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Pastor David Watson · Touch Grass, Week 5 · 1 John 3:19-24
A sermon on 1 John 3:19-24 from the Touch Grass series at Bear Creek Community Church
Do you ever feel like someone is standing beside you, reminding you of every mistake you’ve ever made? In this message, Pastor David walks through 1 John 3:19-24 and shows why the loudest voice of accusation in your life might be coming from your own heart, and how prayer moves us from a condemning heart to a confident one.
What Does 1 John 3:19-24 Mean?
For most of his letter, John has been telling believers “this is how you know” they belong to Jesus. In verse 19, his language shifts to “this is how we will know” and “will reassure our hearts.” John is preparing his readers for seasons of doubt, when their own hearts condemn them. His answer is simple and pastoral: God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.
Can Your Heart Lie to You? What the Bible Says
Yes. Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is deceitful above all things. Even after God gives us a new heart through faith in Jesus, old thoughts and feelings don’t disappear overnight. Sanctification is a slow process, and in the meantime, that inner voice keeps replaying our failures. John’s point is clear: your heart can be wrong about you.
Why Do Christians Struggle With Guilt and Shame After Being Forgiven?
Much of Christian teaching focuses on the deceiver “out there,” whether false teachers, the enemy, or spiritual forces. But John highlights a harder truth: the biggest deceiver in your life might be the one you listen to most, and it may live inside your own chest. The churches John wrote to had absorbed so many lies that they began doubting their own salvation. Many believers today experience the same thing.
How Do You Move From a Condemning Heart to a Confident Heart?
John’s answer is prayer. Notice his language: we “reassure our hearts before Him,” we “have confidence before God,” and we “receive whatever we ask.” Each phrase describes being in God’s presence. The NIV puts it this way: this is how we set our hearts at rest in His presence.
Why Is Prayer So Hard for So Many Christians?
Most people admit prayer is their biggest spiritual struggle. One reason: when we get quiet, our condemning heart starts talking. Research has shown many people would rather endure physical discomfort than sit alone with their thoughts. Prayer means learning to take those thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and bring them before God instead of running from them.
What Is the Difference Between Certainty and Confidence Before God?
Drawing from Hebrews 10:19-22, Pastor David explains that certainty is about our position: Jesus died on a real cross for the real me to pay for my real sins. Confidence is relational: because we are certain of our position, we can boldly walk into God’s throne room and ask for what we need.
Dallas Willard describes prayer as an ongoing, intimate, conversational relationship with God. Søren Kierkegaard observed that prayer doesn’t change God; it changes the one who prays.
How to Use the ACTS Prayer Model
Pastor David offered a simple blueprint for daily prayer:
A: Adoration. Before anything else, acknowledge who God is, what He is like, and what He has already done for you.
C: Confession. Check in honestly with God. Lay your sins, thoughts, and feelings beside who He is.
T: Thanksgiving. Thank God for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do, even when it doesn’t make sense yet.
S: Supplication. Bring your requests with confidence. As 1 John 5:14-15 says, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
The 10-Minute Prayer Challenge
This week, spend 10 minutes in prayer every day, asking God to move you from a condemning heart to a confident one. Use the ACTS model and spend about two and a half minutes on each step. If you already pray for 10 minutes, add 10 more.
Scripture References in This Sermon
1 John 3:19-24
Zechariah 3:1
Jeremiah 17:9
Hebrews 10:19-22
Mark 7:20-23
2 Corinthians 10:5
1 John 5:14-15
Psalm 51
Discussion Questions for Small Groups
What does the condemning voice in your head usually say to you?
Why do you think it’s so uncomfortable to sit in silence with God?
How does knowing your position in Christ give you confidence in prayer?
Which part of the ACTS model is hardest for you, and why?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Touch Grass sermon series about?
Touch Grass is a sermon series at Bear Creek Community Church walking through the book of 1 John. It helps followers of Jesus figure out what is real, who Jesus truly is, and what a grounded life of faith and love looks like.
Who wrote 1 John and when?
The letter of 1 John was written by the apostle John, one of Jesus’ closest friends, around AD 85 to 90.
Where is Bear Creek Community Church?
Bear Creek Community Church (BC3) is in Lavon, Texas, serving Lavon, Wylie, Nevada, Copeville, and the surrounding Collin County area. Learn more at bc3.church.
Plan Your Visit
At Bear Creek Community Church, we are devoted to helping people find life with Jesus. Whether you have followed Jesus for years or are just starting to explore faith, there is a place for you here. Plan your visit or reach out if you would like to talk about taking your next step.