Read and study the context of 1 John 4 and the surrounding verses as you begin to prepare to teach session 4. Then, read this post by John MacArthur and think through the following questions as you prepare.
- Consider the five distinguishing characteristics of the Holy Spirit’s work that are excerpted from Jonathan Edward’s The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God.
- Ask God to search your heart and spend a few minutes evaluating your own life and teaching to be sure that you are exalting the true Christ and pointing your students to Scripture each week.
- Encourage your students to read and memorize Scripture so that they will have a solid foundation in God’s Word and be able to distinguish the truth from what is false. If you have students who are juniors or seniors that are beginning to consider college or a move after their graduation, encourage them to find a church there that is rooted in Scripture and to even use these five characteristics as a guide when they are looking for a church.
- Re-emphasize the central truth for this session as you close. It is: We can discern truth because the Spirit of Truth lives in us. This is also an excellent time to talk to your students who are not yet saved about Christ if they are ready to take this next step of salvation.