Week 10: The Testimony Test – 1 John 5:1-12
1 John was written “so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). So, how do you know? 1 John 5:1-12 shows us The TESTIMONY Test: Is my life telling the story of God? What story is my life telling?Obedience tells a story of my love for God and my trust in God.
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- What are 3 things you are thankful for right now?
- When was a time when someone’s recommendation led to act? (Buying something, shopping somewhere, eating somewhere or something, or watching something?)
- In 30 seconds, tell your Jesus story/testimony?
READ: 1 John 5:1-12.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- Observations: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- How would you summarize this passage in one sentence?
- What does this passage tell me about who God is?
- What does this passage tell me about who I am?
- One of John’s tests for knowing if you have a genuine faith is The TESTIMONY Test: Is my life telling the story of God? As you think about your life in this current season, how would you answer this question: What story is my life telling lately?
- 1 John 5:2-3 challenges us to love God by obeying His commands. Doug said that “obeying God’s Word starts with how we view and value God’s Word.” How has your perspective of the value of God’s Word changed over the years?
Doug gave 3 questions to think about how we view and respond to God’s word. What is your response to each of these questions:
Q: Do I view the Bible as God’s Word or good advice?
Q: Do I view the Bible as a burden or a blessing?
Q: Am I doing what God commands?
- Why do you think we could view God’s commands as burdensome?
- What does the following passages tell us about God’s Word not being burdensome? And what does it tell us about the value of God’s Word for us?
READ: Matthew 11:28-30; Joshua 1:7-9; Proverbs 3:5-7
- Doug said that, “Obedience is an expression of our love for God and an act of trust in God.” Can you think of a time in your life when you did things God’s way despite the fact it made no sense and God proved His way was best? If so, describe it.
- What will engaging and obeying God’s Word look like for you this week?
- What could it look like for you to testify about God this week by how you live your life?
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
- APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we have learned. What is your next step?Be specific.
*** 3 SERVICES (8:30am/10am/ 11:30am):
>What service will you be ATTENDING starting January 11, 2026?
>If you already serve on Sundays, what service will you be SERVING starting January 11?
>If you not already serving on Sundays, would you pray about serving on Sundays to allow us to create a service for us to make room for more?
*Go to SIGN UP & EVENTS to let us know which service you will be attending and serving, or to sign up to serve, and to help us decide which sermon series will kick off the 3 services era of Live Oak.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
1 John 5:3 “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome…”
PRAYER:
Spend some time praying for each other.
Scripture References:
1 John 5:13; 1 John 5:1-12; Matthew 11:28-30; Joshua 1:7-9; Proverbs 3:5-7; John 15:26-27; Matthew 11:28-30; Joshua 1:7-9; Proverbs 3:5-7; John 15:26-27; 1 John 1:1-4; Matthew 10:32; Matthew 24:12-14; Revelation 12:11