Good Shepherd Community Church

John the Apostle was the youngest of Jesus' apostles and he had a unique relationship with the Lord Jesus. Both his gospel testimony and his letters to the churches convey a warm pastoral heart of loving care for the Lord's people. One thing I value in his writings is his stated purpose for writing. In his gospel he states, " Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." JZohn 20:30f in his letters of 1 John he states several times why his writing and to whom he is writing. "that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled. JZohn 1:3-4 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a