150 | How to Reach Others For Jesus Without Feeling Pushy (1 John Bible Study)

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

A noisy life can make faith feel blurry. The epistle of 1 John opens with a simple, steady picture: a loving leader sitting close, reminding believers to stay near to Jesus, keep going, and live honestly in a world full of distraction and mixed messages. If you’ve been trying to balance work, family, ministry, and spiritual disciplines while wondering whether your ordinary rhythms can really make an impact for Christ, this walk through 1 John brings clarity and calm.

We trace the letter’s big themes: Jesus as real and personally known, fellowship that restores joy, and the grounding truth that God is light. That light doesn’t demand perfection or polished appearances, it invites confession, forgiveness, and freedom because Jesus is our advocate. From there, the writer of this letter gets practical fast, he writes about how obedience grows from relationship, and love for God shows up in love for people. The strongest Christian testimony often isn’t a perfect speech, it’s patient, truthful, compassionate love that stands out in a harsh culture.

We also talk discernment and spiritual deception, why knowing Scripture for yourself matters, and how the Holy Spirit helps guide you into Truth. Then the letter lifts your eyes to identity and assurance: those who place their faith in Jesus are children of God, rooted in a love that casts out fear, strengthened by faith that overcomes the world, and invited into confident prayer. John’s closing warning about idols lands close to home too, especially when success, comfort, approval, or busyness start taking God’s place.

If you want a clear next step, consider downloadable, printable study resources so you can keep going in God’s Word. You can find them at PaulaBehrens.com/bible. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

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Transcript

Why 1 John Matters Today

Paula Behrens 0:00

As you read the letter of 1 John, you get the sense that the writer is sitting across the table from believers he truly loves, reminding them to stay close to Jesus and not lose heart in a confusing world. And honestly, that message feels timely for us too. Many Christians today are trying to balance faith, work, family responsibilities, ministry, and the nonstop noise of modern life. You may be one of those listeners. Maybe you spend most of your days working from home, caring for your family, or moving through ordinary routines while quietly wondering how I can really make an impact for Christ. That's one reason I love 1 John so much. This letter reminds us that powerful Christian living often happens in very ordinary places. A faithful life, a loving heart, a steady walk with Jesus. These things shine brightly in a dark world. Today we're walking through this letter together. And we're going to talk about light, discernment, and what it truly looks like to walk with God day by day. And stay with me until the end because I want to invite you to grab my printable Bible study resources that will help you to continue to study God's Word on your own or maybe with a group of friends. Are you finding it challenging to maintain your spiritual practices or yearning for a more peaceful, God-aligned day? I'm Paula, and I've been there too. Balancing spiritual habits with a busy life can be difficult. I longed for a deeper connection with God but struggled with consistency. Then I found the perfect approach. If you seek simple ways to deepen your connection with God, this podcast is for you. Please take a moment to follow the show, leave a review, and share with your friends who need a little biblical encouragement today. Hey friend, I know how exhausting it can be to chase after a devotional routine that's just not working for you. Constantly restarting with good intentions while fighting through distractions that keep pulling you away from God. I've walked that path myself, that cycle of trying my best but falling short. That's precisely why I created the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour. It's a sacred space where we work together to develop a peace reset utilizing a complementary essential oil sampler that I'll send to you ahead of our session. This unique approach will bring emotional alignment and clarity to your spiritual journey. Imagine stepping into a rhythm that truly refreshes your soul, anchoring you in God's presence for that lasting sense of calm you've been craving. This is your invitation to make it doable today. Turn your quiet time into a source of thriving faith. Save your seat now for an Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour plus peace reset at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching. That's Paula Behrens B E H R E N S .com/coaching (no spaces). It's time to start breathing peace into your walk with Jesus. Before we dive in, I have a quick favor to ask. If this podcast has been a blessing to you or helped you grow in your walk with Christ, would you take a moment to leave a review? It only takes a minute, and your words help more women discover this space and be encouraged in their faith as well. Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your support. All right, let's get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal, and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in. John opens this epistle by immediately pointing believers to Jesus. He says, This is the one they had heard, seen, and touched. John wants believers to understand that Jesus is not simply an idea or a distant spiritual figure. He is a real person. John personally walked with him, listened to him teach, and witnessed his Resurrection power. You can hear the confidence in John's words. He's not sharing secondhand information. He's talking about someone he personally knows and deeply loves. That matters because false teaching had already started spreading through the church. Some people were twisting the truth about Jesus, while others were trying to reshape the gospel into something easier or more fashionable. John lovingly pulls believers back to what is true. And then he says something beautiful. He says, he's writing these things so believers may have fellowship with God and with one another, and so their joy may be full. What a wonderful reminder that Christianity is not meant to feel cold, lonely, or disconnected. God created believers for fellowship. Relationship with him and meaningful connection with other Christians is so important in our faith walk. Sometimes modern life quietly pushes people toward isolation. We can spend all day communicating through screens while still feeling spiritually disconnected. But 1 John reminds us that believers belong to the family of God. Even your quiet faithfulness matters. The prayers you whisper during your workday matter. The kindness you show people matters. The encouragement you offer others matters. The integrity you live with matters. God uses faithful believers in ways we often never fully see this side of heaven. Very early in the letter, John introduces one of the central themes of his writing when he says, God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. That verse alone could preach an entire sermon. Light reveals truth, light brings clarity, light guides people forward. And John says, God himself is light. Walking with God means learning to walk honestly and openly before Him. Now John quickly makes something very clear. Christians are not perfect people, pretending they never struggle. In fact, he says, if we claim to have no sin, we deceive ourselves. But then he gives one of the most comforting promises in scripture. He says, If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There is so much hope in that verse. John's not telling us to hide from God when we fail, he's inviting us to walk honestly with him. And that is such an important difference. The Christian life is not about pretending everything is always polished and perfect. It's about continually bringing our hearts before the Lord and allowing him to shape us over time. And John reminds believers that Jesus is our advocate. He stands on behalf of those who belong to him. Because of Christ's sacrifice, we can approach God with confidence instead of fear. That truth brings freedom, freedom to repent quickly, freedom to stop performing, freedom to grow in grace. As chapter two begins, John starts talking about obedience. He explains that people who truly know God will desire to follow his commandments. Now, John is not teaching salvation through human effort. He's showing that genuine relationship with Jesus changes the direction of a person's life. It changes our hearts. When we walk closely with Christ, transformation begins happening, not perfectly, not instantly, but genuinely. Our heart slowly changes, our desires begin shifting. We notice conviction where we once felt comfortable. And then John says something deeply challenging. He says, someone cannot claim to walk in the light while continuing to hate others. He refuses to separate love for God from love for people. That still matters deeply today. Sometimes Christians think reaching others for Christ is mainly about saying the perfect words. But according to 1 John, one of the strongest testimonies believers can offer is genuine love, patient love, truthful love, compassionate love, forgiving love. Think about this. People are surrounded by conflict and harshness everywhere they turned. But when Christians reflect the kindness and character of Jesus, well, it stands out. John also warns us not to love the world or the things of the world. He's talking about the world's value system that constantly pushes pride, selfishness, and temporary success above eternal things. The world says, promote yourself, protect your image, make life all about you. But Jesus calls us to something far better than that. He calls us to humility, faithfulness, purity, love, and obedience. And honestly, that can feel counter-cultural sometimes, right? Modern culture constantly encourages comparison and self-promotion. John reminds us that the things of this world are temporary. That perspective changes how we view everything. Those of us who follow God's will, well, that abides forever. A faithful Christian life is never wasted. The quiet prayers matter, the encouraging text, the honest conversations, the steady witness, all of that matters. Sometimes those most powerfully reaching others for Christ are those who are simply living faithful lives in ordinary places. In chapter 2, John also warns believers about false teachers and spiritual deception. His goal is not to create fear, but discernment. Not every voice speaking about God actually represents God's Truth, you know. That is incredibly relevant right now. There are endless opinions available online every day. Some teachings remove the seriousness of sin entirely, others remove grace and compassion. Some distort the identity of Jesus altogether. John continually points believers back to Christ and the Truth of God's word. One of the healthiest habits Christians can develop is to read the scriptures on a regular basis for themselves, not just listening to opinions about scripture, actually opening the Bible and spending time with the Lord. The more familiar you become with God's word, the easier it will be to recognize truth from error. And John gives believers encouragement here too. He reminds them that the Holy Spirit helps guide God's people into Truth. You don't have to live spiritually confused. God faithfully leads his children. Then chapter 3 bursts open with one of the most beautiful statements in the entire letter. He writes, See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God? John sounds amazed by this. And honestly, we should be too, because when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are born again. We are adopted into the family of God. At that moment of conversion, that's when we become children of God. John continues explaining that followers of Christ live differently because God's Spirit is working within them. He's describing transformed direction. Then he returns once more to the theme of love. He says, believers should love not in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. In other words, real love becomes visible. It shows up in practical kindness, in generosity, in patience, in listening, and in encouragement. One of the most powerful ways Christians reflect Jesus is through ordinary daily love. Isn't that amazing? You know, and that can happen when life feels busy or when people are difficult, especially in stressful environments, and of course online. When that happens, when we reflect Jesus through our ordinary daily love, people notice, they notice peace, they notice gentleness, they notice steady faith. And often those qualities quietly open doors for conversations about the Lord. John also addresses something many believers wrestle with privately, and that is condemnation. He says if our hearts condemn us, God sees our humbleness and is greater than our hearts. That is such a comforting reminder. I mean, because believers sometimes battle discouragement, don't we? We battle insecurity or feelings of failure. It's normal. But our confidence does not rest in our emotions or in emotional perfection. It rests in God's grace and his faithfulness. Chapter 4 contains one of the most well-known statements in scripture. God is love. Notice that John doesn't merely say God acts lovingly. He says, God is love. Love is a part of his very nature. And John explains that God demonstrated his love by sending Jesus to save us. Biblical love is not shallow sentiment, it is sacrificial love. Jesus didn't simply speak about love, he demonstrated it at the cross. And John says believers should reflect that same love toward one another. Again and again, John brings faith into everyday life. Real Christianity affects how we treat people. It affects how we speak and how we respond under pressure. It affects how we forgive and how we encourage. Then John says something many of us need to hear today, and that is, perfect love casts out fear. Now John is specifically discussing confidence before God and freedom from the fear of judgment. But this truth also reminds us that God's love creates security. In real life, we see fear often, fear of the future, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of not measuring up, fear of speaking about faith, fear of what others might think. But when we become deeply rooted in the love of God, our courage grows. It's not a loud arrogance, it's not self-promotion, but it's a quiet confidence in Christ. And honestly, that kind of peaceful confidence can become a tremendous witness for others to see. People are drawn to believers who carry a steady hope during difficult times. Chapter 4 also contains another strong challenge. John says a person can't claim to love God while hating their brother or sister. Once again, he ties spiritual maturity directly to relationships. Now, this doesn't mean we'll never experience conflict or hurt, because we will, but sometimes the greatest obstacle to effective witness is unresolved bitterness. We want to let that go. People can sense when we're carrying anger or pride or resentment, but when we demonstrate humility and grace, it reflects Jesus beautifully. Then chapter five moves us toward the theme of victory, assurance, prayer, and eternal life. John says the victory that overcomes the world is our faith. Let me say that again. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith. Our hope rests in Jesus Christ, not in perfect circumstances, not in flawless performance, not in worldly success, but in Christ. John also reminds us that we can have confidence in prayer because God hears us when we pray. Never underestimate the importance of faithful prayer. Even small moments of prayer throughout your day matter deeply. Prayer while you're driving, prayer while you're working, prayer while you're folding laundry, prayer before those difficult conversations. God hears his people. Then John closes the letter with one final instruction. He says, Little children, keep yourself from idols. Now, at first it almost feels sudden, but it perfectly summarizes the message of the entire letter. Anything that slowly takes God's rightful place in our hearts can become an idol. Things like success or comfort or approval can all become an idol. Busyness can even become an idol. John lovingly calls us back to wholehearted devotion to Jesus. And honestly, there is such freedom in that invitation. Okay, before we finish today, I want to share one short Greek word study that beautifully captures the heart of this letter. The word is agapē (ἀγάπη). The Greek word John repeatedly uses for love throughout this letter is agapē (ἀγάπη). It describes faithful, sacrificial, active love. It's not based on emotions or convenience. It is the kind of love that God demonstrated through Jesus Christ. When John says God is love, he's using that word, agapē (ἀγάπη). And when he tells believers to love one another, he uses that same word again. Christian love is meant to reflect the heart of God. But what makes this so encouraging is that we are not expected to manufacture this kind of love through sheer effort alone. John reminds us that as we stay close to Jesus, his love begins shaping how we treat others. And honestly, that may be one of the greatest ways we can reach people for Christ today, not through polished speeches, but through consistent Christ-like love lived out in our ordinary lives. As we wrap up today, the message of 1 John is simple. Here it is. We walk in the light, we stay grounded in truth, we love people sincerely, we remain close to Jesus, and we live confidently in God's love. Everyday faithfulness matters deeply. Before we finish, I want to invite you to continue studying scripture. I've created downloadable printable study resources to help you go deeper in God's Word and apply His truths to everyday life. You can grab these resources and join us at PaulaBehrens.com/bible. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H R E N S .com/bible (no spaces). Thank you for tuning in today. And remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you were blessed by this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a review so that we can reach even more listeners like you. Check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and walking in His Wisdom. See you next time.