Dear brothers, This week we continue on in another key concept from 1 John being Love In Action From 1 John 3:18 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. When we really receive God’s love, the result is Love in deeds and in truth for others. If we don’t have God’s love, we have nothing to give! Marquita uses this verse for the impetus for “Love in Action” The practical service arm of her ministry. Each series they will take up donations, or go serve in a local ministry like Ottawa Innercity Ministries, or help an international missions agency. This is what CHRISTIAN LOVE is all about. True Christian love means loving in deed and in truth. The opposite of “in deed” is “in word,” and the opposite of “in truth” is “in tongue.” Here is an example of love “in word”: “If a brother is without clothing and food, and you say to him, ‘Go in peace, be warm and filled,’ and do not help him, what use is that?” (James 2). To love “in word” means simply to talk about a need, but to love “in deed” means to do something about meeting it. You may think, because you have discussed a need, or even prayed about it, that you have done your duty, but love involves more than words—it calls for sacrificial deeds. To love “in tongue” is the opposite of to love “in truth.” It means to love insincerely. To love “in truth” means to love a person genuinely from the heart and not just from the tongue. People are attracted by genuine love, but repelled by artificial love. One reason why sinners were attracted to Jesus (Luke 15:1–2) was because they were sure He loved them sincerely. But doesn’t it cost us a great deal to exercise this kind of love?” Yes, it does. It cost Jesus Christ His life. But the wonderful benefits that come to you as by-products of this love more than compensate for any sacrifice you make. To be sure, you do not love others because you want to get something in return, but the Bible principle “Give and it shall be given unto you” (Luke 6:38) applies to love as well as to money. John named three wonderful blessings that will come to a believer who practices Christian love in the verses that follow. (1) Assurance (vv. 19–20) or confidence before God (2) Answered prayer (vv. 21–22). God loves to answer prayer for those who Love in action (3) Abiding (vv. 23–24). God will abide with us and us with Him. Assurance, Answered Prayer and Abiding: With all these benefits, don’t you want to put your love into action today? Blessings, Kari New Study Guides - I still have some left! Leader Impact had an overprint of our new study guides for groups, so I scooped a bunch of them. I have guides for Essentialism, Boundaries for Leaders, Leaders Eat Last, Becoming A Leader Of Impact, Radical Candor, and The Advantage. I have a box of each of these. If you would like a bunch for your group, just email or call me and I’ll get them into your hands. Hamilton Summer Meetings - Friday morning meetings at Williams on the Bay are continuing. Kevin Morris is leading a series on “Disciplines of a Godly Man” by Kent Hughes. Kevin has handouts, so no book needed. If you have questions, Kevin's email is: kmorris@bell.net

This week we continue on in key concepts from 1 John being God’s Love From 1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! Now we come to one of the most unappreciated doctrines in all Christendom. God loves YOU! He really likes You! He adores YOU because You are His son. In the first two chapters John’s emphasis was on fellowship: A Christian who is in koinonia fellowship with God will practice righteousness and will love the other brethren. But in 1 John 3—5, the emphasis is now on sonship: Because a Christian is “born of God,” he experiences God’s love as a true son, then will also love the other brethren. “Born of God” is the idea quoted 6 times in these chapters. God’s love for us is unique. Our verse may be translated, “Behold, what peculiar, out-of-this-world kind of love the Father has bestowed on us.” While we were still His enemies, God loved us and sent His Son to die for us says Romans 8! Listen to the phrase at the end: “That we should be called the sons of God, and that is what we are.” “Sons of God” is not simply a high-sounding name that we bear; it is a reality! We are God’s children! With all the rights and privileges of sonship. God’s love for us does not stop with the new birth. It continues throughout our lives and takes us right up to the return of Jesus Christ! Then, when our Lord appears, all true believers will see Him and will become like Him (Phil. 3:20–21). This means, of course, that we will have new, glorified bodies, suited to heaven. All this is to remind us of the Father’s love. Because the Father loved us and sent His Son to die for us, we are children of God. Because God loves us, He wants us to have fellowship with Him now, and to live with Him one day. Salvation, from start to finish, is an expression of the love of God. We are saved by grace through faith in God (Eph. 2; Titus 2), but the provision for our salvation was originated in the love of God. And since we have experienced the love of the father, we have it available to love others. Do you realize that God loves and adores you right now? Blessings, Kari New Study Guides - I still have some left! Leader Impact had an overprint of our new study guides for groups, so I scooped a bunch of them. I have guides for Essentialism, Boundaries for Leaders, Leaders Eat Last, Becoming A Leader Of Impact, Radical Candor, and The Advantage. I have a box of each of these. If you would like a bunch for your group, just email or call me and I’ll get them into your hands. Hamilton Summer Meetings - Friday morning meetings at Williams on the Bay are continuing. Kevin Morris is leading a series on “Disciplines of a Godly Man” by Kent Hughes. Kevin has handouts, so no book needed. If you have questions, Kevin's email is: kmorris@bell.net

Dear Brothers, Happy Civic Holiday. I hope you enjoy the time with family and friends. Check bottom of messages for new resources! This week we continue on with several key concepts for us to embrace from 1 John. This week it is Worldliness. From 1 John 2:15-16 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. Since biblical times to today, being drawn away from Father’s loving embrace to worldly things has been the devil’s plan. Worldliness is not so much a matter of activity as of attitude. It is possible for a Christian to stay away from questionable activities and still love the world, for worldliness is a matter of the heart. To the extent that a Christian loves the world system and the things in it, he does not love the Father. Worldliness not only affects your response to the love of God; it also affects your response to the will of God. V. 17 says “The world passes away… but he that does the will of God abides forever” . So a practical definition of worldliness: anything in a Christian’s life that causes him to lose his enjoyment of the Father’s love or his desire to do the Father’s will. John pointed out that the world system uses three devices to trap Christians: “the lust [desire] of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”. The lust of the flesh includes anything that appeals to man’s fallen nature. “The flesh” does not mean just “the body.” Rather, it refers to the basic nature of unregenerate man that makes him blind to spiritual truth. The lust of the eyes. The lust of the flesh appeals to the lower appetites of the old nature, tempting us to indulge them in sinful ways. The lust of the eyes, however, operates in a more refined way. These are pleasures that gratify the sight and the mind, sophisticated and intellectual pleasures. The “boastful pride of life”. Remember God’s glory is rich and full; man’s glory is vain and empty. This word pride describes a bragger trying to impress people with his importance. The pride of life motivates much of what such people do and buy! So, the world draws us through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. And once the world takes over, a Christian will lose his enjoyment of Father’s love and his desire to do Father’s will. Even the Bible and Christian fellowship may seem empty. Has worldliness been creeping into your heart? Turn to God in repentance and restore your first love today! Click here to watch this week’s video Blessings, Kari New Study Guides - Leader Impact had an overprint of our new study guides for groups, so I scooped a bunch of them. I have guides for Essentialism, Boundaries for Leaders, Leaders Eat Last, Becoming A Leader Of Impact, Radical Candor, and The Advantage. I have a box of each of these. If you would like a bunch for your group, just email or call me and I’ll get them into your hands. Hamilton Summer Meetings - Friday morning meetings at Williams on the Bay are continuing. Kevin Morris is leading a series on “Disciplines of a Godly Man” by Kent Hughes. Kevin has handouts, so no book needed. If you have questions, Kevin's email is: kmorris@bell.net

Dear Brothers, This week we continue to the fifth purpose, that in Christ we may have Assurance From 1 John 5:1313 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  That we may know we are saved.  The life that is real in Christ is not built on empty hopes—or wishes—or on human supposings. It is built on assurance.  In fact, as you read John’s letter you encounter the word know or “gnosis" more than thirty times.  No Christian, if he is asked whether or not he is going to heaven, needs to say “I hope so,” or “I think so.”  There should be no doubt whatsoever. The Christian life is free and exciting because it is based on knowledge of solid facts. “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free,” promised Jesus (John 8:32). “We have not followed cunningly devised fables” (2 Peter 1:16) said Peter. The disciples, almost all of whom died for their faith, did not give their lives for a clever hoax of their own devising, as some critics of Christianity falsely assert. They knew what they had seen and whom they had trusted in! One of our guys started a group recently with some believers he knew from his church and some new guys. At one of the first meetings he asked, “How can you be right with God?” To his surprise two church guys said together, “obey the 10 commandments”. He was stunned. What about Jesus and the cross? He asked Yeah, of course he died, but now we have to obey the commandments to stay right with God they replied. Our leader was stupefied. This is why these verses and others are in the Bible. Because we fall back from grace and faith and want to keep the law. We are “box checkers”. This makes us feel good. Jesus warned us against such false assurances from the law. Many who profess to be Christians, but want to keep the law will be rejected in the day of God’s judgment. Galatians 3:10 (Those who depend on obeying the Law live under a curse. For the scripture says, "Whoever does not always obey everything that is written in the book of the Law is under God's curse!" ) John was saying to you and me, “I want you to be sure that you have eternal life by grace through faith alone.” Blessings, Kari Hamilton Summer Meetings - Friday morning meetings at Williams on the Bay will Begin on Friday July 3rd. Kevin Morris will be leading a series on “Disciplines of a Godly Man” by Kent Hughes. Kevin will have handouts, so no book needed. If you have questions, Kevin's email is: kmorris@bell.net

Dear Brothers, This week we continue to the fourth purpose, that we may not be deceived From 1 John 2:26, 23 26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. This is timely because Christians today need the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, between truth and error. Many have this idea that there are no “absolutes” that truth is relative. False doctrines, are more prevalent than at any time in history. Yet the truths of the Bible are overlooked. John four times uses a word in his letters not used by any other Bible writer—antichrist. That prefix anti- has two meanings: “against” and “instead of.” There are in this world teachers of lies who are opposed to Christ, and their method of “seducing” people is to use lies. Instead of Jesus they offer a substitute Christ, a substitute salvation, and a substitute Bible. They want to give you something “instead of” the real Word of God and real eternal life. Christ is the Truth (John 14:6), but Satan is the liar (8:44). The Devil leads people astray with half-truths and outright lies. He began by seducing mankind in the garden of Eden. He asked Eve, “has God really said?” He even masquerades as an angel of light. Satan today often spreads his lies even through religious groups! Just look at Mormons and Jehovah’s witnesses. A false gospel. So, how can we detect Satan’s lies and false teachers? How can we grow in our own knowledge of the truth so that we won’t be victims of false doctrines? John says the real Christian life is characterized by discernment. The Holy Spirit, is Christ’s answer to our need for discernment. John referred to Him as “the anointing … you have received from Jesus” (1 John 2:27), The Spirit is our Teacher; it is He who enables us to detect truth and error and to remain or abide in Christ. He is our protection against ignorance, deception, and untruth. While the Spirit gives discernment, the Bible makes most essential facts crystal clear. Ask the Spirit to guide and help you as you read the Bible and encounter strange teaching. He will answer! Blessings, Kari Hamilton Summer Meetings - Friday morning meetings at Williams on the Bay will Begin on Friday July 3rd. Kevin Morris will be leading a series on “Disciplines of a Godly Man” by Kent Hughes. Kevin will have handouts, so no book needed. If you have questions, Kevin's email is: kmorris@bell.net

Dear Brothers, This week we continue to the third purpose: that in Christ we may not sin. From 1 John 2:1 I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. So, the verse shows us the third purpose: That we may not sin. As I have shared with unbelievers, one of their first objections is that church people are no different from others. In fact they say believers are hypocrites, claiming forgiveness of sins then sinning all the more. This should not be. John faced this problem of sin squarely in 1 John 3:5b-6 saying “Jesus appeared so that he might take away our sins….. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.”. We see 4 things from these verses: 4P’s 1. Pardon 1 John 3:5 says Jesus came to earth to “take away our sins.” We have forgiveness through His shed blood and are declared not guilty before God. This pardon removes the penalty of death from us. This was His first purpose in coming. 2. Prayers Christ not only died for us to remove the penalty of our sins, but rose from the dead in order to intercede for us at the throne of God: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One”. Christ is our Representative. He defends us at the Father’s throne. Satan may stand there as the accuser of the brethren (Zech. 3; Rev. 12:10), but Christ stands there as our Advocate—He pleads on our behalf! Continuing forgiveness, in response to Jesus’ intercession, is God’s answer to our ongoing sinfulness. 3. Presence In 1 John 3:6 John announces the only answer to this enigma of sin—living in Jesus. The Person and work of Jesus Christ in us changes us. And the presence of Christ in us by the Holy Spirit is God’s method to keep us from sinning. His very nature and His desires living in us. 4. Power You see Jesus promises that we have power when the Holy Spirit comes on us. This power can keep us from sinning and transform our lives. Jesus changes our desires so that do not want to sin. Then He gives us His presence and His power to actually stop our sinful habits. The life that is in Christ is a life of victory over temptation and sin. Today you can claim this victory by living moment by moment in Jesus presence, and when tempted, cry out for His help and His intercession. Click here to watch this week’s video Blessings, Kari Hamilton Summer Meetings - Friday morning meetings at Williams on the Bay began on Friday July 3rd. Kevin Morris will be leading a series on “Disciplines of a Godly Man” by Kent Hughes. Kevin will have handouts, so no book needed. If you have questions, Kevin's email is: kmorris@bell.net

Dear Brothers, It is with sadness that we remember Peter Mercanti who passed away last week. See obituary details at the end of this message. This week we continue to the second purpose that we may have joy. From 1 John 1:4 4 And these things we write to you that [a]your joy may be full. (NKJV) We discussed the 5 purposes last week. (1) That in Christ we may have fellowship (1:3) (2) That in Christ we may have joy (1:4) (3) That in Christ we may not sin (2:1) (4) That in Christ we may not be deceived (2:26). (5) That in Christ we may know we are saved (5:13). Today we will just look at the second purpose. 2) That in Christ we may have joy (v. 4). Fellowship is Christ’s answer to the loneliness of life. Joy is His answer to the emptiness, the hollowness, of life. John, in this epistle, used the word joy only once, but the idea of joy came from Jesus own words in the gospel of John. Joy is not something that we manufacture for ourselves; joy is a wonderful by-product of our fellowship with Christ. David knew the joy that John mentioned; he said, “In Your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11). Basically, sin is the cause of the unhappiness that overwhelms our world today. Sin promises joy, but it always produces sorrow. The pleasures of sin are temporary—they are only for a season Like Heb. 11:25 which reminds us that Moses “chose…. God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin”. God’s pleasures last eternally—as Psalm 16 says, “they are forevermore” (Ps. 16:11). The life that is real produces a joy that is real—not some limp substitute. Jesus said, the night before He was crucified, “no one will take your joy away” (John 16:22). “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might abide in you, and that your joy might be full” (15:11). Karl Marx wrote these false words, “The first requisite for the people’s happiness is the abolition of religion.” But all he ever produced was pain and extermination of millions of people. Then the apostle John wrote, in effect, “Faith in Jesus Christ gives you a joy that can never be duplicated by the world. I have experienced this joy myself, and I want to share it with you.” This is real joy that can be shared with others. Today you can claim and live in the Joy of Christ and the joy from Christ. Blessings, Kari Hamilton Summer Meetings - Friday morning meetings at Williams on the Bay will Begin on Friday July 3rd. Kevin Morris will be leading a series on “Disciplines of a Godly Man” by Kent Hughes. Kevin will have handouts, so no book needed. If you have questions, Kevin's email is: kmorris@bell.net Peter Mercanti Passing - Peter was a long time LeaderImpact group member and hosted a group for years at Carmens. He passed on June 18th, 2026. Please pray for P.J, Joe, Sam and the family. See details at this link: https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/baygardens-hamilton/obituaries/peter-mercanti/162426.html

Dear Brothers, This week we start a study of 1 John With 1 John 1:3 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. Many think 1 John is the “love” letter, and it is… But, John also wrote this letter to share Christ with us. As you read it, you will discover that John had in mind five purposes for sharing. (1) That in Christ we may have fellowship (1:3) (2) That in Christ we may have joy (1:4) (3) That in Christ we may not sin (2:1) (4) That in Christ we may not be deceived (2:26). (5) That in Christ we may know we are saved (5:13). Today we will just look at the first purpose. (1) That in Christ we may have fellowship (v. 3). This word fellowship is koinonia. It is an important one in the vocabulary of a Christian. It simply means “to have in common in the Holy Spirit.” As sinners, humans have nothing in common with the holy God. But God in His grace sent Christ to have something in common with humans. Christ took on Himself a human body and became a man. Then He went to the cross and took on His body the sins of the world (1 Peter 2:24). Because He paid the price for our sins, the way is open for God to forgive us and have fellowship with us. We are not only reconciled to God, but 2 Pet 1:4 says He gives us His divine nature. What a thrilling miracle! Jesus Christ took on Himself the nature of man so that by faith we may receive the very nature of God and so, have fellowship with Him. Man hates loneliness. Solitary confinement breaks men’s souls. Like the British writer who was very famous, but had no friends, so he paid a kid to wave at him when his ship was sailing from England. He felt better but other people who realized what he had done, just felt sad for him. It may seem foolish and fake, but it reminds us that man hates loneliness. All of us want to be wanted. The Christian life is real and helps to solve this basic problem of loneliness, for Christians have genuine fellowship with God and with one another. Jesus promised, “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20). But, this secret of fellowship with God and with others, is like manna which was spoiled by the next day. We must every day have fresh grace from heaven, and we obtain it only in direct waiting upon God Himself. Begin each day by tarrying before God, and letting Him touch you. Take time to meet God. Then go share this koinonia fellowship with others. Today you can experience fellowship in the Spirit with the Father, Jesus, and others. Blessings, Kari Hamilton Summer Meetings - Friday morning meetings at Williams on the Bay will Begin on July 3rd. Kevin Morris will be leading a series on “Disciplines of a Godly Man” by Kent Hughes. Kevin will have handouts, so no book needed. If you have questions, his email is: kmorris@bell.net Band of Brothers Online Followup Group - We have a new online followup group on Thursdays at 7:00 pm with guys from Brockville, Picton, Coburg, Toronto and Ottawa. We are doing the video series “Fathered By God” by John Eldredge. If you or someone you know is interested, please let me know and I’ll get the Zoom link to you.

Dear Brothers, This week we finish Chapter 7 Common Questions. From Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. This verse from Proverbs is well known to us. And many of us rely on professional advisors to help us with our businesses and ministries. We need lawyers to draft agreements, accountants to help us with taxes and finances, and insurance guys to protect what we own. Yet, in our personal lives many of us tend to go it alone. Ed says this is a mistake! He recommends processing what you hear from God with people you know, like, and trust. Ed has a small group who meet each week to share what they are hearing from God and to process their God Talks together. His friends will remind him of something he forgot but probably shouldn’t have. This is important if you hear something unexpected from God. Things like… “I want you to move to Africa.” Or, “Start a new business.” First, if that happens, congrats on connecting with God and also for listening without editing. Then remember God didn’t say when. Rely on your team to help you in this. HOW LONG SHOULD GOD TALKS TAKE?” When I started doing God Talks, it took me twenty to thirty minutes to really get into the zone before asking the Two Questions. Nowadays, I can ask the Two Questions more quickly. That’s just because I’ve done it several times. That said, Ed uses this general guideline: •Step #1: Prepare your mind takes about 10 minutes •Step #2: Ask God the Two Questions takes about 5 minutes •Step #3: Recode your mind with the Two Statements, 5 minutes, or as long as it takes •For a total of about 20 minutes WHAT IF YOU DO THE EXERCISE AND LET GO OF THE LIES, AND STILL FEEL THE SAME?” Ed gives an example of a lousy business partner who left him alone, in debt, and, above all, angry. Through God Talks, Ed was told to release his anger and forgive. So, he did. He expected the pain to immediately go away and to be all hunky dory right away But, to his surprise, he was still angry. So, he did the exercise again on consecutive days. And then after months had gone by, he hadn’t thought of the guy once. It was strange. One moment, he couldn’t stop thinking about this person; the next moment, he was so gone that Ed didn’t even notice he was gone. These are the kind of issues you can process with your group. With a multitude of counsellors your plans will succeed. Blessings, Kari Hamilton Leadership Prayer Breakfast - What an event last Thursday! Over 550 people attended at Carmen’s. The keynote speaker was Kevin Rempel, a World Champion, and Paralympic Bronze medalist in sledge hockey, and speaker who knows what it means to fight your way through adversity. God was glorified and the city was certainly prayed for! See photo in today's email.