Message Title: God Provides Light & Forgiveness
Date: July 18, 2021

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God's Great Love Provides (declared in 1 John = 12 springs)

Life, Fellowship, Joy, Light, Forgiveness, Love for Others, Warnings, Grace, Compassion, Discerning Spirit, His Example, The Best Way

Last week:
We focused on how God wants to lavish His love on us (1 John 3:1) and how He provides life, fellowship, and joy.

THIS WEEK:
We will look at how God's love provides light and forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness...

Psalm 51:1-3 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

In the darkness of confession, one finds the true depth of God's love, for there our souls are cleansed, truth and light are revealed, and relationships restored.

God, the Father, is Light v5
-If claim to have fellowship, but walk in darkness (double life) v6
+If walk in light, have fellowship v7
-If claim to be without sin (deceived) v8
+If confess our sins, purified v9
-If claim to have not sinned (denial) v10
+If you sin, atoned for v2:1

Jesus, the Son, is the Atoning Sacrifice for our sins v2:2

In the darkness of confession, one finds the true depth of God's love, for there our souls are cleansed, truth and light are revealed, and relationships restored.

THIS WEEK:
--Lectio Divina: 1John 1:5-22 find the great love in it
--Daily Examen: Today, how did I receive and release the love of God? Is unconfessed sin causing my love to leak?

TODAY
Come forward to the well of God's loving forgiveness through confession. 1 John 1:9

PCC BENEDICTION
May you jump into the arms of Jesus and may He push out into the world. May you be healed as you participate in the healing of others. Not because you must, but because you may. This is why we were born!

Beyond Sunday
The series Together: Responding to His Great Love is foundational to our new beginning at PCC. By studying the 12 springs from the great well of God’s love in the Book of 1 John, our hope is that it would empower us to love ourselves and others more, as we seek His future direction. This week, we focus on how God’s love provides light and forgiveness.

1. In the last week, how did you receive and or release the love of God? If not, what could you do to position your soul to do so?

2. Lectio Divina: 1John 1:5-2:2What stands out (words, phrases, theme) to you after the second or third time you read it through?

3. Take another look at the passage 1 John 1:5-2:2, note how the passage consists of two bookends: 1 John 1:5 (statement about God) and 1 John 2:2 (statement about Jesus). Then in the middle it contains alternating negative (v.6,8,10) and positive (v.7,9, 2:1) “if, then” statements. If you had to sum this passage up in a sentence what would it be? And if you had to sum this passage up with a word or phrase what would it be?

4. What has been your journey of acknowledging your darkness and confessing your sin? As you ponder and share your experience consider how v. 6, 8,10 declare that duality, deception and denial hold us back, but v.7, 9, 2:1 reveal the benefits of coming into the light and confessing. How have you experienced these hindrances and benefits?

5. How do Psalm 51, James 5:16 , 1 John 1:9 impact your belief in the idea that God’s love is deepest in our darkness and that Jesus, our advocate, attones, and purifies us from our sin?

6. What unconfessed sin in your life do you need to acknowledge? And if you did, how might this fill your soul more with God’s love, so that you could love yourself and others more?

Resources to help you receive & release His Great Love

Focus
Breath prayer:
Inhale: Help me to receive you love / Exhale: Help me to release your love

Reflect (see links below)
Lectio Divina: 1 John 1:5-2:2 (try this 3X this week)

Daily Examen: Today, how did I receive the love of God and how did I release it?

Watch & Read (see links below)
--The Chosen (see the love of Jesus)
--Kids: What is a Christian? Journey through 1John on Right Now Media ----Kids: Have you filled a bucket today? (book)

For PCC's budgeted giving:
Fiscal year (June 1 - to date)

Giving Update
Budgeted Giving: $3,838,588
Giving to Date: $ 292,830
Still Need: $3,545,758