Untitled Sermon

2 John NLT

This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth—because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work. I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete. Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God.

2 John

Observations

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Big Ideas:

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Truth

Love

Generational Obedience

False Gospels/Deceivers/Anti-Christ

Salvation

‌Can I lose it?

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The Truth - that is in us - will be with us forever…

He is saying this as a definitive fact

He isn’t guessing as to the permanence of the presence of the truth …He is certain

‌illustration: It would be like me guessing on a sports team - they’re here to stay

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First question - what’s here to stay? What’s the truth?

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Second question - How do you know?

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Which one is true? That the truth is in us and stays with us forever or it stays with those who continue to live in it?

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The idea of checking in....They don’t have Face-time

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Christmas Cards - I use to think they were stupid until I realized why they started...because that was the one time a year you could get an update on people’s life and family (now I am sure there are other reasons people do these - to small flex but thats for another illustration) and see how they have grown and so that helped me see the value but honestly that value is lost on me because I can watch people’s family change in real time - the idea of checking in…well I don’t need to do that

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The idea of meeting children down the line and realizing that things have gone well. It really is this cool visual of time and gratitude . He didn’t get to watch them grow up but when he finally met them - he was proud. It’s a testament to what these people have been doing. Generational transfer. Catch that. Children - meaning next gen. Not just the OG’s but the people that came after.

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Any takeaways for our church?

How are we structurally committed to this?

How should we be organically committed to this?

Starts in the HOME - with your kids

Extends beyond the HOME to your spiritual kids

You know how many of us have spiritual kids…Leaders - thank you for what you are doing

Andy Sink illustration - laying it down and being changed in the process (Probably don’t speak to the salvation element)

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Generational evolution? Speak to this? Self-Made study? Learn how the world is changing? That is a key part of Generational transfer is helping the Gospel make sense in “the present darkness”

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New Living Translation 2 John

8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve.

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Let’s ask a theological question here. Is he saying that this is something that you have and you can’t lose or is he saying that this is something you have for a minute and you can lose it? Which one is?

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Watch out? Or sit back and enjoy?

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“what we have worked so hard to build”

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This isn’t something just to consume - it has to keep getting built - assuming their will be opposition and an ability to lose what has been built.

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“watch out”

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The focus here isn’t to linger to much on the evil ideology and it’s not even to go change the evil ideology - its to not let it capture your brain and heart and emotions

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Your conscience should be bound by the Spirit and the Scriptures - Not the thoughts of the world

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New Living Translation 2 John

10 If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 11 Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

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Youtube rabbit hole

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We got evil coming into our home every day through our personal devices - now more than ever we have access to evil ideology and more importantly it has access to us

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Doesn’t have to be a false teacher anymore - it can be an algorithm

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