Sermon Bible Study Guides

3 John - September 22nd

Walk in truth by showing love to the family of God

Read 3 John 1-4

1. Who is the author writing to and how does he feel about them?
2. Why does he feel that way about him? Who else does he feel this way towards?

Application:

1. How do you respond to testimonies of God’s work in other Christians? What practical steps could you take to help you respond with rejoicing more consistently?
2. What simple step can you take to help encourage other Christians, based off this text?

Read 3 John 5-12

1. What faithful thing has Gaius done? Why does John say it is important for him to do this?
2. What is the result of Gaius’s support of these brothers?
3. What is Diotrophes doing?
4. What does John say Gaius should and shouldn’t imitate? Who are the examples of who to imitate and who not to imitate?

Application:

1. What does John’s responses to Gaius and Diotrophes teach us about how we should engage with others in the church?
2. What practical ways could you become fellow workers for the truth with other believers?

Read 3 John 13-15

1. How does John conclude the letter?
2. What does John seem to value in the way he concludes?

Application:

1. What would need to change in the way you think about fellow Christians in order for you to speak about fellow believers in the same way as John?

2 John - September 15th 2017

Be careful to walk in truth and love.

Read 2 John v. 1-6

1. Who is the author writing to and how does he feel about them? (Hint: Who or what is the elect lady?)
2. Why does he feel that way about them? Who else feels this way about them?
3. What is the author's main request and what does that look like? (What is the connection between truth and love?)

Application:

1. What does walking in God’s commands look like practically? (Discuss this for sometime, then, read the Church Covenant which summarizes a lot of God’s commands for how we are to love one another)
2. How could you grow in loving the members of Covenant Hope Church.

Read 2 John v. 7-13

1. Why does John feel the need to ask them to walk in God’s commands?
2. How should they treat those who don’t abide in the teaching of Christ? Why? What will their outcome be?
3. Since this is addressed to a group (elect lady and her children) what does this imply that all members of the group should know?

Application:

1. In what ways do we either support or not support teachers as a church? As individuals?