Overview:
We can talk all day long about our faith, but nothing speaks louder than our character. The apostle John had lived long enough to witness the fall of many who once walked closely with their Lord. He anguished over heresies that had sprung up in the lives of Christians he loved. We would be wise to heed his wisdom so we can avoid the same fate.
Message Summary:
In this message focusing on 1 John 2:1–6, Chuck Swindoll strips away the veneer of adult sophistication to address the congregation as “little children”—the very term of endearment the Apostle John uses for his readers. Swindoll suggests that adults are merely grown-up children who still love games, stories, and toys, but who have forgotten the simple, foundational rules of life [5–7]. Drawing inspiration from Robert Fulghum’s All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Swindoll frames this passage not as a complex theological treatise, but as “family talk” from a 90-year-old mentor to the family of God [7–10, 13].
Swindoll simplifies the text into six “crayon-written” rules for spiritual living. He begins with the preventative command to “stay out of the wrong neighborhood,” urging believers to avoid sin before it starts. However, acknowledging human frailty, he points to the comforting reality that when we do fail, we have an Advocate—Jesus Christ—who stands in our corner as a Divine Defense Attorney [16, 20–22].
The message challenges the listener to align their words with their actions. Swindoll warns that claiming to know God while disobeying Him is lying, noting that obedience is actually a gauge of our respect for the Father. He illustrates this with a personal story of learning to drive, contrasting his carelessness with his grandfather against the careful respect he showed his father. The sermon concludes by pointing to Jesus as the ultimate hero to emulate, challenging believers to “walk in the same manner as He walked” [30, 32–35].
Message Key Facts:
- The “Little Children” Mindset: Swindoll encourages listeners to drop their “snotty sophistication” and sit at the feet of the Apostle John. He notes that John uses family terms like “little children,” “fathers,” and “beloved” throughout the letter, indicating these are rules for family harmony, not just legal code [7, 10–13].
- Rule #1: Avoid Trouble: Based on 1 John 2:1, the first rule is “Don’t ever mess with stuff that gets you into trouble.” Swindoll compares this to telling his own children to stay out of dangerous neighborhoods because bad company corrupts good character [15–17].
- The Advocate (Paracletos): If a believer does sin, they are not abandoned. Swindoll explains the Greek word paracletos (Advocate) means “one called alongside.” Unlike human lawyers, this Defense Attorney is free, is always available without an appointment, and has never lost a case [21–22].
- The Bus Driver Illustration: To illustrate propitiation and advocacy, Swindoll tells the story of a bus driver named “Aaron” who was beaten by thugs. When the thugs were caught, Aaron asked the judge if he could serve their jail time for them to prove his forgiveness—a picture of how Christ attempts to stand in the place of the guilty [23–27].
- Propitiation: Swindoll defines this theological term in verse 2 simply as “satisfaction.” Christ’s sacrifice fully satisfied the righteous demands of the Father, leading to the verdict: “Case dismissed”.
- Rule #4: Actions vs. Words: “No matter what you say, your actions tell the real truth.” Swindoll labels the person who talks about God but disobeys Him as a “liar,” comparing it to a husband who claims to love his wife while being unfaithful or abusive.
- Obedience as Respect: Swindoll shares a story of learning to drive. When driving with his lenient grandfather, he knocked the fenders off the car. When driving with his father, he was terrified to go over 40 mph. The lesson: Obedience reveals how much we respect our father [32–34].
- The Ultimate Hero: The final rule is to choose Jesus as your hero. Swindoll references the popular “What Would Jesus Do?” concept, urging believers to study how Jesus handled difficult people and impossible situations, and then to follow in His steps.
Message References:
- 1 John 2:1–6: The primary text outlining the “family rules,” the role of the Advocate, and the test of obedience.
- Jude 24–25: The opening benediction: “Now to Him who is able to guard you from stumbling… and to present you faultless”.
- Psalm 1:1: “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…” referenced regarding the danger of hanging around the wrong crowd.
- 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals” [19–20].
- 1 John 3:1: “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God”.
