Today’s passage: 2 John 10-13

Helpful thoughts:

• If we know that a teacher is coming who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, we are not to allow them to into the participation of our worship.
  • When these false teachers would come into the houses of the early churches, they would have a word or a message to share.  God’s command to us is simple, don’t even let him into the house.
• When we welcome a false teacher into the “house” we become their accomplice, participating in their evil work.
• Ministry is richer and sweeter when done in the fellowship of real personal relationships.  There are many great resources at our disposal in books, websites, podcasts, etc.  But, none of those things on their own can give you what the local church can.

Questions to consider:

1. What would be the equivalent in our setting today for this command to not receive a false teacher?  How could we best apply this in our church services? Bible studies? Small groups for prayer? Etc.
2. What is the difference between a person proclaiming a false gospel who claims to be a Christian and a person who does not claim to be a Christian?  How would our hospitality and approach be different?  How could the person who claims to be a Christian be more dangerous?
3. How does personal relationship (Following Jesus together) make our joy “complete” in a way that individually studying, watching videos, or reading blogs can’t?  Why is the local church so important for your growth?  Why are you so important to your local church’s growth?  What are some ways we can utilize all the good books, videos, and other resources together?

Today’s passage: 2 John 4-9

Helpful thoughts:

• Loving God, loving people, keeping God’s commandments all go hand in hand.  One cannot be done without doing the other.
• “Watch yourselves” is a call to vigilance.  We want to run our race well and sprint across the finish line!
  • The best way to identify what is false is to be an expert in what is true.
• There are those who preach and teach false doctrines and/or there are those who live false testimonies of conversion.  Both the teaching and the living are to be in accord with the teachings of Christ.
  • John 10:27-28

Questions to consider:

1. How does John’s rejoicing in that some of the elect lady’s children believed and were walking in truth inform our posture towards our children’s faith?  Should we expect them all to believe and be angered when any of them do not? Or, should we remember the natural condition of their hearts and rejoice when any of them do believe?
2. What is the difference between obedience inspired by love and compliance inspired by self-interest?  How could both look the same on the outside?  How easy is it to shift back to self-interest?  What truths can compel us to move toward obedience inspired by love (Hint: 2 Corinthians 3:18)?
3. When we look into our motives like this, we might tend toward despair (“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” – Romans 7:24).  Why was the Apostle Paul right to answer this question with, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”?  Why are we the children of God?  Why and how are we growing progressively in following Christ, even for the right reasons?

Today’s passage: 2 John 1-3

Helpful thoughts:

• The elder is the Apostle John.  The elect lady could be a church or it could refer to an individual lady, perhaps the lady of a household where the church was meeting.
• This short letter will inform the “Lady” that she is not being rude or inhospitable should she refuse to allow a false teachers to enter into her home (Which would allow for the false teacher to speak and sow false doctrine).
• God’s grace through Jesus Christ brings us into fellowship in the truth.  This bond we share as Christians in the truth of the Gospel spurs us on to love.

Questions to consider:

1. If the lady of the house, or if the church itself is being called the “elect lady”, and the children are being called, “her children” what do we see as still necessary for those children?  Why would John not call them “elect” as well at this point?
2. Once the truth has taken root in your heart, how long will it remain/abide (Verse 2)?  How would this truth encourage our understanding of the security of the believer’s salvation?
3. In what ways is love strengthened by truth?  Should good doctrine and our study of it reduce our outpouring of love or increase it?

Today’s passage: 1 John 5:16-20

Helpful thoughts:

• If we see a brother or sister in sin, and God hasn’t taken them home early (Acts 5:1-11), we should pray for their repentance!
• Christians repent.  Christians will sin…but they will be characteristically repentant.
• There are really two options for us to follow, the true God or the evil one.  Even if we might get caught up in following idols, the enemy is the same.

Questions to consider:

1. No matter what false religion or lifestyle a person chooses to follow, if it is not what is true (Vs. 20) who are they following?
2. How do verses 16-17 go along with the practice of church discipline from Matthew 18:15-20?  What should the one being removed from church membership question?  How will they know they are truly followers of Christ?
3. Who is the One who has been born of God who “protects” all who have been born of God?  In what ways are we protected in Christ?

Today’s passage: 1 John 5:13-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Verse 13 serves as the theme verse of this letter.
• This assurance of our salvation gives us confidence to pray.  God listens to the prayers of his children.
• The qualifier given in the promise for God’s answer: Our prayers are to be “according to His will.”

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways has this book strengthened your confidence in your salvation?  How has and how is God continuing to work in your life?  In what ways were you challenged to grow?
2. Where does our confidence to talk to God come from?  Who has provided us with this standing and privilege?  Why can we be so bold as to ask God to do things?
3. What does it mean to ask for things that are “according to His will”?  What might be some examples of prayers that are against God’s will and some that are according to God’s will?

Today’s passage: 1 John 5:6-12

Helpful thoughts:

• One of the false teachings that the Apostle John was combating was the idea that the Spirit of God came on Jesus at His baptism but left him prior to the crucifixion.  It was a way of saying that Jesus came close to becoming the Messiah but failed in His death and therefore was NOT the savior after all. John shares a three fold testimony to show this was not true.  All three give evidence that Jesus is God the Son:
  • The water – At Jesus’ baptism, God gave witness.  (Matthew 3:16-17)
  • The blood – At Jesus’ death, God gave witness. (Matthew 27:50-54)
  • The Spirit – Throughout Jesus’ ministry and even after His ascension, The Spirit gave witness. (Acts 2)
• Everyone who does not believe that Jesus is the Christ, born in the flesh, died for our sin, risen from the dead, and rightful Lord is actively calling God a liar.
• We tend to think of many people as being “Good people”.  But the truth is, “No one is righteous, no not one…no one does good.” (Romans 3:10-12)  That includes Christians!  We did not get saved because we were good people!  We all need salvation by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone.
  • “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:15)

Questions to consider:

1. When you here the message of the Gospel, what do you have to think and do in order to NOT be saved?
2. We often feel like the burden of proof rests on us in evangelism.  Is that true?  What do we need to say in order to take the Gospel to people?  Is it really as hard as we make it seem in our minds?