What Is Walking in the Light?
1 John 1:7 tells us, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
At its core, walking in the light is about clarity. We do not want to live by assumptions about what another person is thinking or why they are acting. Instead, we invite one another to “turn on our lights” to speak plainly about context, motives, and needs so we can understand each other and walk together in deeper fellowship.
This concept began as a relational practice within our team that became a training principle in Kingdom.Training to help other teams. Over time, we have come to love it as a foundational value that helps us build fellowship, navigate conflict, and honor one another.
How We Walk in the Light
Walking in the light is a process we practice together, especially in one-on-one conversations. It begins by setting the context: our desire is good fellowship and we’re willing to work for it. Often there has been no sin or offense, but even if there is we trust that the blood of Jesus is enough to cover it. With that foundation, we invite one another to “turn on the lights.” This means speaking clearly about what we are thinking, why we are doing something, or how we are experiencing a situation.
Often the process is a back-and-forth exchange. The initiator will share their lights, and invite the other to share theirs, and each asks questions that invite more clarity. Sometimes we ask someone to turn on a light they may not realize they have or help us find a light that we haven’t turned on, such as clarifying a decision or sharing perspective. In this way, walking in the light helps us avoid false assumptions, resolve conflict, build trust, and also encourage and strengthen one another.
Principles of Walking in the Light
- Clarity, Not Assumption
When I make assumptions about your motives, I may be wrong. But when you “turn on your light” by explaining what you are thinking and why, I gain clarity. Walking in the light is a process of expressing and asking, not assuming. - Mutual Illumination
Lights are meant to be shared. I can turn on my lights, and you can turn on yours. Sometimes I may not realize I have a light to share, but you can ask me to turn it on. The back and forth of light-sharing illuminates the room more fully for everyone. - Clarify, Don’t Confront
Our aim is clarification, not confrontation. Walking in the light involves several rounds of exchange: “My lights are this.” “Your lights are that.” “That helps me understand.” Through this process we uncover truth and alignment without unnecessary conflict. - Grace for Sin and Mistakes
Fellowship is possible because the blood of Jesus covers sin. When hurt or misunderstanding arises, His forgiveness enables us to forgive one another and keep walking in the light together. - Light with Care
Light can be accompanied with heat. If turned on suddenly or too intensely, it can shock or harm. We seek to turn on lights in ways that are gentle, timely, and constructive. - Honor others
Sometimes walking in the light is not about correcting but honoring. I may see something in you that you do not see in yourself. By turning on that light, I help you recognize a gift, strength, or faithfulness that builds you up and brings honor in community.
How This Shapes Gospel Ambition
Walking in the light has grown from a training principle into a team value. We practice it regularly, sometimes even going overboard, because it fosters healthy fellowship, unity, and growth.
This value helps us resolve conflict with humility, extend forgiveness with freedom, and honor one another with joy. It shapes the way we collaborate, design projects, and engage with partners. By walking in the light, we guard against hidden motives, miscommunication, and division, choosing instead clarity, trust, and love.
How It Shows Up in Our Projects and Team
Walking in the light is a practice that shapes each of our projects and how we operate.
- Kingdom.Training uses walking in the light as a training principle, helping teams build trust, clarify assumptions, and collaborate effectively.
- Disciple.Tools emphasizes accountability through partnership agreement principles, update reminders, and clear roles, systematically asking for clarity rather than making accusations.
- Prayer.Tools and Prayer.Global invite believers to pray scripture, aligning with the light God has already revealed and focusing on His priorities.
- Zúme Training builds accountability through training on accountability groups and creation of three-month plans that help participants clarify their goals and give coaches insight to walk with them.
- Our team culture practices “turning on lights” in daily interactions. It has become a part of our DNA, whether resolving tension, clarifying direction, or honoring one another.
Walking in the light shows up differently across our projects, but in each case the goal is the same: to create clarity, strengthen accountability, and align ourselves with God’s truth so that we can move forward together in great fellowship.
Closing
Walking in the light is more than a concept. It is a practice of clarity, fellowship, forgiveness, and honor. As we continue to live this out, we believe it makes us more aligned with God’s own light, strengthens our fellowship with one another, and deepens our Gospel Ambition to see the Great Commission fulfilled.