The Journey Continues

2 John

1) If you could sum up all God’s teachings into one word what would that word be?  What would your life be like if you lived according to this one word?

2) How can you be sure that you won’t be deceived by false teachings?  What can you do so you can firmly stand on the truth?

3) What are some different ways to interact with others?  What are the advantages and disadvantages of these ways?

In this very brief letter, John focuses on two main ideas: truth and love (verse 3).  He begins by calling followers to obey the truth as expressed through love (verses 5-6).  Love, once again, is seen as the primary means of living out God’s commands (see also Matthew 22:34-40; John 13:34-35; and 1 John 3:11).  Imagine how different your life would be, as well as the lives of those around you, if you lived your life based on this one word.

The truth was at stake in the early church.  There were those that were intentionally deceiving people by denying that Jesus came in the flesh (verse 7).  To defend against this, John calls on us to continue in the truth (verse 9).  And that word continue has some strength behind it.  It means to stay, abide, dwell, endure, be present, remain, or stand.  The truth isn’t something to check in on from time-to-time.  The truth is something that we must build our lives upon.

John’s words at the end of his letter provide a challenge to us in today’s high-tech, information society.  He had more to share, but didn’t want to write it down; he wanted to communicate face-to-face.  While there are a lot of ways for us to connect with others these days, the best way will always be face-to-face.

3 John

1) How are you doing today?  Do you feel well?  What if you’re not?

2) What brings you great joy?

3) Share a time when you were warmly welcomed into someone’s home.  Ever been welcomed into the home of a stranger?

John begins by praying for the physical health of Gaius (verse 2).  But interestingly enough, he prays that he may be well physically like he knows he is well spiritually.  While we all desire to be physically well, it is the condition of our spirit that is most important.  And thank God that He took care of that on the cross.

We find joy in a great many things around us.  I’m sure John did, as well.  However, John let’s us know very clearly what brings him the most joy when he says in verse 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”  As a parent, I understand exactly what he is saying.  There truly is nothing better than to see those you have invested your life in living life to the fullest by walking in the truth.

Verses 5-8 get to the main focus of this brief letter.  John wrote to commend Gaius for taking care of those that were traveling ministers.  He took care of those he knew and those that were strangers.  Hospitality is still a very tangible way to show God’s love to others.

 

Revelation Chapter 1

1) What comes to mind when you think about the Book of Revelation?  What do you anticipate as we spend time reading and discussing it?

2) What aspects of God’s character do you need to be reminded of when facing difficulties?  What qualities of God are you most drawn to when life is tough?

3) What is something you’ve experienced that you’ve had trouble putting into words?  How have you described this to others?

John’s revelation contains incredible images of future events and much about what is to come.  But more than anything, John’s revelation is of Jesus (1:1).  As we look through the Book of Revelation we will consider the end of time.  Here we will read about the incredible revelation that John received.  His words are a great source of study and even confusion.  However, through all of the imagery one figure is clear – Jesus Christ.  More than anything, John reveals Jesus to us.

In revealing Jesus to us, John relates Jesus’ statement of Himself found in verse 8 – “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”  As John would soon be sharing both wonderful and horrifying prophecy of what is to come (1:19), knowing Who Jesus is would be a great source of comfort.

In verses 12-16, we find John’s attempt at describing what he saw.  He must have struggled to find words that would adequately and accurately describe what he was experiencing.  We know that he was overwhelmed based on his reaction found in verse 17 where we read, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.”  When is the last time you were out of words when attempting to describe Jesus?  When is that last time that you were overwhelmed by His presence?

Revelation Chapter 2:1-7

Chapter 2 begins the section of Revelation that contains letters to seven churches.  The seven churches were actual churches of John’s day.  They also represent types of churches and types of people in all generations.  Each letter follows a similar format including a description of Jesus, words of commendation, rebuke and challenge, and finally words of promise.  We’ll look at one church each day.

1) What does God know about you?  What would He say to commend you?

2) Do you remember when you started your journey with Christ?  What were those days like?  What did you do?  How did you feel?

3) Why should you live to honor God?  What should motivate you to live in a way that pleases Him?

The church in Ephesus is commended for many things (2:2-3).  They persevered through hardships, stood for the truth, and had not grown weary.  They were living in a way that pleased God and honored Him.  More than anything, this should be our desire and goal.  We should strive to live day-by-day and moment-by-moment in a way that puts a smile on God’s face.

The moment we choose to follow Christ, we begin to live a new life.  This life is full of freedom from the past, hope for the future and love for our Savior.  But too often, as time goes on, we struggle with our past, become concerned about the future and seem to fall out of love with Jesus (2:4-5).  So take a moment and remember what it was like when you started your journey with Christ.  Go back to the days of simple faith and unrestricted love.

Adam and Eve sinned by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  They were then banished from the Garden so they would not be able to eat of the tree of life and live forever (Genesis 3:22).  Now, at the end of the letter to the church in Ephesus, we are promised that our faithfulness will give us the opportunity to eat from this tree of life.  We live to honor Him simply because of Who He is, but because He is so good, He rewards us for our faithfulness.

Revelation Chapter 2:8-11

1) Do you consider yourself to be wealthy?  How do you measure wealth? 

2) Through what kinds of trials have your proven yourself to be faithful to God?  How far should our faithfulness go?

In our materialistic American culture we have a very distorted view of wealth.  We limit our definition of wealth to money and possessions.  But Jesus’ words to the church in Smyrna reveal there is much more to consider.  Jesus looked through their afflictions and poverty and declared, “Yet you are rich!”  How could this be?  True wealth is not found in bank accounts and boats.  It is found in our relationship with God.

While Jesus’ words brought encouragement (“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer”), they also expressed the reality of difficulty (“you will suffer persecution for ten days”).  In fact, Jesus called on the church to be “faithful, even to the point of death.”  How far will your faithfulness go?  Jesus said this in Luke 16:10: “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much.”  We have the opportunity to be found faithful every day.

 

Revelation Chapter 2:12-17

1) How difficult is it to live for Christ in the midst of a world that stands against Him?

2) In what areas are you tempted to compromise your stand as a follower of Jesus?

3) What is your true identity as a follower of Jesus?  Who are you, based on what He has done?

In passing on Jesus’ words to the church in Pergamum, John begins with words of praise.  The culture that surrounded Christ-followers in this city was evil.  In fact, in verse 13 Pergamum is referred to as the place “where Satan has his throne.”  Yet even in this setting, the early church remained true to His name.  This was early evidence of what Jesus prayed for in John 17:13-17.  Here Jesus prayed that we would be protected from the evil one while we live in a world that is not our own.  We truly can live as if we are not of this world.

While there were those commended for living separate from the world, there were others rebuked for trying to live for Christ and for the world at the same time (2:14-16).  Completely contrary to those that were just commended for living not of this world, this group kept one foot in each place.  But Jesus’ call to us is one of total, not partial, commitment.  “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15)

The end of the letter to the church at Pergamum mentions two blessings available to those that persevere and overcome.  One of those is a white stone with a new name written on it.  While I’m not sure of all the symbolism this contains, the white stone may indicate God’s favorable decision regarding us (a black stone would indicate being out of favor) and the new name could be seen as evidence of our adoption.  As followers of Jesus, we know that our identity is found in Him.

Revelation Chapter 2:18-29

1) When it comes to living out your faith, how are you doing today compared to where you were a year ago?  How can you tell that you’ve changed?

2) Have you ever done something that you were surprised you did and then wondered where that came from?  What do you really know about the real you?

3) Jesus describes Himself as the Morning Star.  What does this communicate about Who He is?

Do you remember the early days of your faith journey?  What were they like?  What did you do?  Jesus’ words of commendation to the church in Thyatira show that they were doing more than they did at first (2:19).  I pray that this is what can be said of us as we continue to grow in understanding and living out our faith.  Ours is not a destination, but rather a journey.  Our goal should be to live more like Jesus today than we did yesterday.  When this is true, we can also be commended for doing more than we did at first.

Although Jesus calls out a woman named Jezebel (or at least her namesake) for specific and obvious acts of sin, He refers to Himself as “he who searches hearts and minds.”  While we all have outward areas of disobedience, God sees the motives behind our actions; He sees our heart.  Our desire must be to do more than simply go through the motions and look good when it comes to our faith.  We must desire to live with a clean conscience before God.  “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

In closing the letter to the church in Thyatira, Jesus says that He will give the morning star to those who overcome.  What does He mean?  Based on Revelation 22:16, where Jesus describes Himself as the Morning Star, this may be a reminder that He has given us the gift of Himself and His presence.

 

Revelation Chapter 3:1-6

1) Looks can be deceiving.  What is something you encountered that looked good on the outside, but wasn’t that way on the inside?

2) When on a journey, what would you need to do if you realize you are going the wrong way?  How would you get back on track?

3) What does the color white signify to you?  Why is this the color brides wear at their wedding?

The letter to the church at Sardis starts out with a revealing statement: “you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”  It’s like Jesus is saying, “From the outside everyone looking at you sees life, but on the inside God sees death.”  While our faith shows itself by what we do, it is based upon who we are.  God wants to change you on the inside so you live differently on the outside.

After calling the church to wake up (3:2), Jesus tells them three steps they needed to take to get back on track.  First, they needed to remember; remember what they learned, remember what God had done, remember the place where they were going.  Second they needed to obey; put into practice all they had learned and heard.  Finally, they needed to repent; turn from the direction that they were heading to the direction that God wanted them to go.  These are the same steps we need today: remember, obey and repent.

Pure, brilliant, without blemish.  These all describe the essence of the color white.  This is the color that those who overcome will be dressed in.  And like a beautifully dressed bride, Paul describes the church in Ephesians 5:27, “as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”  Far different than the stained, soiled, worn out clothes the world offers us, Jesus will one day dress us in white.

 

Revelation Chapter 3:7-13

1) How does the world define success?  How does God define success?

2) How will you stand up to the trials and challenges of the last days?  What has God promised to do for you during this time?

3) Have you ever been in a setting that you just didn’t want to leave?  What was it?  What made you want to stay?

When we think of success, we think of things that are big and bold.  “Go big or go home,” is a familiar saying in our overachieving American culture.  But Jesus’ words of praise to the church in Philadelphia acknowledge its weakness: “I know that you have little strength.”  But as Jesus continues, we see what it is that is pleasing to Him: “Yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”  Don’t confuse the standard of success in the world with the standard of success in the Bible.  Faithfulness wins over force any day.

Reading Jesus’ promise in verse 10 at face value indicates we will be spared from all that we will soon read about in the rest of John’s revelation.  While I indeed hope this is the case, this is not what my faith is based on.  God has already done a great work by saving me for all eternity.  Any calamity that might overtake my body will not impact that.  In fact, because of what God has already done through Jesus, we can have the same confidence that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had before King Nebuchadnezzar: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  (Daniel 3:16-18)

To those who overcome, God will give a permanent place in His temple; a setting of peace, comfort and joy.  This is what David longed for; this is what we should long for, as well.  “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”  Psalm 27:4

 

Revelation Chapter 3:14-22



1) What is your favorite hot meal?  Favorite cold meal?  Favorite lukewarm meal?

2) What are some unusual ways that people show love to each other? 

3) What benefits are ours because of our relationship with Jesus?  What do we gain based on what He has done?

Most meals are enjoyed cold or hot, but when is the last time you liked something that was in between?  It was the lukewarm, in between people that were part of the church in Laodicea that Jesus addresses His displeasure to in verses 15-16.  These people were not cold and disinterested, neither were they hot and passionate.  They were indifferent, complacent and unconcerned.  Perhaps they were part of the church, but their lives were not being changed.  Or they were learning about the faith, but remaining the same.  Don’t let your journey of faith be marked by indecisiveness and mediocrity.  We’ve been given a new life to live!

Flowers, chocolates, and evenings together.  These are what we normally think of as expressions of love.  We might even consider the less romantic notions of taking care of sick children and doing housework.  But I doubt any of us would put discipline on the list of ways to express love.  Yet, that’s exactly what Jesus says in verse 19.  Because He loves us, He is unwilling to let us stray from His plans for us.  He cares for us so much, that He rebukes us to keep us on track.  For more on God’s discipline, see Hebrews 12:5-11.

While there are many things we have to our credit because of what Jesus has done (salvation, peace, adoption, purpose, etc.), the end of the letter to the church in Laodicea lets us know about something rather incredible.  “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne.”  Wow!  Can you get a picture of sitting next to Jesus as He holds court as King of the Universe?  Amazing!