage on you printed copy). But instead of pounding it out in one sitting, take it a little at a time. Plan to read a few cross references each day. 

The reason we are slowing down with these particular cross references is because these verses so powerfully flush out the Gospel.

As you read take even five minutes and meditate on the verses you read. Write in your journal the words and phrases that are most powerful to you.  

Spend prayer time remembering and acknowledging the ways the Gospel has changed everything for you. 

Approach God with gratitude solely over God's abundant gift of grace and salvation for you. 

Tell God the Gospel story. One of the most popular conversation starters in getting to know people is asking a couple how they met and fell in love. Spend time with the Lord telling the greatest Story of all time in your own words and enjoy worshipping Christ as you recall all that He did to save you. Reveling in remembrance not only leads us to worship, but it also prepares us to readily share the Gospel with others.

Repent of heart attitudes or behavior that fall short of God's glory and thank God for his unending forgiveness. 

Study Guide Week 8

By now I hope you are getting the hang of things around here. Now that we have a grasp on how to dive into chunks of Scripture, it probably isn't taking quite the length of time it took you when we began. I'll be adding in a little more here and there for you to read or do so that we can make the most of studying AND applying God's Word to our lives. 

1. Read through 1 John 2:1-6.
2. Underline major themes.
3. Number anything given in succession. (For example you might find the Gospel story toward the beginning and number each step in the process)
4. Draw a box around repeated words or phrases.  Make a list of the repeated words in the margin. 

"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments." Notice those eight pivotal words there in the middle "know that we have come to know him." The NLT translation puts it "we can be sure that we know him."

We can be confident we know him, assured. Why? Because we keep his commandments, we abide in him and walk in the way he walked. 

But let's make sure we are all really clear here. What this is NOT saying is that we know him by keeping his commandments. 

Keeping his commandments, walking in the way Jesus walked is the evidence of a heart that belongs to Christ.

This is our act of worship. And when we doubt, we can take inventory of all God has done in our lives and in the ways that our lives have changed since following him. Even when others don't know us, they will see God's love perfected in us as we walk in a manner worthy of Christ. Keeping his commandments is our evidence of sorts, for ourselves and for others, of what we already have relationally with Jesus by his grace. 

Even though keeping His commandments doesn't achieve a knowing salvation in Christ, it does benefit our relationship with him. This is why obedience out of drudgery is so sad. Obedience (even though sometimes it can be difficult) bears such fruit. It would be impossible to abide in Him if we weren't walking in obedience. Obedience should be our joy because obedience is what brings that familiar closeness we desire with God. 

You know what I'm going to ask you now right? Is there something that God is calling you to that maybe you are avoiding? (Thus disobeying) Or is there a place in your life where you are blatantly walking in disobedience and need to repent of your sin and make some changes to your life?

Week 7 Insight

This passage kind of reminds me of when a parent sits down with their young child and talks with them about safety and how to handle some basic situations. As a parent I know those talks intentionally come from a place of "They are old enough that we need to talk through this, but young enough that I need to explain this very carefully." I picture an elderly John sitting down to lovingly sort out for these churches what exactly walking in the Light means and what it doesn't mean. I picture myself with our oldest son taking the time to talk through "just because one of your friends does/says/watches/thinks this doesn't make it right. We don't follow them we follow God's word."

These churches were culturally surrounded by people who almost agreed with the teachings of the Bible. The world was shouting half truths, "I believe in God and Jesus...but not because I have to. Sin isn't really a thing." So John sits down to carefully walk them through, yes sin is an issue and here is how sin affects our identity and here is how to handle sin as a believer. 

In 1:5, John again starts where we should always start: who is God? Then in verses 6 & 7 we see two different identity scenarios: one who walks in light and one who walks in darkness. I love how John goes to lengths to include "if we say"....aka it doesn't matter what you say, your allegiances are born out of what you walk in, what you practice. 

Moving on down this passage, John lays out two different scenarios for handling sin. The easiest way to see this is to make a little sandwhich. We've got verses 8 and 10 as the "if we say we don't sin" bread and verse 9 as the "If we confess our sin" meat. Why does John seem to emphasize what not to do? Just imagine that you overhear a playmate telling your  kid that it's ok to steal if they are only stealing small things. As a parent you want to address that junk head on, leaving no confusion or room for error. Because your child's lack of understanding on the wrongness of their friend's advice could result in their danger. This is why John is making sure to clarify with the true believers against what the Gnostic (salvation through knowledge) culture around them is spewing. Walking around and claiming you don't sin doesn't change that fact that 1. you do sin, 2. your sin separates you from God, 3. there is good news and forgiveness for all who have sinned if we repent and turn to the Father. 

It's easy to read this as fluffy, extra advice that I'm kind of passed at this point in my walk. But the truth is, sometimes the condition of my heart is to bow up as if I don't have a sin issue. Sometimes I forget that walking in light means walking in transparency about my sin both with the Lord and with other believers. No, I'm not ever walking around saying that I don't sin. But sometimes I live that way.

Sometimes I act as if I'm beyond sin.

Sometimes I need someone to hold my hand and say "In this family, we don't act like that."

Week 6 Insight and Inspiration

 The last thing I want is to go through the motions every week, repeating the study process and not pausing to worship. We are women, we like feeling the feels! Our minds are being used and we're learning more about God and His Word and His way, that SHOULD move us! People studying the Bible should be the most inspired, most passionate, and the most called to action! Far be it from us to be staunch, stiff,  and unmoved.

So bust out your journal and turn on some tunes (I'm adding a playlist of some of my favorite worship jams that you can listen to if you'd like!). We're about to get outside the box a little, but this exercise is for all types. Noncreative and non writers: you're safe and loved here, don't be afraid.

Listen and enjoy

We are going to do a free write. A free write is just what is sounds like. You write and don't stop for the allotted amount of time. If you can't think of what to write, then write "I don't know what to write...la la la...I'm bored." Until it leads to something else in your mind. Just be free.

The theme for this free write is LIGHT. Write everything that comes to your mind about the word LIGHT. Give yourself 3 minutes (or one song) and write down literally anything and everything you think of. Don't stop writing. 

Now, read 1st John 1:1-10 and write down everything that comes to mind random or not. Write down questions, write down words, write down song lyrics. Whatever. Do this for about 3 minutes (or again...one song). 

Now tie that randomness together. You don't have to set your timer this time, just write as much or as little as you want. Pull in what you've been learning in 1st John about darkness and light, about practicing truth and about being a liar, about the word of life and complete joy and fellowship. Write about LIGHT that comes only from God. Write what walking in light means in your everyday. Write how God uses your random thoughts about light to remind you of His righteousness and life eternal. Write what makes the dark alluring when you are wondering from the Light. 

*               *                 *                *                *                *               *               *               *                *          

As I was driving to the DMV for the first of three trips yesterday, I was basking in the early morning light. If it were possible to bottle fierce yet gentle energy, it would look like morning light. It's soft and sweet, but pushing you forward, brightening in each moment. If that isn't creation pointing to a Creator I don't know what is.

Light is undeniable and all encompassing. Everyone has needed it, known it, and experienced it. Everyone. 

And what has the power to inspire us like the sun rises and sun sets? When have you ever been in  view of a tremendous sunset and it has gone unnoticed? Even the manliest of men stop mid-sentence to express their awe at it's vibrancy in the sky. 

Light changes us. Light changes the world. 

Austin and I are slightly obsessed with home renovations right now. And I'll tell you one thing you never see, ever...EVER. You will never see Joanna (you know, my gal pal) taking a window out and replacing it with a wall. Never. You will see her make a window bigger, or better still-- making a window into huge, glass french doors. Light makes things bigger and more beautiful. Light is inviting. Light lifts the eyes. Light expands a space and integrates the outdoors. 

God's glory is mirrored by creation and echoes the Truth, on begrudging drives to the DMV, on decks at dusk, over the Grand Canyon at 5am, even in home renovations: The Light brings Life. 

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

Study Guide Week 6

Week 6! I can't believe it's already been 6 weeks together! This week we are moving along to the next chunk of Scripture to study!  

Read 1 John 1:5-10 in your bible, then on your double spaced copy (which you can find all ready to print in our Facebook group!) do the following: 

1. Draw a box around repeated words.
2. Draw a circle around transition words and draw an arrow connecting them to their concluding thoughts. 
3. Highlight or underline words you don't know and define them in the margin.
4. Answer the following questions: 
   • Are there repeated words? (Let me answer that one with a big fat YES for ya!) Make a list of the words and ideas that are repeated.  Why do you think there is so much repetition in this section? What greater purpose could all this repetition serve?
   • What are the major themes emphasized in this chunk of Scripture?
   • What questions do you have? What is confusing or unclear? (without consulting any of the study notes or commentary first) Write our your questions. 

Use a study bible and commentary to help address your questions. Then as much as you can, paraphrase this passage into your own words. It doesn't have to be perfectly detailed paraphrase, just write down your translation of what this passage says. 

Study Guide Week 5

This section is what my daughter would call easy peezy. I think as women, (for the most part, shout out to our one male reader besides my husband--you know who you are) the applicational parts of bible study are the most fun. This is the part when we get to connect the dots from what we are learning in our study to our real life. So that being said--have fun with this! If you haven't yet, join the Facebook group, this is the part of studying that builds community!

1 John 1: 1-4

1. What was the hardest part of this passage for you? (hardest to understand, most frustrating, or even most convicting)
    
2. Was there any part of this passage that was already familiar to you? Did you learn anything new about an "old" verse?
    
3. What does this passage teach you about God? (anything goes, there is no right answer!)
    
4. How does what you learned about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit change the way you see yourself or your life?
    
5. What is your response? (Is this a call to worship? Does this show you a place that you should be serving? Does this change the way you approach a relationship? Again, anything goes!)

Week 4 Insight

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As we go through chunks of Scripture, I'll be posting the study guide on Friday mornings as usual. I will also be adding in a midweek insight occasionally. These posts will be elaborating on the study guide and sharing my insights and application of the text. 

1 John 1:1-4 is the kind of passage that I typically coast over so I can get to the parts that are  more plain-speak. This is a safe place to admit that right? But ever since I started going deeper with my studying, passages which I don't understand right away are now exciting to me. It's like someone literally drew arrows and made a huge sign that says "Buried Treasure."  I've come to love these passages because I KNOW I will learn something since I start off with such little understanding of it. 

Have you ever vouched for someone? Maybe you've been listed as a reference for a friend's new job or you've had to defend a loved one or maybe you are trying to set up a friend on a blind date. That same urgency of "I KNOW them" that comes from your gut....that's what John is bringing to us here. He is coming from this place that's way beyond "Yea I know who he is" this is John talking with a sense of urgency, conviction--this "No...like I really KNOW him" place.

This first passage in 1st John is all about the answering the question "Who is Jesus?" and then only and only then answering the question of what that means for us. This passage, 1 John 1:1-4, speaks to three aspects of his identity (out of like...a bajillion) 1. He is physically real (v1-3), 2. He is relationally present (v3-4), and 3. Jesus is the light that leads to eternal life (v 2 & 5 I know it's not really fair that I just jumped ahead a little). These three qualities are elaborated upon with three major themes: Seen, Proclaim, and Fellowship. 

Seen.

John walks through the physical, tangible, "realness" of Jesus first. He says that they have heard, seen with their eyes, looked upon and touched with their hands-- that's three out of the five senses (and it would be weird to include smell and taste, am I right?). This is kind of the most elementary aspect of Jesus' identity, and yet for me the most convicting. As a person who has grown up in and around church and had a personal relationship with Christ for a while....reading this made me realize how much I keep Jesus in a fairytale box. I know with my head that he was and is still very real and very alive. But I sometimes catch myself living like Jesus is a historical figure or a folklore hero. This passage smacks me in the face cause it says "Dude, get a grip on reality he is as real as you are right now." God became incarnate in Jesus. This means that Jesus is the bodily, tangible, flesh who is also completely and fully God. If you have heard or read the verse "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14), then you have heard about this idea before. Incarnation means that "The Word" (Jesus) took on flesh, but being fully God was made manifest so that we could have eternal life (v2 &3). Gary M. Burge in his commentary on The Letters of John (1st, 2nd, and 3rd John) explains that "Thus in verse 1 John writes that this word was 'from the beginning'....This does not refer necessarily to the beginning of Jesus' life on earth (although some have argued this). It instead sets out the marvelous tension of Christian thought: He who existed from limitless eternity has entered time and space and taken up residence here on earth" (Burge, 53).  John repeats this testimony of their tangible experience with Christ several times. There is no getting past it... Jesus is alive. Jesus is real. Jesus is God incarnate. Jesus is eternal.

Proclaim.

We won't stop. We won't stop because we've seen it. We're changed by it. We won't stop because He is the light of man. We'll testify that He is the way and the truth and the life. We'll spend our life on it because this is the way to eternal life. So we'll testify to it and we'll proclaim it. --This is the way I want to carry John's torch. This steady focus on sharing Christ is the example I want to follow. It doesn't matter whether John is speaking to churches full of believers or a crowd or one lost person. His resolve is the same. He proclaims the truth of God's word and the testimony of Jesus Christ to all people. I love the way that John R. W. Stott puts it, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ "was proclaimed, not monopolized" (Stott, 61) by the apostles. 

Fellowship.

Three things here. 1. "So that you too may have fellowship with us": you and me and our people, horizontally sharing community 2. "our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ": my community is vertical with God, which is the binding pillar in my horizontal community with other believers 3. "that our joy may be complete": our joy together. I've said all this so that you would know and believe and join me side by side as we bind ourselves to the God who is above all in vertical community that we would have complete joy together in this community through Christ Jesus. This wasn't the apostles saying "Hey do this so you can make us happy." This is John saying, believe this so that my joy and your joy will be the same joy which is complete and overflowing.  

And so I'll just end by saying to you, let's do this thing. Let's live it out. Let's breathe it in while we change diapers and breathe it out while we drive to work. Let's be fueled by furthering the kingdom in conversations while we grab our mail. Let's proclaim it with everything we are even when--especially when it makes us feel out of place. Let's live well and deeply and show the world (even when the "world" is a world of toddlers  at our feet insisting on a 4 o'clock snack time) that the grace of Jesus is the light and the way. 

Burge, Gary M. "Letters of John." The NIV Application Commentary: Fro Biblical Text ... to Contemporary Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996. 53. Print.

Stott, John R. W. "The Authoritative Proclamation." Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Comapny, 1976. 61. Print.

Study Guide Week 4

Now we get into the nitty gritty. We are going to start taking chunks of Scripture and running with them. While yes, we will be continuing on our path of knowledge, this is where God really uses that knowledge in my life to highlight some JEWELS of wisdom and truth that maybe I've been glossing over. I'm so in love with this part of the process because God has and is using this to draw me closer to him and equips me to go out and live it.

This part reminds me of dates 3-10 when you are falling in love...that time where you are learning ALL THE THINGS and go home and then regurgitate all that fun knowledge and insight all over the first friend to talk to you. That's how this is. It shouldn't just be an accumulation of facts that sit on the floor. This should get you going. This part of the process ignites our relationship with God and shapes our relationships with others. 

Week 4 Chunk of Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4. 

1. Read through this chunk.
2. On your printed and double spaced copy, circle transition words (that, therefore, which, because, etc). Draw arrows to connect transition words to the portions they are referring to. 
3. Underline repeated words or phrases.
4. Identify words that you don't know and define them. (Consider any word that you couldn't easily and accurately define in your own words as a word you don't know. Example: "manifest" was this type of word for me.)
5. If there are lists, instructions, or explanations number them in the succession they are given. 
6. Every place where a cross reference is given (make sure you are using a study bible or study bible app!) list all the references of verses provided in normal pen ink. 
7. Now you've written out each verse "address" near the verse it is corresponds with. Take your time. Read through each cross reference in your bible, one grouping of verses at a time.  
8. As you read through each grouping of cross references take a highlighter (I used light purple) and write the theme of each grouping in one word or short phrase over each grouping you made. This way you don't just have a list of Scripture references, you have the meaning they are pointing toward with them. 

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Yes, those are food and coffee stains. We do what we can. 

Now as you read through this passage again, when you come to a cross reference glance at the theme you wrote in highlighter, and let that direct your comprehension of this text. Is there anything you didn't expect? How would you paraphrase this chunk? Write down any new insights (and share them in the comments or in the new Facebook group!) you have gleaned by reading through cross references and noting repetitions and syntax of the passage. 

Study Guide Week 3: Excavating for Context

Remember how I said we would be putting our minds to work soon? It's time to bust out that study bible gals. Like I've mentioned before I love using the ESV Study Bible, but there are many other study bibles which are also wonderful! 

Now that we have read through 1 John in it's entirety and have a better understanding for how it fits into the Big Story, we are going to back up and collect some information. This week we will come to know and love this piece of scripture by appreciating it's context.

This week read through the (entire if possible) Introduction to 1 John in your study bible and take notes with the following questions from Jen Wilkin's book: Women of the Word. 

Wilkin calls the questions we are going through this week "archaeological questions" because we are using exegesis to dig into the text to understand it's historical and cultural context. Wilkin says "Exegesis asks us to be archaeologists as far as we are able, and to call in the help of more able archaeologists [study and commentary resources] where we need it. It gives us the perspective we need to properly interpret Scripture." (Wilkin, 63) Answering these questions helps us to understand the original audience and the author. That old adage "you can't know where someone's going until you know where they've been"...that's kinda like this. We have to go deeper and answer these questions in order to have context for the meaning involved. Only then can we uncover deeper study and deeper applications to our lives. 

Five Basic Archaeological Questions 

1. Who wrote it? (expand beyond the name, list some facts about the person)
2. When was it written?
3. To whom was it written?
4. In what style was it written? (Historical narrative, prophecy, parables/storytelling, Law, poetry, wisdom literature)
5. Why was it written? (Consider major themes and repeated ideas in the context of our archaeological findings above to help you answer this.)

Use 1 John paired with the introduction to 1 John (in your study bible) and commentary in your study bible to help you answer these questions. Remember, patience is your friend. If you can't figure something out, give yourself grace and use this community! Post your questions in the comments section for this post, or if you were surprised by new information you found share it here!

Study Guide Week 2: Big Story

By this time you've read through all of 1 John, isn't that fun? This week we are going to start digging deeper! 

For some of us, this week may stretch and alter our view of the bible tremendously.  Our souls were made by him and for him, even the earth will rejoice at his name. Studying the Bible with the right purpose invites my soul to worship the way I was created to worship (Wilkin, 47). 

So let's begin.

The Bible is a book about God.

The bible is a book about God...duh. But no really...think on that, pray on that, has that been your mindset? Or has your mindset been "The bible is a book by God for me"? Really think about the difference in those two outlooks. 

We read our kids the Jesus Storybook Bible and reading it to our kids was probably one of the first times that I was confronted with the me-centered mindset I held. The beginning of the Jesus Storybook Bible starts this way....

"You see, the best thing about this Story is- it's true. There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them. It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name" (Lloyd-Jones, 17).

The bible is not about us.

At first, this shift in mindset might feel scary because we like thinking that the purpose of the Bible was so God could write us a love letter, a road map to life. It makes us feel warm and fuzzy to think that everything in the bible is for us or about us. From our flawed thinking and point of view it would seem selfish and conceited for God to write a book about himself for his own glory. But it only seems that way because we aren't worthy of such glory, so to put ourselves in his shoes doesn't work. God in his power, sovereignty, holiness, and love does have the right to call glory to himself. God is the only one deserving of worship now and forever. And it is because the Bible is centered on the one true and holy God of all creation that we can lean on and live by the Bible’s teaching.

The Bible is one Big Story. It tells ONE story using many stories (this is called metanarrative) from many authors. The Big Story of the Bible follows this storyline: creation, fall, redemption, restoration. The themes of this Big Story are demonstrated in the stories we read all throughout the bible in order to point us to God, to who he is and what he has done for us through Jesus for his own glory. 

I love this quote from Women of the Word. Wilkin writes, "We ask [the Bible] to tell us about ourselves, and all the while it is telling us about “I AM." We think that if it would just tell us who we are and what we should do, then our insecurities, fears, and doubts would vanish. But our insecurities, fears, and doubts can never be banished by the knowledge of who we are. They can only be banished by the knowledge of "I AM." (Wilkin, 26). 

We will use some study questions from Women of the Word (Wilkin, 111) to help us gain perspective of how 1st John plays into the metanarrative of the Bible. This week work through these questions WITHOUT a study bible first. For those of us who are perfectionists and always want to have the right answer, this is going to be hard. But this is about surrendering your perfection and humbly seeking to gain knowledge. Try to stretch yourself and answer these questions on your own. We want to shape and train our minds, not just memorize the knowledge of other theologians. Train your mind and your heart will follow (Wilkin, 31). Once you have worked through these questions on your own, then bust out a study bible and use the introduction notes as well as other commentary to help you check your answers. Don't make this exercise about right or wrong, but about humbly filling in gaps you didn't know you had. Pray that God would change any “me-centered" attitude you may have. 

1. Where does this book fit into the Big Story of the Bible? 
2. What part does it play in telling the story of creation-fall-redemption-restoration? 
3. How does this point to the rule and reign of God? 
4. Look for major themes.

Study Guide Week 1

Welcome to our very first day of studying God's word together! This weeks study guide is super simple. In the coming weeks, we will add in more study tools and dive deeper with each week that we study. Eventually each week's study guide will focus on small passages of scripture to break down and learn from in depth.

First things first: We are going to be studying the book of 1 John!

As I was praying about what God wanted me to focus on in my personal walk, I realized that even though I've got so many individual verses underlined and highlighted from this book of the bible, I've never actually studied it. And so here we are. I'm so excited to be able to learn the meaning, purpose, and context of this letter from John with you!

This week's focus for our study will be to read the book of 1 John. Like I said, simple. Before you get overwhelmed, I'll point out that 1 John only has five chapters. You have all week to read at whatever pace you like. And if you can't finish by next friday? -- Grace upon grace sisters.

One of the most valuable things I took away from Jen Wilkin's book was to change my mindset. Pray before and after you read each day and prepare your heart to hear from the Holy Spirit. But the new part of this prayer time and mind set for me was to pray for patience as you study God's word.  Don't rush or put pressure on yourself. Your obedience to read God's word is an act of worship, don't taint that time by giving yourself an expectation of some sort of length to read or spiritual milestone to meet.

Make reading God's word a priority and let it be the blessing in and of itself. 

I kept track of how I was able to do my first week of reading through 1 John. I thought it may encourage those of you who have time or distraction limitations. 

• Katy's Week 1 Reading Log:

Day 1: read 1 John 1 until I was interrupted by our kids waking up for the day.

Day 2: read 1 John 2 until interrupted by our kids waking up for the day.

Day 3: read 1 John 3 through the end of the book. I was able to take some notes and pray over specific points that stuck out to me. 

Day 4: since I finished reading I began reading the ESV study bible notes for the Introduction of 1 John. 

Day 5: spent time praying and reviewing what I read for a verse to memorize; continued reading through the Introduction to 1 John in the ESV study bible online. 

I'm loving this Steinbeck quote right now "And now that you don't have to be perfect you can be good."  This is our approach to bible study. Loosen the chains of perfection and let yourself enjoy and become familiar with 1 John this week. We'll be getting our hands dirty and putting our minds to work very soon loved ones.

*If you haven't read my Getting Started post make sure you do! If you don't want to miss any posts, make sure you subscribe for Ashes & Oaks in the "Join Us" box! 

*If you finish 1 John and want more, start on reading the Intro notes in your study bible and pick out a verse you would like to memorize!

Getting Started

I know I keep saying I'm so excited. But y'all really. I mean.....I'm so excited! And also a fair amount jittery. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart I can't believe that any of you would even trust me so far as to peak your interest in this endeavor. I hope that you stay and this is a place for fellowship and camaraderie as we set out for an adventure. Know that like you, I'm just a normal gal who is eager to learn. I stand in this place as a guide with bathtubs full of prayer and open hands to all the grace I can grab. 

First things first. This is a bible study that is centered and focused on the triune God, on what His word says about Him, and for His glory alone. God's word is about Him and as we pour over it, may we become more like him and may our lives be malleable in His trustworthy hands. 

I'm sure I'll write my on my own insights or impressions from time to time. But my biggest hope is that I can be a guide and at moments (oh so very humbly may I approach it) a teacher. At moments when all else in my life has worn thin, God's word stood strong and true. That is what I want to bring you, to show you, to give you. More of God's word which never fails. 

Secondly, the depth of your studying will be exponentially affected by the tools you use. Here is a list of what I start with and what I will be using during the course of this bible study. 

1. Bible. I use the ESV translation, I think it's wonderful. Because we are going to be looking at scripture in depth, please don't use The Message as your primary source of scripture. It can be a great aid for context or understanding but it is a paraphrase of scripture, so we just need to keep that in mind.

2. Jen Wilkin's book Women of the Word. Run, don't walk and buy this book. There's even a kindle edition which is what I prefer for easy searches and recalling info quickly. This book literally changed my life. If you read it (which you totally don't HAVE to!....you'll realize super quickly that I follow her plan for bible study. This woman (via this book) taught me so much about studying the bible, it's my pleasure to give all the credit to her. While I think you could read her book and go it alone, life was meant to be lived together. Plus we all have insights or questions that are put to better use by sharing them!  Jen Wilkin is amazing and I might have told my husband that she is without a doubt my bible-study-woman-crush. So buy her book and love it, but if you don't just know that I very much did and it was a HUGE influence in this process.

3. A study bible. Once again ESV study bible is WHERE. IT'S. AT. if you ask me. I use the online version which I think is free to sign up for. You have to sign up for an account here and then you can add the study bible "app" to use. Or you can use the good old fashion paper stuff ;)

4. Paper. You can use a journal, I love journals. However, with the kind of notes we will be taking I took a suggestion that Jen Wilkin makes to print out the section of scripture you are studying and at least double space the lines. Then you will use that space and margins for lots of things and you can use extra paper for writing out longer notes. I have done this the stubborn way by trying to keep it all handwritten in my cute journal, and trust me....a binder with paper in it works so much better.

So those are the basics. As we go along we may add in some extras like commentaries or sermons or excerpts from books. But to start, this is what you need as far as physical things go.

Which brings me to our hearts. I kind of feel silly even saying this--you know what yea--I'll just point out what is so obvious about y'all already. You are eager to learn. With patience and humility and a heart that loves to learn, this study will change our lives. 

And now I think all that's left is to make sure everyone subscribes. Please please have patience with me, adding this new segment of my blog is brand spankin' new for me and I'm no techie. I think that if you go to my About Me section and subscribe to the blog you will get an email containing each new post as it is published. Please let me know if that doesn't work. Also....for the sake of letting me know if things don't work or other contact....please EVERYONE send me a quick email with your first and last name and your email address at birdinatreeblog@gmail.com. This is how I will communicate with you until I am SURE that the subscriptions are working correctly! Also, moving forward when we get into the bible study, for those of you who would like to have discussions or read other people's insights or questions it would be awesome if you would click the link that says "subscribe via email" which is right above the comment box. That will allow you to follow the comment thread for that post. 

Phew. I think we have finally made it through the house keeping portion for the study!!!! I promise most posts won't be this lengthy! Very soon I will be posting about what book of the bible we will start with and we will dive in!

Introducing Ashes & Oaks

Welcome to Ashes & Oaks! Words cannot adequately express how excited I am to begin this journey. Ashes & Oaks has been a dream, passion, and hope in my heart for so long and I think it’s finally time to dive in. I hope you join me, but even if this space is only for the edification of my own heart then it will be worthwhile. 

The name Ashes & Oaks comes from this passage in Isaiah 61:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.”

We all have our own ashes, but we are all invited to be made oaks of righteousness. And that’s what this is about. 

We’ll be walking shoulder to shoulder becoming a planting by the Lord, “He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.” (Matthew 15:13)

For so long my heart has been for women (starting with myself), that we would use our minds, that we would be smart, that we would walk in knowledge and truth. Love comes much easier, we’ve got emotions to spare. But so often we depend on someone else to explain scripture to us. And don’t get me wrong I LOVE sermons, podcasts and devotionals. But my heart is aching to know the Bible for myself, and to keep knowing it. I want to unlock all the treasure that was given for me. I want to navigate it. I want to love it from a place of understanding. I want to familiarize myself with God’s word so that it’s up close, up in front of my face at every turn.

I want to dive into his promises, his instruction, his poetry.

And I want you to dive with me. 

Let’s jump together. 

But here’s the thing. This won’t be like most bible studies or devotionals. I’m not going to write homework assignments. I’m going to facilitate where we are going and what tools we will use week by week to study a particular book, and the pace at which that happens is in your hands. 

Women. Are. Busy.

It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, married or single, if you are a working mom or a stay at home mom….we are all busy. So I’ll guide you through the process, but you just do what you can do. Studying the bible slowly is better than not studying it at all. I think we often get so discouraged because we can’t keep up with the pace of a bible study and we throw in the towel. If you have time for ONE verse, then commit yourself to taking it a little at a time each day. If you have time for one chapter a day, then great—that’s your study load. Let me say this again: studying the bible a little at a time is better than not studying it at all. 

I really hope you join me. I am praying that we can encourage each other and spur each other on. I’m hoping that God will develop some heart friendships. But I know that God’s word will produce fruit. 

If you are interested (just interested, you aren’t signing your life away so don’t freak out) please leave a comment on this post.

I love you sisters, I can't wait to study with you!

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

Coming Soon!

Ashes & Oaks has been a dream of mine for quite some time now. Keep your eyes out, I'll be posting more soon!