There was a season of life when “Once upon a time” could launch you into the exciting world of make-believe, a dream-world that helped you forget all the problems of childhood. But one day, that season ended abruptly. That day you discovered that this life is more like a battleground than a playground! Fairy tales could no longer solve your problems. You wanted, actually needed, something real. This is where the Apostle John’s first epistle offers us answers. Written centuries ago, this letter, that is forever up-to-date, points us to life that is real. This morning we launch into a verse-by-verse study of John’s letter to the church that we’ve entitled “REALITY.”