Bryanston Bible Church

How do we guard our faith in a world filled with voices competing to influence what we believe about Jesus? In 2 John 7–13, John lovingly warns the church about false teachers who distort the truth of Christ and urges believers to remain watchful. We are called to be grounded in the truth of the Gospel, guarding it carefully by refusing to move beyond the teaching of Christ, and genuinely living it out in our relationships and choices. This means exercising discernment over the teaching we welcome and promote, while pressing into the joy of relationships with fellow believers who cherish the truth. The Gospel is not something we outgrow or move beyond; it is the truth we continually abide in and mature in. Join us as we explore what it means to guard the truth of Christ and the hope we have in Him.

If the people closest to you were asked how your faith has changed the way you treat them, what would they say?In 2 John 1–6, John reminds us that truth and love are not meant to be separated. The Gospel doesn't simply change what we believe about Jesus; it must also transform how we live, how we respond to others, and how we love one another.As we continue our *In Light of Love* series, we discover that the truth of Christ is the foundation of our love, the guide for our daily lives, and the standard for our obedience. Whether it's showing patience, extending forgiveness, or having difficult conversations, God's Word calls us to love in ways that reflect the grace and mercy we have received through Jesus.The question is not simply whether we know the truth, but whether others can see that truth in the way we love them.Who needs to see the truth you believe in the way you love them this week?Join our Community: 📲 Download Church Centre — the go-to place for everything at BBC:https://bryanstonbiblechurch.churchcenter.com/setupFollow us on Social👍  Facebook:  https://facebook.com/BryanstonbibleChurch📷  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryanstonbible?igsh=MW00dDAzRoeGYzZw%3D%3D&utm_source=qrIf you would like to give to the life and ministry of the church, you can do so here ➡️  https://www.bbc.org.za/giving

How can we know that we truly have eternal life, and how do we guard ourselves from the things that draw our hearts away from God? As John brings his first letter to a close in 1 John 5:13–21, he leaves his spiritual children with some vital truths to hold on to. We can have confidence in the eternal life God has given us through Jesus, approach Him in prayer, and remember who we are, where we belong, and whom we know. But John also gives us a final warning: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” Anything we look to for the satisfaction, security, or significance that only Christ can give threatens to take His place in our hearts. Join us as we explore John’s final words and discover why, when we have Jesus, we must never trade the true God and eternal life for a counterfeit.Link to reflection questions: https://www.bible.com/events/49682756

What does it take to know that Jesus can truly be trusted? In 1 John 5:6–12, John presents the testimony of the water, the blood, the Spirit, and God Himself, all declaring that Jesus is the Son of God who came to save us. This isn’t a faith built on wishful thinking, but one grounded in the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done. And the evidence calls for a response: whoever has the Son has eternal life. Jesus is not merely a source of good advice or a better way to live; He is the Saviour in whom life is found. Join us as we consider the testimony God has given us about His Son, and the verdict it calls each of us to make.

What does it really mean to have faith, and how can we overcome the world around us? In 1 John 5:1–5, John reminds us that genuine faith is not about how strongly we believe, but about the One in whom we place our trust: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This faith produces a life marked by love for God’s people, obedience to God’s commands, and victory over the values and desires of a world that competes for our hearts. Obedience isn’t about earning God’s love, and victory doesn’t mean a life without struggle. It means trusting that Jesus is better than anything the world offers, and that through His death and resurrection, He has already overcome the world. Join us as we explore what it means to live by a faith rooted in Christ, expressed through love and obedience, and sustained by the victory of our Saviour.

In 1 John 4:17–21, John shows us what happens when God’s love truly takes hold of us. His love changes the way we face God, freeing us from the fear of condemnation and giving us confidence because of what Christ has accomplished for us. And that same love changes the way we face others, calling us to love the people God has placed around us. As God’s love takes root in us, it moves us from fear to confidence and from hatred to love. When God’s love takes hold of us, it frees us from fear and moves us to love others.

In 1 John 4:13–16, John gives us a powerful picture of what it means to live with assurance of our salvation. Through the Holy Spirit, God gives us evidence that we belong to Him: we believe in Jesus as the Son of God, and we increasingly love the people of God. This assurance doesn’t mean life will be free from turbulence, but it means we can face the turbulence knowing that we are secure in the Father’s hands. Our confidence rests not in our perfect faith or flawless love, but in the steadfast love of God and the finished work of Christ. As we come to know and believe God’s love for us, we can let go of fear and begin to experience the joy of our salvation.

Why do human beings never stop talking about love? We search for it, long for it, and build our lives around it, yet we can so easily mistake attention, approval, or belonging for love. In 1 John 4:7–12, John points us beyond ourselves to the true source, proof, and reflection of love: God is love, God showed His love by sending His Son, and His love becomes visible through His people. At the cross, we see a love that came looking for us, loved us when we were undeserving, and gave itself for us. And because God first loved us, we are called to reflect that same love to one another, crossing the divides that separate us and showing the world what the gospel produces. Join us as we celebrate the God whose love has come looking for us, and discover what it means for that love to be seen through us.

In a world filled with competing voices, how do we know what is true and what is false? In 1 John 4:1–6, John calls Christians to test the spirits and develop the discernment needed to recognise spiritual truth and resist error. He gives us two essential tests: What does this teaching do with the true Jesus, and does it accord with the true Gospel preserved in Scripture? Yet our confidence doesn’t come from knowing every counterfeit, but from knowing the truth, because “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Join us as we explore what it means to live as discerning Christians, anchored in the true Jesus, the true Gospel, and confident in the God who lives in us.

How can we know for sure that we belong to God? In 1 John 3:19–24, John speaks to the troubled heart that wrestles with doubt, guilt, and uncertainty, reminding us that our assurance does not ultimately rest in how we feel about ourselves, but in what God has done for us in Christ. When our hearts condemn us, John gives us five gracious invitations: look outward at God’s transforming work, look upward to the God who knows us completely, move towards God in confident prayer, look away from ourselves to Christ, and receive the Spirit’s testimony that God abides in us. True assurance isn’t found in trusting our own performance, but in trusting a perfect Saviour and seeing the Spirit make Christ increasingly precious to us. Join us as we explore what it means to have confidence before God.