FBCC - Second Serving

3 John 9-10 He Refuses to Welcome the Brothers Introduction As we continue through John's third letter, we come to a section that, like the first eight verses, does not contain any direct commands. John does not stop and give us an instruction to obey. Instead, he gives us something to observe. He places before us the actions of a man named Diotrephes and allows us to see how a false believer can harm the church by distorting obedience to the Lord. In the opening section of this letter, we were reminded that God's people should receive, support, and partner with those whom God the Father, through the Son and by the Spirit, has called and equipped to publicly minister to the church for its edification and maturity. These brothers had gone out for the sake of the Name. They were laboring for the advancement of the gospel. Gaius was commended because he received them and supported them faithfully. But now John shows us the opposite. Diotrephes was associated with this local ...

3 John 1-8 I Have No Greater Joy Introduction As we begin the final recorded letter of the Apostle John, we can see that each of his letters has progressively zoomed in more and more. One at a time, the focus becomes narrower and more direct. In this final letter, we find a direct line to a specific purpose and to issues taking place within a specific church. Through it, we are able to see how John handles the situation, the directions he gives to the local church, and the questions we should ask ourselves as we work toward becoming a congregation that can encourage other churches to move forward in faithfulness. A Personal Letter “The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth” (3 John 1:1). The introduction of the letter establishes the foundation of the relationship and the reason for John’s response to the news he has received. As he uses the title “elder,” he is writing to Gaius, a believer in Jesus who is part of a local church. This letter feels personal becaus...

2 John 8-13 Watch Yourselves Introduction This section of John’s letter gives us a clear explanation of one of the major concerns behind the book. Have you ever received news while you were already on your way somewhere, and the situation was serious enough that you immediately called ahead to address the issue before you arrived? That is similar to what is happening here. The Apostle John had many important matters he could have discussed with the church. Yet this warning could not wait. Something dangerous was threatening the church, and John wanted to make sure they understood it immediately. John warns believers to watch themselves so they do not lose what had been worked for, but instead receive a full reward (2 John 1:8). This is not casual language. John is warning believers to remain alert because false teaching concerning Christ threatens the church, weakens fellowship, steals from faithfulness, and leads people away from the truth revealed through Jesus Christ. D...

2 John 4-7 For Many Deceivers Have Gone Out Introduction As we move deeper into the second letter of the Apostle John, his main concern begins to take clearer shape. John is still concerned that his readers know the truth, but now he begins to show that concern from another angle. Christ has come to make the truth known and to lead his people into a life of obedience and love. But false teachers have gone out into the world, and their message stands against the very work Christ came to accomplish. John is not treating truth as a cold idea that sits only in the mind. He is not treating love as a vague emotion that can be separated from truth. He brings both together. To walk in the truth means that the truth about Christ has been believed and is now being visibly lived. The truth of Christ produces love, and that love is expressed through obedience to God’s commands. This is why false teaching is so dangerous. False teaching is not merely wrong information. It is spiritual poiso...

2 John 1-3 Grace, Mercy, and Peace Will Be With Us Introduction What is our common belief of the truth? What is the thing that holds us together? That question matters because there are many things people try to use as a banner of unity. People gather around personalities. They gather around preferences. They gather around history, tradition, politics, comfort, frustration, family ties, shared experiences, and common opinions. Some of those things may have value in their proper place. But none of them can hold the church together forever. The Apostle John opens this short letter by pointing the church to something much stronger. He points them to the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever. He is not speaking about a vague religious idea. He is speaking about what God has revealed through Jesus of Nazareth. In Christ, the mystery of the gospel has been fully unveiled. God saves sinners. That truth is not temporary. It is not fragile. It is not something we can r...