Advent - Abiding Between Advents - 1 John 2:28

Abiding Between Advents
1 John 2:28

And now, dear children, abide in Him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not shrink back in shame when he comes back.

Introduction: Advent and Advents

Non-Technical Usage with a Message

Abiding is the place where you live

(John 1:38-39; 2:12; 4:40; 14:2, 23)

Dependence

Abiding is a Mutual Relationship

(John 15:4-7, 9-10, 1 John 4:13)

Christlikeness

Abiding Means Living as Christ Lived

(1 John 2:5-6)

Fellowship

Abiding Means Loving other Christians

(1 John 2:10, 3:15, 4:12)

Depth

Abiding Means Being Strong in the Word

(1 John 2:14)

Connection

Abiding Means Living in Christian Community

(1 John 2:19)

Grounding

Abiding Means Holding Basic Truths of Christianity

(1 John 2:24; 2 John 1:9)

Obedience

Abiding Means Keeping God's Commandments

(1 John 3:24)

Witness

Abiding Means Confessing Christ Publicly

(1 John 4:15-16)

Abiding in Christ is a mutual relationship of ongoing dependence
which is expressed and maintained by
Christlike obedience and love.

Next Steps
•  Prioritize your relationship with Christ this year with time, attention and focus.
•  Go deeper into God’s Word in order to know His character and obey His commands.
•  Fervently love God and consistently love His children.

This Week's Growth Guide
God’s Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.

•. Monday - 1 John 1
•. Tuesday - 1 John 2
•. Wednesday - 1 John 3
•. Thursday - 1 John 4
•. Friday - 1 John 5

Mission Highlight - Pray for the Unreached: The Japanese
The Japanese people, numbering over 117 million, primarily practice a blend of Shintoism and Buddhism. Only 1.2% identify as Christians and just 0.3% as evangelical believers. Though Japan has a rich cultural history and a highly developed economy, many are spiritually indifferent, focused on materialism, careers, and possessions. Japan’s honor-shame culture places immense pressure on individuals, contributing to high suicide rates, as people fear bringing dishonor to themselves or their families. The need for laborers to share the Gospel is urgent, with over 2,300 workers needed to reach them. Pray that the Lord will raise up laborers to share the message of Christ with the Japanese, particularly through business connections and local churches. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts and open their eyes to the truth of the Gospel, so they will boldly share their faith with family and friends.