Live in the Truth

2 John 1-13

Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying we must ask the following questions:

What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?

READ THE SCRIPTURE (Multiple times & translations and notice the words that standout)

Biblegateway (NIV) (My choice of all-round site. It is a great app, better on computers or on a cellphone)

StepBible (ESV) (Great on phone or computer with good resources.)

Hashtags:

#Fellowship

#Truth

#Love

Topical Bible

Kevin's Teaching Blog About BLANK

Themes

Fellowship with God

Confession of Sin

God’s Nature and Character (Light and Purity)

Christian Living and Responsibility

Topics

Proclaiming the Word of Life

Walking in the Light

Sin and Forgiveness

Potential Sermon Titles: ??

Intro Questions to get us thinking:

When you were growing up, where did you gather for family reunions? What was special about those times? Where did the guests stay?
Whose home could you drop in on unexpectedly and know that you would be welcome?

ESV Text with Highlights

#God =
#People = John, the Apostle, Jesus Christ, God, Christians or believers
#Time =
#Place = While not specifically mentioned in the text, the letter was likely written from Ephesus.
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =

2 John

Greeting

¹The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, ²because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

³Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

Walking in Truth and Love

⁴I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. ⁵And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. ⁶And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. ⁷For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. ⁸Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. ⁹Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, ¹¹for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Final Greetings

¹²Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

¹³The children of your elect sister greet you.

OBSERVATIONS (Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)

ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)

Thematic Bible (Books and Chapters Structure)

Bible Hub = Outline, Themes, Topics, People, Locations, and Questions

STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work and here are more resources than you can go through completely)

StudyLight (LEB) (Great site with commentaries by Burton Coffman)

NETBible (New English Translation) (Great for original text information)

BibleHub (HCSB) (Good on computer or app/phone with lots of well-organized information.)

BlueLetter (KJV) (A variety of resources and good on Phones / better on Computers)

Literal Word (NASB) (Works well on a smartphone or computer + for searching for words like a printed concordance)

Biblia.com (NCV) (Great on a computer especially if you have a logos account)

KnowingJesus (Phone / Computer and great for comparing translations)

https://www.openbible.info/labs/ai-bible-study/

God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
How are John's twin themes of truth and love interconnected here?
If the lady addressed in this letter were to show hospitality to these false teachers who traveled around, would her error be on the side of truth, or on the side of love? What's wrong with welcoming such wandering missionaries?
How do John's exhortations to true believers (vv. 4-6) help them resist the deception and wickedness of the religious frauds (vv. 7-11)?

Link to More Questions

APPLICATION (God wants us all to arrive at action, life-changing faith)

Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)

The Message (MSG) (An easy-to-read paraphrase that helps some with application)

Precept Austin Devotionals

Scripture Graphics

https://www.openbible.info/labs/ai-sermons/

Which is easier for you to do -- "walk in truth" or "walk in love"?
Have you ever been involved in a deep relationship that had to be terminated because of an overriding issue involving your faith? What happened?
How do you distinguish between those missionaries you ought not to support and those you should? How can you exercise truth and love in that decision?
When was the last time you had someone over who was really hurting, lonely or needing help (no names)? Should you do this more often? What's stopping you?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
What transformative move needs to be made?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.