2 John

As John warns the early Church about the danger of false teachers, he points them to the truth of Jesus and his Kingdom. Building a culture of truth, love, and obedience will protect us from lies and draw us closer to God.

Application

1. Reflect on the difference between our culture’s definition of love (affirmation) versus God’s definition of love (costly sacrifice for the good of another). Which do you see play out in your life more often? In what ways?

2. John calls us not only to commit to God’s truth, but also to watch out for voices of falsehood masquerading as truth. What does that look like practically in your life?

3. Consider what “bad fruit” you see in your heart (arrogance, anger, entitlement, anxiety, etc.). What does that fruit indicate about what you believe? How can you replace those lies with what is actually true based on God’s Word?

Key Points

• As John warns believers against false teachers, he is clear that the truth is external—it comes from Jesus. Truth is a person.

• We need a steady diet from God of what is true, both individually by spending time in God’s Word, and corporately by processing the truth together. If the truth is not in us, it cannot drive us.

• Truth, love, and obedience are all connected. We love one another by pointing each other to the truth and obeying God’s commands.

• False teaching undercuts the gospel and creates room for sin. Any time you orient your life around a belief that is not from God, it’s dangerous.

• In order to guard against false teachers, we have to admit we are susceptible to their lies.

Other Scripture References

John 14:6

Psalm 1

1 John 4

1 Timothy 2:5

Hebrews 4:14–16