Living Hope Family Church Marana Sermons

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, we believe God alone is worthy of our worship. The natural response of a changed and renewed people is to worship and there is power and breakthrough in worship. When we acknowledge who God is it should cause us to respond appropriately, with an attitude of awe, respect and thanks. He seeks a closer relationship with us and we'll experience a greater sense of His presence when our attention is on Him.

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, we understand that life is lived by faith. We may not see all the details, but we have an assurance of hope that is our faith.

It is important to understand the culture and identity of who we are as a church. At Living Hope Family Church in Marana, we understand that salvation isn't earned. We are a people who are saved by grace through faith.

John ends this general letter reminding us of the same reason he wrote the Gospel account. Namely, that we can know without a doubt that we who believe in Jesus have eternal life. Because of that fact we can be completely confident that praying according to the known will of God results in answered prayer. He concludes by admonishing us to keep away from idols.

Rather than a system of rules, Christianity is about connecting. Connecting with Jesus and the Holy Spirit is what it is all about.

The apostle John primarily writes about two topics in these passages. The first is primarily on faith and how it is interconnected with love. To have real faith, you will love God and love others. And to have real love for God, you will follow His commandments. And the second has to deal with the testimony and witness for the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Namely that God Himself has testified to it, and as a result, if we reject His testimony, we call Him a liar.

Today, as John continues to focus on abiding in God and God abiding in us, he speaks primarily about our love for one another. As we will see, if we don’t love our brother, it is impossible to love God.

Jesus is an example of ultimate cancel culture. His message didn't fit in their idea of who God was and what he wanted and they tried to cancel him. But he provided a way that we CAN be saved, CAN be healed, and CAN spread the good news!

John clarifies what the Antichrist is and encourages us in the love of God. He reminds us of the proof of that love is His only Son's appearance here on the earth. John continues to exhort us to love one another.

There are some key differences between children of the devil and children of God. Children of God have stepped out of death and into life whereas children of the Devil remain in death. Children of God love whereas the children of the devil hate. In addition, children of God abide in the Father, and the Father abides in them. As a result of this, we are different, and how we live our lives should be a reflection of this. Our lives should be characterized by love. And not just saying we love, but there should be actual evidence of our love in our deeds and actions.

When you are born again, you have the right to say you are a child of God. This is more than an honorary title. It means we have been changed, and as such, we should live differently. No one who is born of God makes a practice of sinning.

John continues encouraging us in our devotion to the kingdom of God because the world is not permanent. He explains how to identify the "antichrist," reminding us of the promise of eternal life. We are to "abide in Him" in order to discern the truth.

As we study the first part of chapter 2, John is addressing something that all Christians need to understand. It is something that is just as relevant to us as it was to these believers 1900 years ago. Christians should not sin. We are to walk in the light and we are to obedient to Him.

John is writing a group of believers that have been assaulted with false teachings of claims contradicting the deity or humanity of Jesus. In addition some were claiming that they were not sinners or that sin didn't matter. John begins refuting these claims in this first chapter.

The world's idea of love is not the same as God's requirements. We can't produce it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit. The fruit produced is eternal and effective.

All too often, we limit who God is by our experiences. We think that God will be like our natural father or we think God behave like what we see on TV or in the movies. We limit what we think God can do by what “we” think is possible. But, His ways are not our ways. He may well, and often does, do things in ways that are totally different to how we would have or would like them done.

Today, particularly in the U.S., we are ruled by science. In other words, if it can't be sensed, understood, and explained by our natural senses, we are skeptical, or even downright negative towards it. However, we serve God who is in the business of the supernatural. If we want to see God move in spectacular ways, we have to be open to the supernatural working of God.

As we enter the new year, resolutions are on everyone’s mind. We are all focused on a new future. Turns out, Christianity is always looking towards the future. We let go of our past because it has already been paid for. We look towards the future, to who we are in Christ, and not who we were.

The same great power that raised Jesus from the dead drew us to God. His power surpasses the limits of nature for those who believe.

In light of world news God has a great plan and an eternal purpose which is working out as we head towards eternity. This really is an exciting time to be alive!