For the next few months we will be studying the book of 1 John together in our community groups. Here are some important details relating to our first community group discussions on Wednesday October 5th.

• As we mentioned last night, everyone is encouraged to read the ESV Study Bible introduction before actually reading 1 John. This will help us to be able to know who wrote the book, when they wrote it, for what purpose, etc.
• Read the entire book of 1 John in one sitting. John wrote the book as a complete letter and not just a bunch of verses, so if you read the entire book you will get a big picture of the book. Don’t worry about reading the entire book too fast. You want to read and get the main ideas of the full text, not get bogged down in each verse by itself.
• After you read the entire book, write down the three main themes that John is repeating over and over again. Basically, If someone asked you “What are 3 main things that John is getting at through the entire book” what would you say?

"Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:26-28)