Discipleship Questions

1. John is writing that we might experience joy.  How would you define joy in your own words?  

2. In these few verses, John repeats himself several times.  Why do you think he does this?  What is trying to communicate to us?

3. What different words does John use to refer to Jesus?  What do each of these words communicate to us about Jesus?

4. John writes not just for the joy of others, but also for his own joy.  What does this teach us about the nature of joy and fellowship?