1, 2 & 3 John 11 - Sessions
1 John emphasizes love for God and others, living in truth, and assurance of eternal life through faith in Jesus. 2 John warns against false teachers, urging believers to walk in love and remain faithful to Christ's teachings. 3 John focuses on hospitality, supporting fellow believers, and addressing issues of authority within the church.
— Series Study Notes — Series Handouts — Editable DOC — Series Audio & Text
——— 1 John ———
Session 1: "Anchored in Truth" - 1 John 1:1-2:2
Session 2: "Faithful Hearts, Faithful Lives" - 1 John 2:3-17
Session 3: "Holding Fast in Changing Times" - 1 John 2:18-27
Session 4: "Still God's Beloved Children" - 1 John 2:28-3:10
Session 5: "Love That Endures and Encourages" - 1 John 3:11-24
Session 6: “Wisdom for Discernment" - 1 John 4:1-6
Session 7: "Perfect Love, Eternal Hope" - 1 John 4:7-5:21
——— 2 John ———
Session 8: “Rooted in Love, Firm in Truth” 2 John 1–6
Session 9: “Preserving Our Spiritual Heritage” 2 John 7–13
——— 3 John ———
Session 10: “Living Letters: Hospitality and Faith in Action” 3 John 1–8
Session 11: “Servant Leadership: Humility Over Pride” 3 John 9–15
“learning to praise God with our love for each other”
Quick Overview
The letters of 1, 2, and 3 John are short but spiritually rich writings from the Apostle John, often referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” These epistles were written to encourage believers to remain steadfast in their faith, to love one another deeply, and to guard against false teachings. John’s pastoral heart shines through as he reminds the church that truth and love are inseparable in the Christian life. These letters are especially relevant today, offering clarity and comfort in a world full of spiritual confusion.
Five Subjects to Interest
God is Light and Love – “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
True Fellowship Comes Through Christ – John emphasizes that fellowship with God and one another is rooted in knowing Jesus (1 John 1:3).
Discernment is Vital – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1).
Love is the Mark of a True Believer – “Let us love one another, for love comes from God” (1 John 4:7).
Hospitality and Truth Go Hand in Hand – 3 John encourages believers to support faithful teachers and reject those who distort the gospel.
Timeless Wisdom for Today
Karen H. Jobes, a respected New Testament scholar, notes that “John wrote these three brief letters in a spiritually confusing time… to assure his readers of their eternal life after death because they knew God in Christ.” That assurance is just as needed today. In a world of competing voices and shifting values, John’s letters remind us that truth is not relative—it is revealed in Jesus Christ. Historian Philip Schaff observed that John’s writings “breathe the spirit of love and truth in perfect harmony,” a balance we still strive for in our walk with Christ.
Practical Applications in Christian Living
These letters call us to live out our faith with integrity. They challenge us to love not just in word, but in deed and truth (1 John 3:18). They urge us to be discerning, to walk in obedience, and to extend hospitality to those who faithfully teach the gospel. For senior believers, these epistles are a powerful reminder that our spiritual influence continues—through prayer, encouragement, and example.
Why This Book Matters
The epistles of John are a call to authentic Christianity. They strip away pretense and focus on the essentials: love, truth, and faithfulness. In 1 John 5:13, John writes, “I write these things to you… so that you may know that you have eternal life.” That kind of assurance is a gift worth studying. These letters help us finish well, rooted in the truth and radiant with love.
Connecting the three Letters of John
Reflection on what the three letters have taught:
1 John emphasizes our identity as God's beloved children and calls us to love one another and discern truth.
2 John addresses community and how we remain rooted in truth while maintaining fellowship, setting boundaries where necessary.
3 John focuses on the tangible, active expression of faith through hospitality, kindness, and supporting Gospel work.
Together, they call us to:
Know who we are in Christ (beloved, secure)
Love deeply and truly (walking in truth, maintaining community)
Act generously (opening our homes, our hearts, our resources)
This is the full Gospel life—internal assurance, relational faithfulness, and practical kindness working together.
An Older version below.
— Download full series: Editable Word DOC — Printable PDF
——— 1 John ———
1: "Walking in the Light"- 1 John 1:1-2:2
2: "Loving God, Keeping Commands"- 1 John 2:3-17
3: "Truth and Lies"- 1 John 2:18-27
4: "Children of God"- 1 John 2:28-3:10
5: "Love in Action"- 1 John 3:11-24
6: "Testing the Spirits"- 1 John 4:1-6
7: "Perfect Love"- 1 John 4:7-5:21
——— 2 John ———
8: "Walking in Truth and Love"- 2 John 1-6
9: "Guarding the Faith"- 2 John 7-13
——— 3 John ———
10: "Walking in Truth: Christian Character on Display"- 3 John 1-8
11: "Powerand Humility in the Church"- 3 John 9-15
The historical context of 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John is tied closely to the Apostle John and the challenges faced by the early Christian church in the late first century. Tradition holds that John, likely the last surviving apostle, wrote these epistles while residing in or near Ephesus, around 85–95 AD. The church was grappling with internal and external pressures, including the rise of false teachings such as Gnosticism, which denied the incarnation of Christ and undermined core Christian doctrines.
John's writings reflect his pastoral concern for the spiritual health of the community. In 1 John, he addresses the need for discernment, truth, and love to combat these heresies. In 2 John, he cautions against extending hospitality to false teachers who might lead believers astray. Finally, 3 John shows a more personal side, dealing with matters of hospitality, church authority, and interpersonal conflict within the community. These letters provide insight into the apostle’s deep love for the church and his firm resolve to safeguard its unity and doctrinal purity during a tumultuous time.
What were the main conflicts in the early church during this time?
Many conflicts were tied to theological disagreements, cultural tensions, and challenges to church unity. One of the major issues was the rise of false teachings, particularly Gnosticism, which denied the humanity of Christ and distorted foundational Christian beliefs. These heresies created divisions and confusion among believers, prompting John to emphasize truth and sound doctrine.
Additionally, the church contended with conflicts over authority and leadership, as seen in 3 John, where a figure named Diotrephes is mentioned for rejecting apostolic guidance and acting in a self-serving manner. There were also challenges in maintaining fellowship and love within a diverse and growing community, as cultural differences between Jewish and Gentile believers sometimes led to tension. Amid these struggles, the early church was also navigating its identity within a hostile Roman Empire, striving to stay faithful under external persecution while addressing internal divisions. These conflicts shaped much of the pastoral and theological focus of John’s epistles.
Gnosticism, a prominent heresy during the early church, encompassed a variety of beliefs that diverged significantly from orthodox Christian doctrine. Some key examples include:
Dualism: Gnostics often believed in a strict dualism between spirit and matter, viewing the physical world as inherently evil and created by a lesser, flawed deity (sometimes called the Demiurge). Only the spiritual realm was considered pure and good.
Denial of Christ's Humanity: Many Gnostics taught that Christ did not truly take on human flesh because matter was seen as corrupt. Instead, they claimed He only appeared to be human (a belief known as Docetism).
Salvation through Secret Knowledge: Gnostics believed that salvation came not through faith in Christ’s atoning work, but through acquiring hidden, esoteric knowledge (gnosis) about the divine realm. This knowledge was said to be accessible only to a select group of enlightened individuals.
Rejection of Resurrection: Because they viewed the material body as corrupt, Gnostics often rejected the idea of a bodily resurrection, which is a core teaching of Christianity.
Divine Sparks: Some Gnostic sects taught that within certain people were divine "sparks" trapped in the material world, and the goal of salvation was to liberate these sparks to reunite with the divine realm.
These beliefs caused significant conflict within the early church as they directly contradicted foundational teachings about the incarnation, resurrection, and the nature of salvation. This is why the Apostle John and other early church leaders strongly opposed such teachings in their writings.
How do these early conflicts influence contemporary Christianity?
The early church conflicts, like those surrounding Gnosticism and false teachings, continue to shape contemporary Christianity in significant ways. These struggles led to the development of core doctrines, creeds, and a commitment to preserving the integrity of Scripture. For instance, the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed emerged as responses to early heresies, and they remain vital confessions of faith for many Christian traditions today.
Moreover, the emphasis on discernment and guarding against false teachings persists, with churches actively working to address challenges such as modern relativism, secularism, and theological distortions. The call to balance truth and love—seen in John’s writings—still resonates as Christians navigate cultural and moral complexities, striving to hold onto biblical convictions while fostering unity and compassion. The foundation laid by the early church provides a roadmap for dealing with similar tensions and challenges in our present age.
What historical events contributed to these early church conflicts?
Several historical events contributed to the early church conflicts during the time of 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John:
The Spread of Christianity Beyond Jewish Communities: As the Gospel spread among Gentiles, cultural and theological tensions emerged between Jewish and non-Jewish believers. These differences led to disputes over practices such as circumcision, dietary laws, and the application of the Mosaic Law, forcing the church to address issues of unity and inclusivity (e.g., Acts 15 and the Council of Jerusalem).
The Rise of False Teachings: During the late first century, movements like Gnosticism began to infiltrate Christian communities. These teachings questioned the nature of Christ, salvation, and creation, creating division and prompting leaders like John to reaffirm orthodox doctrines.
The Persecution of Christians: Under Roman emperors such as Nero and Domitian, Christians faced severe persecution, which tested the faith of believers and caused both external pressure and internal anxiety. Persecution sometimes led to conflicts over who could be trusted within the community and how the church should respond to threats.
The Decline of Apostolic Leadership: As the first generation of apostles and eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry passed away, the church faced a leadership vacuum. This gap made communities more vulnerable to division, as seen in the power struggles within 3 John, where Diotrephes rejected apostolic authority.
Geographical and Cultural Expansion: Christianity’s growth across different regions introduced diverse languages, customs, and philosophies into the church, sometimes leading to misunderstandings and the need to establish clear theological boundaries.
These historical developments laid the groundwork for the early church’s need to navigate doctrinal clarity, community integrity, and faithful perseverance in the face of internal and external challenges. The writings of John and other New Testament leaders arose directly from this context.
Text and Audio for 1, 2 & 3 John
——— 1 John ———
1: "Anchored in Truth" - 1 John 1:1-2:2
2: "Faithful Hearts, Faithful Lives" - 1 John 2:3-17
3: "Holding Fast in Changing Times" - 1 John 2:18-27
4: "Still God's Beloved Children" - 1 John 2:28-3:10
5: "Love That Endures and Encourages" - 1 John 3:11-24
6: “Wisdom for Discernment" - 1 John 4:1-6
7: "Perfect Love, Eternal Hope" - 1 John 4:7-5:21
——— 2 John ———
8: “Rooted in Love, Firm in Truth” 2 John 1–6
9: “Preserving Our Spiritual Heritage” 2 John 7–13
——— 3 John ———
10: “Living Letters: Hospitality and Faith in Action” 3 John 1–8
11: “Servant Leadership: Humility Over Pride” 3 John 9–15
Audio and Text for 1, 2 & 3 John
Session 1: Anchored in Truth - Audio
Hello, members of the Bible Study Class at Owensboro Christian Church. Welcome to our time together in God's Word. I'm so glad you've joined me today. Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, settle into your favorite chair, and let's spend some time with an old friend—the Apostle John.
You know, I've been thinking about John lately. By the time he wrote these letters we're about to study, he was probably in his eighties or nineties. Can you imagine? An old man, probably with trembling hands, writing to people he loved like a grandfather writes to his grandchildren. He'd seen so much—walked with Jesus for three years, watched Him die, saw Him risen, witnessed the birth of the church, and now, decades later, he's watching false teachers try to confuse people about who Jesus really was.
This series we're beginning is called "Learning to Praise God with Our Love for Each Other," and we'll be walking through John's three short letters together over the next several weeks. Today, we're starting with the first chapter of First John and just a couple verses from chapter two. I'm calling this session "Anchored in Truth" because that's exactly what John wants to give us—a solid anchor in a world that can feel pretty confusing sometimes.
Before we dive into the text, let me set the scene for you. It's around 90 or 95 AD. The church has been growing for about sixty years now. Most of the original apostles have died. John is one of the last ones left, and he's hearing troubling reports. There are teachers going around saying that Jesus wasn't really human—that He just seemed to have a body but was really just a spirit. Others are saying that sin doesn't really matter for believers, that once you know the right spiritual secrets, you can live however you want.
Now, John has watched this kind of thinking start to poison the churches he loves. So he picks up his pen—well, probably he dictates to a scribe because his hands are too stiff—and he writes. But here's what I love: he doesn't write with anger or harsh condemnation. He writes like a grandfather protecting his family. He writes with love, with assurance, with that deep wisdom that only comes from walking with Jesus for a lifetime.
Let me read to you how John begins. Listen to the certainty in his words:
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete."
Did you catch all those physical words? Heard. Seen. Looked at. Touched. John isn't talking about some vague spiritual idea or a nice philosophy. He's saying, "Listen, I was there. I heard Jesus laugh. I watched Him sleep in the boat during the storm. I touched His hand when He pulled me up from the ground. And after He rose from the dead, I saw the nail prints. This isn't wishful thinking, friends. This is real."
You know, in our day, people throw around the word "truth" like it's whatever you want it to be. "Your truth, my truth." But John is saying something radically different. He's saying truth is a person—Jesus Christ—who walked on this earth, lived a real life, died a real death, and rose again in a real body. That's the foundation of everything we believe.
And here's why John is reminding us of this: because when life gets hard, when we're sitting alone in our living rooms wondering if we still matter, when we look back on our lives with regret over things we wish we'd done differently, we need to know that our faith isn't built on sand. It's built on the rock-solid reality of Jesus Christ.
John says he's writing to make his joy complete. Isn't that beautiful? Here's this old man who's seen everything, and you know what makes him joyful? Sharing what he knows about Jesus so that we can have fellowship—real, deep connection—with God and with each other. That's still what brings joy, even in our later years. Not being busy. Not being needed in the way we used to be. But knowing Jesus and sharing that with others, even if it's just through our prayers or a kind word to a neighbor.
Now listen to what John says next. This is where it gets really practical for those of us who've been walking with Jesus for a long time:
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
God is light. Pure, clean, honest light. No shadows, no hidden corners, no darkness at all. And here's what I want you to catch: John says if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and Jesus' blood keeps on purifying us from sin. Did you notice that? It's not past tense—"purified us once and we're done." It's ongoing. Present tense. His blood keeps purifying us.
You might be thinking, "Well, I've been a Christian for fifty years. Shouldn't I be past all this sin business by now?" Friend, that's exactly the kind of thinking John addresses next. Listen:
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us."
Here's something that might surprise you. A lot of people think "walking in the light" means being perfect—never messing up, always getting it right. But look at what John actually says. He says if we claim to be without sin, we're fooling ourselves. Walking in the light doesn't mean being perfect. It means being honest. It means bringing our failures into the light instead of hiding them in the dark.
Think about it like this: imagine you're not feeling well, and you go to the doctor. You could sit there and pretend everything's fine, or you could be completely honest about your symptoms so the doctor can help you. God is like that doctor—He can't heal what we won't reveal. Walking in the light means we're honest with God about where we're struggling, where we've failed, where we're hurting.
And here's the promise—the beautiful, rock-solid promise: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." He is faithful. Not "He might be" or "He'll be if we're good enough." He IS faithful. It's His character. It's who He is.
Some of us carry regrets from years ago. Things we said that hurt someone. Opportunities we missed. Ways we failed our children or our spouses. And we think, "If I bring that up again, God will be tired of hearing about it." But John says no—confess it, and He will forgive. He's faithful. Every single time.
John continues in chapter two:
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
"My dear children." Can you hear the tenderness there? John is writing as a spiritual father, a grandfather really, to people he loves. He's saying, "Look, I'm writing to help you avoid sin. That's the goal." But then immediately he adds, "But if anybody does sin"—not if, really, but when—"we have an advocate."
An advocate is like a defense attorney who speaks for us in court. Even when we fail, even when we mess up, Jesus is right there before the Father, representing us. Not because we deserve it, but because He's already paid for our sins. He's the atoning sacrifice. He took the punishment we deserved, and now He stands between us and judgment, saying, "Father, this one is Mine. I've paid their debt."
Friends, after all these years of following Jesus, it's easy to feel like our best days are behind us. Maybe you can't teach Sunday school anymore or serve on the church board like you used to. Maybe you don't get to church as often because it's hard to drive or hard to get around. Maybe you feel like you're not contributing anything valuable anymore.
But John reminds us that our faith has never been built on what we do for God. It's built on what Jesus has already done for us. The same Christ who called you to follow Him forty or fifty years ago is still with you today. Your prayers still matter. Your example still influences your children and grandchildren. Your fellowship with God is just as real whether you're leading a ministry or sitting quietly in your living room talking with Him.
God's plan has always included seasons of active service and seasons of quiet faithfulness. Think about the people in the Bible who made their greatest impact in their later years. Moses was eighty when he led Israel out of Egypt. Abraham was one hundred when Isaac was born. Anna was eighty-four when she recognized baby Jesus in the temple and told everyone about Him. Your anchor in Christ is just as secure now as it ever was, and God still has purposes for your life.
There's an old story I love about a lighthouse keeper who tended a lonely beacon off the rocky coast of Maine. Year after year, storms would rage, waves would crash, and ships would pass by—some lost in the fog, others guided safely home by his light. He rarely saw anyone, but he kept that lamp burning without fail. When someone asked him why he was so faithful when nobody seemed to notice, he simply said, "Because someone out there is depending on the light, even if they never see me."
That's us, friends. We've been given the light of knowing Jesus—really knowing Him, walking with Him through all these years. We may not be out there on the platform anymore. We may not be visible the way we used to be. But we're still keepers of the light. Our prayers are still reaching heaven. Our faithfulness is still an example. Our knowledge of God's forgiveness is still something others need to see in us.
John saw the Light. He walked with Jesus, touched Him, listened to Him. And now, as an old man, he writes to assure us that Jesus is not just a memory or a figure in an old book. He is real, eternal, and still shining today. When we know Jesus is still our Light, even in the fog of age or regret, joy begins to rise again.
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." What a picture. The hard times, the disappointments, the regrets—they can drive us closer to Jesus, our solid Rock. John Chrysostom, another great Christian teacher from centuries ago, said, "Let us not ask whether we are able to do great things, but whether we are able to do small things with great love."
That's our calling now, friends. Small things with great love. A prayer for a struggling grandchild. A kind word to the checkout clerk. An honest conversation with God about where we're hurting. A willingness to forgive ourselves because God has already forgiven us.
The gospel, as John Stott said, "is good news of mercy to the undeserving. The symbol of the religion of Jesus is the cross, not the scales." We're not being weighed on scales, friends. We're not being measured. We're being loved. We're being forgiven. We're being purified by Jesus' blood, day by day, not because we're earning it but because He's faithful.
So today, wherever you are—whether you're feeling close to God or far away, whether you're full of joy or heavy with regret—let's rest in this truth: Christ is real. He has never left us. And He still calls us His own. The foundation holds. The anchor is secure. And our fellowship with Him continues, not because of what we do, but because of who He is.
In our world today where everything seems to be shifting, where truth seems to be whatever anyone wants it to be, John calls us back to solid ground. Our faith is rooted in a real person who lived, died, and rose again. That historical reality gives us confidence. It helps us live with hope. And it gives us something genuine to share with those around us, even if it's just through the quiet witness of a life that's anchored in truth.
As we close, I want to invite you to talk with God right now, wherever you are. If there's something you've been carrying—some regret, some failure, some hidden thing—bring it into the light. Tell Him about it. He already knows, of course, but He wants you to be honest with Him. Remember, He's faithful and just to forgive. Not maybe. Not if you're good enough. He IS faithful. That's His promise.
And if you're feeling like your life doesn't matter much anymore, like your best years are behind you, let John's words sink in: you are in fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. That fellowship doesn't depend on how busy you are or how many people see you. It's real, it's secure, and it's yours because Jesus made it possible.
Thank you for spending this time with me in God's Word. Next time, we'll continue in First John, learning more about what it means to walk in love and obey His commands. Until then, may you know deep in your heart that you are loved, forgiven, and anchored in the truth of Jesus Christ.
God bless you, friends. I'll talk with you again soon.
Session 2: "Faithful Hearts, Faithful Lives" - Audio
Hello, members of the Bible Study Class at Owensboro Christian Church. Welcome to our Bible study together. Today we're opening our Bibles to the second chapter of First John, verses 3 through 17. And I have to tell you, I'm especially excited about this passage because John is writing to people just like us—folks who have been walking with Jesus for years, who have seen seasons come and go, who know what it means to stay faithful even when life gets quiet.
Let me read our passage from the New Living Translation, starting at verse 3:
"And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, 'I know God,' but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did."
Now, before we go any further, I want you to know something important. When John talks about keeping God's commands, he's not handing us a checklist or making us earn God's love. That's already settled. You know that, don't you? After all these years of walking with the Lord, you understand that His love for you is sure and steady. What John is talking about here is something much more beautiful.
Think about it this way. When you were young and living at home, you probably obeyed your parents' rules because, well, you had to. You didn't want to get in trouble. But think about now—if your parents are still living, or think about your own children if they care for you. The way they show love to you now isn't about rules anymore, is it? It's about relationship. It's about genuine care and affection. That's what John is getting at. After decades of knowing God's goodness, our obedience flows from gratitude, from love, not from fear.
Look at verse 5 again. It says that when we obey God's word, "love for God is truly made complete in them." That word "complete" means mature, fully developed. Like a marriage that deepens over the years, our love for God matures through faithful obedience. You've lived this, haven't you? The way you loved God in your twenties is different from how you love Him now. Not less real then, but perhaps less deep, less settled. You've walked through valleys and climbed mountains with Him. That changes a person.
John goes on in verses 7 and 8, talking about an old command that's also new, and then in verse 9 he addresses something we all need to hear: "If anyone claims, 'I am living in the light,' but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness."
You know, I've noticed something about folks who have walked with Jesus for a long time. They tend to get gentler, don't they? Oh, they still have convictions—strong ones—but there's a kindness that develops. A patience. You've learned that holding grudges is exhausting, that bitterness only hurts the one who carries it. This verse reminds us that our love for God and our love for each other can't be separated.
Then, in verses 12 through 14, John does something really special. He addresses different groups in the church, and listen to what he says to the mature believers: "I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning."
Did you catch that? John specifically speaks to those who are mature in the faith. That's you, friends. Your years of experience have given you a deep, settled knowledge of Christ that younger believers are still developing. And that's valuable. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. In a world that's obsessed with youth and novelty, God sees the beauty in spiritual maturity.
Now, we come to a section that might sound a bit stern, but I promise it's given in love. Starting in verse 15, John says: "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you."
Let's talk about this for a moment, because I don't want you to misunderstand. John isn't saying you can't enjoy God's beautiful creation—a gorgeous sunset, the laugh of a grandchild, a piece of homemade pie. No, no. What he's warning against is letting temporary things become our main focus or our source of security.
You've lived long enough to see this truth play out, haven't you? Remember what was all the rage thirty years ago? The fashions everyone had to have? The gadgets that seemed so important? Most of that's in a landfill somewhere now, or tucked away in an attic. You've watched friends chase after things that promised happiness but didn't deliver. You've seen how fame fades and fortune can disappear overnight.
John breaks it down in verse 16: "For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world."
Physical pleasure, wanting what we see, pride in our possessions—does this sound familiar? It should. This is exactly what happened way back in the Garden of Eden. Remember when Eve looked at that forbidden fruit? Genesis tells us she saw it was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. Same three temptations, different day. The human heart hasn't changed much in all these thousands of years.
But here's the good news in verse 17: "And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever."
Let that sink in for a moment. The world and its desires pass away. But whoever does the will of God lives forever. You've lived long enough to see this truth with your own eyes, haven't you?
I think of an old orchard keeper who tended the same grove of trees for over fifty years. Spring after spring, he pruned. Summer after summer, he watched and watered. Autumn after autumn, he harvested. One day a visitor asked him, "Don't you ever get tired of the same trees?" The old keeper smiled and said, "I don't watch the bark—I watch the fruit."
Friends, that's what your life in Christ is like. Maybe it hasn't always been exciting. There certainly haven't been headlines written about your daily faithfulness. You haven't been perfect—none of us have. But the fruit has come. Quiet obedience. Learned wisdom. A heart slowly, steadily shaped by love.
There's something beautiful about Christians who have been faithful for decades. You've developed what we might call spiritual instincts. You can sense when something doesn't align with God's heart. You're not easily fooled by get-rich-quick schemes or flashy promises. You've learned to find joy in simple things—a phone call from a friend, a cardinal at the bird feeder, time spent in prayer, the comfort of familiar verses in your well-worn Bible.
While the world tells us that aging means becoming less relevant, God sees it differently. Your quiet faithfulness in reading your Bible, praying for others, and showing kindness in small ways is incredibly valuable to Him. You may not be able to serve in all the ways you once did. Maybe you can't teach that Sunday School class anymore, or serve on that committee, or do those home visits. But your character has been shaped by years of walking with Christ. That's not something that can be learned quickly or faked.
John reminds us that the things the world chases after don't last. But the love you've shown, the prayers you've prayed, the faithful example you've set—these things have eternal value. Your life is a testimony that following Christ is worth it, not just for a season, but for a lifetime.
A.W. Tozer once said, "The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness." Isn't that true? You've learned that contentment doesn't come from having more, but from knowing Him more deeply.
And here's something else I love. Tozer also said, "It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it." Your service may be quieter now—perhaps unseen by most—but it is not forgotten by God. That prayer you whispered this morning for your great-grandchild? Sacred. That smile you gave the grocery clerk? Sacred. That decision to forgive an old hurt? Sacred. It all matters. It all counts.
So as we close our time together today, I want to leave you with this thought. Give thanks today—not for fast results or loud applause—but for a steady, faithful walk. Your life, anchored in Christ, is bearing fruit that lasts. The world may rush past with new voices and flashy ideas, with distractions that promise more but deliver less. But you know better. You've been around long enough to see through all that.
Jesus said in the Gospel of John, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." You've been following that example for years now. And in another place Jesus promised, "Whoever obeys my word will never see death." That's what John is echoing here in his letter—whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Your decades of faithfulness matter. Your continued obedience, motivated by love, matters. The wisdom you've gained about what truly lasts—that matters too. Don't let anyone convince you that your quieter season of life is less valuable to God. He sees. He knows. He treasures your faithful heart.
Before we part today, let me leave you with just one question to think about this week: What seemed so important to you thirty years ago that doesn't matter as much now? And what has grown more precious to you over time? I think you'll find, as John suggests, that the things connected to God and His kingdom have grown sweeter, while the things of this passing world have lost their shine.
May God bless you, dear friends, as you continue your faithful walk with Him. Until next time, remember—your life in Christ is bearing fruit that lasts forever.
Session 3: "Holding Fast in Changing Times" - Audio
Welcome, members of the Bible Study Class at Owensboro Christian Church. Today, we’re talking about holding fast in changing times. And I can’t think of a message more fitting for those of us who’ve walked with Christ for many years and have seen the world shift in so many ways.
Our passage today is from First John Second:18–27 in the New Living Translation. Listen to how the Apostle John speaks to the early church:
“Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. But when they left, it proved that they did not belong with us. But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth.”
It’s a powerful reminder, given to believers many centuries ago—but it feels like it could have been written this very year. John was writing near the end of his life, to believers who had seen a lot and endured a lot. They had watched new teachers come around, claiming they had found some “fresh” version of the truth, something deeper, something wiser. But John simply says, you already know what is true. Hold fast to what you have known from the beginning.
Now, friends, that’s something that should sound familiar to us. Many of you listening today gave your heart to Christ long ago. You’ve studied the Bible faithfully, raised your families to know the Lord, served in your churches, and prayed through more storms than you can count. You’ve seen countless trends rise and fall—both in the world and even sometimes in the church. You’ve lived long enough to know that not everything that glitters is gold, and not every new idea that sounds “spiritual” is actually true.
When John warns about people denying that Jesus is the Christ, he isn’t simply being dramatic. He’s speaking about something very real, something that still happens today—individuals and movements that try to reshape Jesus into a figure more comfortable for the culture. Some say He was just a good teacher, others say He was divine but not really human. Some think His teachings are inspiring but outdated, as if the modern world can improve upon the Word of God. But John says no—you’ve already met the real Jesus. You don’t need a modernized version of truth. The gospel you first heard, that captured your heart all those years ago, is still the gospel that saves today.
John goes on to say that believers have “an anointing from the Holy One.” That’s the Holy Spirit, friends. It’s the Spirit that dwells in us, that helps us recognize truth from error. Maybe you’ve had this happen—you hear someone speak, or you read something that doesn’t sit quite right. You can’t always put your finger on it, but something in your spirit whispers, “That doesn’t align with what I know of Jesus.” That’s the anointing John is talking about. That’s the Spirit at work in you.
And when John says in verse 27, “You do not need anyone to teach you,” he doesn’t mean we stop learning or that teaching isn’t important. What he means is that the basics of our faith are already known to you. You’ve walked with Christ long enough that you recognize His voice. It’s like knowing your spouse’s voice in a crowded room—you don’t need someone to tell you, “That’s your beloved speaking.” You just know. In the same way, you know when truth is being spoken, because you’ve spent a lifetime listening to the Shepherd.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” Isn’t that wise? False teaching rarely comes dressed in obvious lies—it often sounds just close enough to truth that it could fool the undiscerning ear. But for those who have spent decades walking with Jesus, reading His Word, praying, and worshiping, that “almost right” feeling is something we can spot. It’s like when you bite into bread that looks perfect but realize it hasn’t risen properly—you just know it’s off.
Those early Christians didn’t have all the tools we do today. They didn’t have a complete New Testament; they didn’t have online commentaries or Bible apps or a shelf of study editions. But they had something just as sure—the Holy Spirit within them. That same Spirit is in you. And He testifies to the truth about Jesus: that He is both fully God and fully human, that He came not just to teach but to save, not just to inspire but to redeem.
In verse 24 John says, “So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.” There’s that beautiful word—remain. The older translations call it “abide.” It’s one of John’s favorite words. To abide is to stay put, to remain anchored no matter what changes around you.
There’s an image that comes to mind here. A wise old sea captain once said, “The stars don’t move, even if the sea does.” He’d spent his life steering by the constellations. The winds could howl, the waves could tower, the ship could pitch violently—but the stars stayed the same. Friends, Jesus Christ is that fixed point in our sky. In a world that moves faster than ever—when news changes by the hour, when opinions shift like sand—we need only look up to find our bearings again. What was true about God yesterday is still true today. The promises that carried you through seasons of loss, worry, or joy are as steady as ever.
Think about how many changes you’ve witnessed in your lifetime. Technology, politics, culture, even church styles have changed. Yet one thing has not—the faithfulness of God. The same Jesus who heard your first prayer as a child still hears you now. The same gospel that saved you then still saves today. And the same Holy Spirit that filled you when you first believed still strengthens you now.
Sometimes, though, the world makes us feel like we’re from another age. Maybe you’ve watched young voices online questioning whether faith still makes sense, or whether the Bible is trustworthy. Maybe you’ve seen people rewrite Scripture to fit changing moral trends. It can feel discouraging—like truth itself is slipping away. But remember: the light of truth doesn’t grow dim; people just drift from it. The light remains as bright as ever.
When John says, “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ,” he draws a line in the sand. The heart of the Christian faith isn’t about side issues—it’s about who Jesus truly is. If Jesus is only a teacher, He can’t save us. If He isn’t human, He can’t sympathize with us. If He isn’t God, He can’t redeem us. It all comes down to this: who do we say Jesus is?
Friends, after all these years of faith, you know the answer deep in your soul. He is the Christ—the Son of God, our Savior, our Redeemer, the same yesterday, today, and forever. That’s why John tells his readers not to be unsettled when others leave or when false ideas swirl around. Because no matter how the crowd shifts, truth remains where it always has—rooted in Christ.
I’m reminded of another line from Scripture, this time from John 8:32: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Isn’t that a promise worth holding onto? Truth doesn’t bind us—it frees us. And the older I get, the more precious that freedom becomes. Freedom from confusion. Freedom from chasing the world’s approval. Freedom from anxiety about what tomorrow might bring. Because the truth that set us free decades ago is still setting hearts free today.
Now, maybe you’ve felt lately that the world has passed you by—that your opinions or values no longer seem to matter in a culture obsessed with youth and novelty. Let me tell you something: your faith matters. Your prayers still matter. And your example—steady and unwavering through the decades—is more powerful than you might think. You are keepers of the flame. You’re like lighthouses along the shore, reminding others where safety lies when the seas grow rough.
Don’t ever let anyone convince you that your faith is outdated. The world may chase after whatever’s new, but God’s truth doesn’t expire. The gospel doesn’t need to be modernized; it just needs to be lived out faithfully, generation after generation. You’ve spent a lifetime doing exactly that. You’ve weathered spiritual fads, endured disappointments, walked through loss, and kept believing. And because you’ve held on, you now have something precious—spiritual discernment.
Discernment is that quiet knowing. That sense in your spirit that says, “This is right,” or “This isn’t from the Lord.” You don’t force it—it’s simply a fruit of abiding. It’s the wisdom that comes from walking with God for a long, long time.
Maybe you’ve wondered why God has kept you here this long. Perhaps you can’t do what you once could, but you can still pray, still encourage, still speak truth with gentleness. You have become, as John would say, a guardian of truth. Not because you have all the answers, but because you know the One who does. You don’t guard it by shouting louder, but by living quietly and consistently in the way of Christ.
John Stott put it well when he wrote, “We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency.” That’s part of spiritual maturity too—remaining teachable, humble, and alert to God’s voice even after all these years. True maturity doesn’t make us proud; it keeps us tender, aware that the world still needs Jesus and that we still need Him too.
Before we finish, hear again these words from First John 2:25: “This is what he promised us—eternal life.” Isn’t that wonderful? Through all life’s changes, one promise holds steady—we belong to Him forever. No one can snatch us from His hand.
So when you scroll past headlines about a world losing its way, or when conversations around you sound unfamiliar, remember that the truth hasn’t changed. The same God who called you by name still holds you steady. The anointing you received remains in you. And the gospel you believed decades ago is still more than enough today.
As we close, let’s return to that picture of the sea captain steering by the stars. You and I are sailors on those same waters. The seas may be rough, the winds unpredictable—but the stars above us haven’t moved an inch. God’s light still shines, and His truth still guides us home.
Thank you for spending this time in God’s Word with me. I hope your heart feels steadied and your spirit renewed. Between now and the next session, take a few quiet moments to thank God for the truth He planted in your heart long ago—and for the Spirit who continues to keep it alive in you. Until next time, stay faithful, stay peaceful, and keep looking up to the One who never changes.
Session 4: "Still God's Beloved Children" – Audio
Welcome, friends. I’m so glad you’ve joined me again today as we continue our journey through the book of 1 John. Whether you’re sitting in your favorite chair, taking a slow walk with your earbuds in, or just relaxing at home, I hope this time together brings peace to your heart and a fresh reminder of God’s love.
Today, we’re exploring one of the most tender truths in all of Scripture — that no matter how old we get, or how our health may change, or how life seems to slow down, we are still—right now—God’s beloved children.
Let’s
listen to 1 John 3:1–3 in the New Living Translation:
“See
how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and
that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t
recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet
shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know
that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And
all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just
as he is pure.”
What a beautiful, hope-filled passage. John, now an old man himself when he wrote these words, is looking back over a lifetime of walking with Jesus. He’s seen the church grow, struggle, divide at times; he’s seen people come and go. And at the heart of his message, he wants his readers—believers who might be feeling weary or uncertain—to remember one unshakable truth: we belong to God as His children.
Think about that. The Apostle John never got over the wonder of it. It wasn’t something he took for granted. The words that pour out of him here are filled with amazement—“See how very much our Father loves us!” It’s as if he’s saying, “Can you believe it? The Creator of all things calls us His own sons and daughters.”
Now, in John’s day, being someone’s child meant much more than genetics—it meant identity, inheritance, a secure place of belonging. No matter what changed around you, your family name remained your anchor. And John uses that picture to remind us that our spiritual identity is just as secure. Once you belong to God’s family, nothing and no one can erase that relationship.
That’s a truth many of us need to hold close, especially as time moves on and the world around us speeds up. Some of you listening today may feel that life has grown quieter. Maybe you don’t see as many people as you used to. Maybe you feel that others move too fast to notice you. Our culture sometimes treats growing older as becoming invisible, but God hasn’t forgotten you. His love hasn’t dimmed or grown distant. The same love that reached you when you were young, that carried you through raising a family, through work, through hardship, is the same love that surrounds you right now. You are still, and always will be, God’s cherished child.
I love that the verse doesn’t just say we will be called children of God; it says, “And that is what we are.” Present tense. Right now. Whether you feel strong or weary, active or still, joyful or lonely—John is saying, “Don’t miss this: your identity hasn’t changed.”
Age, health, or reputation may shift, but your standing in God’s family is permanent. Your worth isn’t tied to what you can do; it’s tied to who you belong to.
That’s especially good news for those of us who are past the busy years of accomplishing and striving. Maybe you can’t serve in the church the way you once did. Perhaps you’re not climbing ladders or making big plans anymore. But God’s love for you has not lessened a bit. If anything, your years of walking with Him have deepened that bond.
John goes on to say something even more extraordinary: “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears.” That’s his way of reminding believers that the best is yet to come. Life here on earth is not the whole story. The aches, the limitations, the bodies that don’t move like they used to—those are temporary. One day, when Christ appears, Scripture promises that “we will be like Him.”
Can you imagine that? Perfectly whole. No pain, no fear, no weakness. The older we get, the more that hope stirs our hearts, doesn’t it? One day we’ll stand face to face with our Savior, and all that has worn us down will be gone. Every wrinkle, every sorrow, every tear will be redeemed in His glory.
God’s children live in that tension—between who we already are and who we are becoming. Right now we are His, and one day we will reflect Him completely. That hope, John says, keeps us pure; it keeps our eyes lifted upward.
Later in this passage, John talks about how being God’s children shapes how we live. He says, “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning.” Now, that can sound intimidating until we understand what John means. He isn’t saying that real Christians never stumble. All of us do, and John himself said earlier in this letter that if anyone claims to be without sin, they’re deceiving themselves. He’s talking here about the direction of a believer’s life—whether we are walking toward Christ or turning away from Him.
Think of it this way: a child might disobey their parent from time to time, but that doesn’t erase the relationship. The bond remains. The love remains. Likewise, we may falter, but because God’s nature—His “seed,” as John puts it—lives in us, our hearts always turn back toward Him. The pattern of our lives reveals the family we belong to.
The reality is, as God’s children, His character starts to grow in us over the years. Just as you can often spot a family resemblance between a parent and child, the longer we walk with the Father, the more we begin to resemble Christ. That’s what John means when he says, “God’s seed remains in them.” Over time, His nature—His patience, His compassion, His righteousness—begins to take root and bloom in our lives.
You’ve probably seen that happen in dear saints you’ve known—those quiet, gentle people who seem to radiate peace. They haven’t had perfect lives, but through years of walking with God, they’ve learned His ways. That’s what spiritual maturity looks like: we start acting more like our Father.
And isn’t it amazing that this process continues as long as we have breath? We never stop being His children, and we never stop growing in His likeness. The journey of faith doesn’t end when activity slows down; it just deepens inwardly.
Max Lucado once wrote, “You are not an accident. You are not a mistake. You are not a problem to be solved. You are a child of God, and your Abba is very fond of you.” I love that. It’s simple, but it captures the heart of what John is saying. God loves you deeply—not for what you accomplish, but simply because you are His.
Maybe you’ve faced days when you feel forgotten. The phone doesn’t ring much. The calendar looks empty. But listen to this: your heavenly Father knows exactly where you are. He never forgets His children. Psalm 139 tells us that He knows when we sit and when we rise, that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” You’ve never left His sight.
Corrie ten Boom said something that’s carried me through many dark seasons. She wrote, “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” Isn’t that a picture of faith? Especially in the older years, when our bodies weaken or when we grieve the loss of loved ones, sometimes life feels like that tunnel. But faith reminds us that we’re still safely in the hands of our Engineer—our Lord Jesus, who’s guiding us through.
This truth—that we are still God’s children—gives us peace, purpose, and dignity, even when the world doesn’t always see our value. Society tends to celebrate the fast, the strong, the productive. But in the kingdom of God, worth is defined differently. The Lord calls you His own. You are part of His family, with a future that’s more secure than anything this world can offer.
John ends this section by drawing a clear line between those who belong to God and those who don’t. “This is how we know who the children of God are,” he writes: it’s about how we live, how we love, how we practice righteousness. We may not be perfect, but our hearts beat after the things of God. That’s the sign of belonging.
So, what does it mean for us today, as older believers? It means we can rest in who we are. We can face each day not with striving or comparison, but with quiet confidence. You don’t have to prove your worth. You never did. You are His child today, tomorrow, and forever. You have a Father who delights in you, who never grows weary of you, and who is preparing a glorious eternity where every limitation of this life will fade away.
When you look back and see all the times you stumbled or doubted, you’ll see a Father who never let go. When you remember moments of loneliness, you’ll realize you were never truly alone. And when you step into eternity, you’ll finally see, with crystal clarity, what John promised: “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
Until that day, we live as His children—hopeful, peaceful, and grateful. We may grow slower, but His presence has never been nearer. We may not do all we once did, but His love still works through our prayers, our smiles, our quiet words of encouragement. In the family of God, no one is left behind, and every child is precious.
Let me encourage you: the next time you look in the mirror, instead of counting wrinkles or sighing over aches, try whispering these words: “I am God’s beloved child.” That’s not wishful thinking—that’s Scripture truth.
And it’s a truth no illness, no loneliness, and no passing of time can undo.
Let’s pray together.
“Father, thank You for calling us Your children. Thank You that this identity never fades, no matter our age or our strength. Thank You that You love us with a love that never grows weary. When we feel overlooked or forgotten, remind us that Your eyes never leave us. When we feel weak, remind us that our hope is anchored in You. Shape us more and more into the likeness of Your Son, and keep us steady until the day we see Him face to face. We love You, Lord, and we rest today in being Your beloved children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
Thank you for joining me today. I hope this reminder has comforted your heart—that you are deeply loved, wholly known, and still, always, a cherished child of God. Until next time, may the peace of Christ be the gentle song that carries you through each day.
Would you like me to adapt this script with gentle pacing notes and pauses, formatted for an audio recording or for live teaching?
Session 5: "Love That Endures and Encourages" - Audio
Welcome back, dear friends. It’s always a joy to sit with you—wherever you may be today—and spend time together in God’s Word. Maybe you’re listening from your favorite chair, maybe you’re wrapping up a quiet afternoon at home, or maybe you’re out for a slow walk just letting the peace of Scripture wash over your mind. However you’ve come to this moment, I pray that God uses it to remind you of just how deeply you are loved and how beautifully you can still share that love with others.
Today, our Scripture comes from First John 3, verses 11 through 24. In the New Living Translation, John writes, “This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” That message sounds simple, doesn’t it? And yet, after all these years of following Christ, we know how transformative that simple message can be.
In these verses, John contrasts two people—Cain and Christ. Cain represents hatred and jealousy; Jesus represents love and self-sacrifice. John reminds his readers that love has always been God’s most basic and most enduring command. But here’s what makes this passage especially meaningful: John isn’t writing to a group of young missionaries or active church builders. He’s writing to believers who have walked with the Lord for a long time—people like many of us—those who may no longer travel much, who may have slower bodies but, if we’re honest, still have hearts wide open to love.
John’s concern was that some might begin to wonder, “What can I really do now? How can I show Christ’s love when I can’t serve the way I used to?” So he writes to remind them—and to remind us—that love isn’t about physical strength, mobility, or grand gestures. Real, Christ-like love is expressed in faithfulness, in prayer, in encouragement, and in small, sincere acts of care.
Let’s think about that for a moment. The world often overlooks quiet love. We see big service projects, community events, and we think, “Well, those are things for younger folks.” But heaven sees things differently. The kingdom of God runs on the fuel of patient, everyday love—love that prays, that notices need, that reaches out with a card or a phone call, or simply listens when someone needs to talk.
I like to think of an older friend named Ruth—perhaps you know someone like her. Ruth rarely left her porch anymore, but she kept her Bible close by with a list of names written on an index card tucked between the pages. Every morning, she would go down that list, praying faithfully—some names from church, others family members scattered across the country, even a few old friends she hadn’t seen in years. She’d write cards for birthdays, send short notes to say, “You’re on my heart today,” or call someone on a quiet Sunday evening.
If you asked most people, they’d say Ruth didn’t “do much” anymore. But I think if heaven published a daily newspaper, her name would have made the front page in the “Kingdom Highlights” column. Why? Because John says this kind of love—the kind that gives what it can with a sincere heart—is powerful in God’s eyes.
“This is how we know what real love is,” John writes in verse 16. “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” Now, we can’t all physically lay down our lives as Jesus did. But in our own ways, we can still give of ourselves for others. Sometimes that means giving up our time, our comfort, or simply our quiet moments, turning them into opportunities to show care.
And then John says, “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?” Notice that he doesn’t talk about grand acts of charity; he talks about compassion—seeing, noticing, and responding with care. That’s where love begins: not with big resources, but with an open heart.
I think that’s what makes this passage so moving for those of us in later life. Because even when our strength is limited, even when our circle is smaller than it used to be, we still have these powerful ways to love. A phone call can lift a lonely spirit. A handwritten note can land at just the right moment for someone who’s discouraged. A simple prayer can change the course of someone’s day—or eternity.
Mother Teresa once said, “We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” That’s the heart of what John is teaching here. God measures love not by how big it looks, but by how sincere it is. A short prayer whispered in faith can move mountains. A kind word spoken in love can brighten a heavy heart.
And maybe you think to yourself, “Well, I can’t get out like I used to. I don’t feel very useful these days.” Friend, hear me: your usefulness in God’s eyes has never depended on your busyness. It depends on your heart. John writes in verse 19, “Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.” Love gives assurance. When you love—through prayer, through kindness, through faithfulness—you are showing, not just the world, but yourself, that God’s Spirit truly lives within you.
There’s another comforting thought in what John says next. He writes, “Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything.” Isn’t that wonderful? Sometimes, especially as we grow older, we can be hard on ourselves. We think about missed opportunities, past regrets, or the things we can’t do anymore, and our hearts begin to condemn us. But John reminds us that God’s love is greater than our self-doubt. He knows the full story of our hearts. He’s seen every prayer offered, every tear shed, every bit of love given in quiet faith. Nothing is wasted.
Then John adds, “Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.” That’s not arrogance—it’s trust. God invites us to pray with the confidence of children who know they are loved. And that brings us to another connection John makes: love and prayer are deeply tied together. He says that when we live in love, our prayers align with God’s will, and He hears us.
So, when you pray for your children or grandchildren, for missionaries, for neighbors, or for those who don’t yet know Christ, you’re part of the great work of love. Even if you can’t leave your home, your prayers move across distance faster than any car or phone line. Heaven records every whisper. Prayer itself is an act of endurance and love.
Sometimes love means action; sometimes it means intercession. Both are powerful. Billy Graham once said, “God has given us two hands—one to receive with and the other to give with.” And for those of us in later years, that looks different than it did in youth. But your giving hand still works mighty miracles—it gives through encouragement, through wisdom, and through prayers that future generations may never even know came from you.
John closes this passage with a strong reminder in verse 23: “This is His command: We must believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.” Believing and loving—those two always go together. Faith fuels love, and love expresses faith.
Sometimes love can be as simple as your presence. Just listening to someone, really listening, is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Maybe you carry in your heart a burden for someone who’s wandering from God. Keep praying. Keep loving. John says that love gives us confidence before God—it means our hearts are alive with His Spirit. When you love, even in limitation, God sees. And He delights in you.
I once heard someone describe the ocean after a storm: the surface calms quickly, but deep down, the current still flows strong. I think that’s what mature Christian love looks like. It might not be dramatic or visible, but beneath the quiet exterior, there’s a deep and steady current of faith and care.
And if you ever wonder whether small acts matter, remember the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus took a boy’s small lunch, and it fed a multitude. God still works the same way today—taking our small gestures, multiplying them in ways we’ll never see. Your card, your prayer, your kind word—they ripple farther than you realize.
Friends, one of the most beautiful gifts of age is perspective. You’ve lived long enough to know what matters most. You’ve seen that busyness doesn’t equal joy, that possessions don’t equal peace, and that sometimes the greatest acts of faith happen quietly, away from crowds. You’ve discovered that love really is what endures.
So, as you go about your days—whether at home, in an assisted living community, or wherever you might be—let love be the legacy you keep practicing. Keep praying for others. Keep encouraging through your words and your presence. Keep trusting that God sees every act of kindness and smiles upon it.
John reminds us that when we live this way—believing in Jesus and loving one another—we remain in Him, and He in us. What a promise! To know that God Himself makes His home within us, guiding, strengthening, and loving through us.
So, dear friends, take heart. Your life still has holy purpose. You still have a ministry of love that the world needs desperately. While others may be rushing, you have the time to notice, to care, to pray, and that’s a rare and sacred thing.
Thank you for joining me for this time in God’s Word. I hope today’s message has encouraged you to see your life—right where you are—as a channel of God’s enduring love. Until next time, keep the faith, keep loving in the small ways, and may His peace guard your heart each day.
Session 6: "Wisdom for Discernment" – Audio
Hello, dear friends. Welcome back to our study through First John. I'm so glad you're joining me today for what I believe is going to be an especially meaningful conversation. Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, settle into your favorite chair, and let's open God's Word together.
Today we're looking at First John chapter 4, verses 1 through 6, and we're going to talk about something that becomes more precious with every passing year—the gift of spiritual discernment. You know, there's something beautiful about growing older in the faith. We may not move as quickly as we once did, but our spiritual eyes have grown sharper. We've learned to recognize the Shepherd's voice.
Let me read our passage from the New Living Translation: "Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world's viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception."
Now, John is writing to people a lot like us—folks who have been around long enough to see various spiritual trends come and go. They've watched some teachers gain popularity and then fade away when their ideas proved harmful. Does that sound familiar? I suspect many of us can think of movements or teachings that seemed to sweep through the church for a season, only to reveal themselves as something less than sound doctrine.
And if we thought spiritual confusion was challenging in John's day, well, it seems worse than ever now, doesn't it? Social media spreads new religious ideas in seconds. Television preachers make bold claims. Self-help gurus mix psychology with bits of Christianity, creating something that sounds spiritual but may not be biblical at all. Our grandchildren and younger friends can feel absolutely overwhelmed trying to figure out what's true.
But here's the good news, and I want you to really hear this: your years of walking with Christ have given you something invaluable. You have spiritual discernment. You've seen enough false promises to recognize them quickly. You know what genuine faith looks like because you've lived it, you've tested it, you've watched it hold firm through the storms of life. And God wants to use your wisdom to help others navigate these confusing times.
Now, when John talks about testing the spirits, he's not encouraging us to be suspicious or critical of everyone who comes along. I think that's important to understand. The word "test" here is like testing gold to see if it's genuine. Think about a skilled jeweler who's handled gold for decades. They can quickly spot fake gold because they've worked with so much of the real thing. Your years of studying Scripture and experiencing God's faithfulness have given you that same kind of trained eye.
You're not being negative when you sense something is "off" about a teaching. You're using the discernment God has developed in you through decades of experience. So I want to encourage you—trust those spiritual instincts that come from years of knowing God's character. When something doesn't sit right with you spiritually, that's often the Holy Spirit using your experience to sound an alarm.
Let's walk through this passage together and see what John is teaching us. He starts by saying, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God." Just as you wouldn't take medicine without checking the label, we shouldn't accept spiritual teaching without examining it carefully against God's Word. That's not being difficult or overly picky—that's being wise.
John tells us why this matters: "Because many false prophets have gone out into the world." False teaching isn't new. It's been around since the early church. Your experience has probably shown you that every generation faces people who twist the truth, who take a little bit of Scripture and a little bit of worldly wisdom and create something that sounds good but leads people astray.
So how do we test these teachings? John gives us a clear, simple test: "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God." This is crucial, friends. Any teaching that diminishes who Jesus is—fully God and fully human—is dangerous, no matter how appealing it sounds, no matter how popular the teacher might be.
John continues: "But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God." This includes teachings that make Jesus just a good teacher, just a prophet, or just an example to follow. Some teachings today will say, "Oh, Jesus was a wonderful moral teacher" or "Jesus was an enlightened spiritual leader." But if they stop there, if they don't acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior, as God who came in human flesh, then that teaching is not from God. It's that straightforward.
Now here's where John speaks directly to our hearts: "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." Let that sink in for a moment. You have the Holy Spirit living in you. That Spirit gives you the power to recognize and resist false teaching. That's stronger than any deceptive voice in the world, stronger than any trending philosophy, stronger than any smooth-talking teacher on television or online.
John explains why false teachers often become so popular: "They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them." False teachers tend to tell people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. They tickle ears, as Paul would say. They promise easy answers, quick fixes, prosperity without sacrifice, or acceptance without repentance. And the world loves that message because it doesn't challenge them to change.
But those of us who know God, those of us who have walked with Him through valleys and mountaintops, through seasons of abundance and seasons of want—we recognize the difference. We've learned that the true Gospel sometimes comforts the afflicted, but it also afflicts the comfortable. Real spiritual growth isn't always easy, but it's always worth it.
So what does this mean for us in our daily lives? I think there's something wonderful about older Christians who have developed strong spiritual discernment. When a younger person is confused about a relationship, a job decision, or a spiritual question, they often seek out someone with experience—someone like you. They instinctively know that wisdom comes from walking with God over many years, through different seasons and challenges.
Your role as a wise counselor doesn't require you to have all the answers or to be perfect. None of us are. It simply requires you to share what you've learned about God's character and His ways. When someone shares a problem with you, you can help them think through it by asking questions like, "Does this align with what we know about God's heart?" or "What do you think Scripture would say about this situation?"
Often, people don't need you to solve their problems. They need someone to help them think clearly and remember biblical principles they already know. You can be that person. You can be the one who gently redirects their thinking back to God's Word, back to the solid foundation we've built our lives upon.
And don't forget the power of your prayers. Your prayers for younger believers are incredibly powerful. You can intercede for children, grandchildren, and young families who are navigating decisions you've already walked through. You understand the spiritual battles they're facing because you've fought similar ones. When you pray for their discernment and protection, you're using your spiritual maturity to help them in ways they may never fully realize.
I love what A.W. Tozer said: "The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian." That's what we've been doing all these years, isn't it? We've been letting God's Word shape us, teach us, correct us, and guide us. And now that wisdom is a gift we can share with others.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones put it this way: "There is nothing more important in the life of a Christian than discernment—the ability to distinguish between truth and error, between the voice of God and the voice of the stranger." Friends, you have that ability. You've developed it over years of faithful living. Don't underestimate its value.
You know, years ago, an old farmer taught his grandson how to tell a healthy tree from a sick one. "Look at the fruit," he said, "but also listen to the wind. A good tree stands firm when the storm blows through." The boy didn't understand at first, but with time, he learned. You don't just see truth; you sense it, because you've lived with it long enough to know what holds up in a storm.
That's what John is talking about here. This kind of discernment doesn't come overnight. It grows through years of walking with the Lord, reading Scripture, watching prayers answered, and learning what peace feels like when truth is near. Many of us carry decades of that kind of experience. We may not always know the latest technology or the current trends, but we do know the Shepherd's voice. And we can help others—especially younger believers—learn to recognize it too.
J.I. Packer once wrote, "Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it." That's what we have to offer. So we pray. We listen. We speak when asked. We share what's proven true. And we stand firm like the tree that's weathered many storms—still rooted, still bearing witness, still quietly guiding others toward the Light.
In our world today, where voices clamor for our attention from every direction—on television, online, and even in well-meaning conversations—First John chapter 4 reminds us to test every teaching by the Spirit and the Scriptures. Our years of walking with Christ equip us to spot error and point people back to the only true source of wisdom and life.
Don't underestimate the value of your spiritual wisdom, dear friends. In a world full of confusion and competing voices, people need the steady, biblical perspective that comes from years of faithful living. God has equipped you to be a blessing to others through the discernment He's developed in you. You have something precious to offer—not just knowledge, but wisdom. Not just information, but insight born from experience.
As we close today, I want to encourage you to look for opportunities to share that wisdom. When someone younger asks your opinion, don't brush it off with "Oh, I'm sure you'll figure it out." Share what you know. Tell them what you've learned about God's faithfulness. Help them test their decisions against Scripture. And always, always, pray for them.
You are a gift to the body of Christ. Your years of walking with God have prepared you for this very moment, to be a light in dark times, a steady voice amid confusion, and a gentle guide pointing others to Jesus. May God bless you as you continue to grow in discernment and share your wisdom with those He brings across your path.
Thank you for joining me today. Until next time, keep walking with the Lord, keep growing in His Word, and keep sharing the wisdom He's so graciously given you. God bless you, friends.
Session 7: "Perfect Love, Eternal Hope" – Audio
Hello, dear friends. Welcome back. I'm so glad you're with me today as we come to the closing chapters of First John. If you have your Bible handy, you might want to keep it open as we explore what I believe are some of the most comforting words in all of Scripture. These passages from First John chapter 4, verse 7, through chapter 5, verse 21, speak directly to our hearts as we walk through these later seasons of life.
You know, John is writing to people very much like us—folks who have walked with God for many years and are approaching the final chapters of their earthly lives. Some of his readers were probably dealing with health issues, the loss of loved ones, or questions about what comes next. Sound familiar? John addresses these concerns by reminding them—and us—of two unshakeable truths: God's love for us is perfect and complete, and our eternal life with Him is absolutely certain. These aren't just nice thoughts or religious platitudes. They're solid facts based on what Christ has already accomplished.
Let me begin by reading from First John chapter 4, starting at verse 7, in the New Living Translation: "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."
Did you catch that? "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us." God's love isn't a response to ours. It's the reason ours exists. He loved you before you loved Him, and His love doesn't depend on your feelings or your performance. That's something to let sink deep into your heart today.
John continues in verse 11: "Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." Every act of love in your life—from your children, grandchildren, and friends—ultimately flows from God's heart. He is the source of all genuine love. And when we love others, we're letting God's love flow through us to a world that desperately needs to see it.
In verse 16, John makes this beautiful declaration: "We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them." After years of walking with God, you've learned something precious. You've learned to depend on His love rather than your own worthiness. That's spiritual maturity, friends. You've moved from trying to earn God's approval to simply resting in His love.
Now listen to verses 17 and 18: "And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love."
This is where John addresses something that troubles many believers, especially as we face the end of life. Some Christians worry that they haven't been good enough or faithful enough to earn God's acceptance. Maybe you've had those thoughts yourself. Maybe you lie awake sometimes, thinking about mistakes you've made, opportunities you've missed, or ways you've fallen short. But John wants us to understand something crucial: God's love isn't based on our performance. It's based on what Jesus did for us.
You don't have to fear meeting God because Jesus has already taken care of your sin problem. God sees you through Christ's righteousness, not your failures. When John says "perfect love drives out fear," he's specifically addressing the fear of judgment and punishment. That fear doesn't have to have any place in your heart. God's perfect love for you removes the fear of condemnation. You can face the future, including death itself, without terror because you know you're loved.
John puts it so simply in verse 19: "We love each other because he loved us first." It all flows from Him. Our love, our faith, our hope—everything good in our lives traces back to His initiative, His grace, His love.
Let me read now from chapter 5, starting at verse 1: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God."
John talks about victory here, and I want you to hear this clearly. You are victorious. Not because you've lived a perfect life—none of us have. But because your faith is in Jesus, who has already overcome the world. Every challenge you've faced, every trial you've endured, every temptation you've resisted—these aren't just random struggles. They're part of your victory story, made possible because Christ lives in you.
John goes on in verses 6 through 12 to talk about God's testimony concerning His Son, and then he comes to verse 13, which I want you to really hear: "I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life."
Did you catch that word "know"? Not hope, not wish, not maybe—know. John wants you to have certainty, not doubt. If you believe in Jesus, eternal life isn't something you're hoping for in the future. It's something you already possess right now, today. Your eternal life isn't something that begins when you die. It's something you have this very moment. Death, when it comes, will simply be a transition from one room in your Father's house to another.
Think about that for a moment. You already have eternal life. You're living it right now. When you close your eyes for the last time on this earth, you won't be moving from life to death—you'll be moving from one kind of life to a fuller, richer, more glorious kind of life. You'll finally be free from all the limitations and sorrows of this world. You'll be reunited with loved ones who have gone before. Most wonderfully, you'll see Jesus face to face and experience the fullness of joy that comes from being in His presence.
John continues in verses 14 and 15: "And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for."
Your prayers matter tremendously, friends. God listens to every one. You may sometimes feel like your prayers are just words floating up to the ceiling, but they're not. They're heard by the Creator of the universe, who loves you and cares about everything that concerns you. When you pray according to His heart, He acts. Your prayers for family and friends have real power. Don't ever think that because you can't do as much physically as you once could, you've lost your usefulness. Your prayers are doing kingdom work in ways you may never see this side of heaven.
John addresses some specific situations in verses 16 and 17 about praying for fellow believers who sin, and then he comes back to reassurance in verse 18: "We know that God's children do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them."
You are held securely by Jesus Himself. The evil one cannot touch you—not in any ultimate, eternal sense. Yes, we face difficulties and trials in this world. Yes, we still struggle with our flesh and our weaknesses. But your soul, your eternal destiny, is secure in Christ's hands. As Jesus said in John chapter 10, no one can snatch you out of His hand.
Verse 19 reminds us: "We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one." We're living in a fallen world. Things aren't as they should be. But that's not our permanent home. We're just passing through.
And then John closes with these wonderful words in verses 20 and 21: "And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts."
Notice how many times John uses the word "know" in this closing section. We know God's love. We know we have eternal life. We know that God hears our prayers. We know that we are His children. This isn't wishful thinking or crossing our fingers and hoping it all works out. This is solid, rock-firm assurance based on what God has done through Jesus Christ.
You know, someone once described life in Christ like a well-loved quilt, hand-stitched over many years. Each patch tells a story—some worn thin, some bright and new—but all held together by careful hands and steady thread. That's what your life looks like to God. All the seasons, all the patches of joy and sorrow, all held together by His faithful, loving hands.
We may not fear much anymore—not the way we once did. But even now, fear can whisper, can't it? Have I done enough? Am I still useful? What comes next? And God answers with love. His love is not based on what we produce. It's not shaken by age or weakness. It is complete, constant, and forever.
C.S. Lewis once wrote something that gives me chills every time I read it. He said, "You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit." Do you realize what that means? Everyone you've ever loved, everyone you've ever known—they're eternal beings. And you are too. Your life matters not just for the seventy or eighty or ninety years you spend on this earth, but forever.
Corrie ten Boom, that wonderful Dutch woman who survived the Nazi concentration camps and spent the rest of her life telling people about God's love, once said, "When I go home to be with Jesus, I want Him to say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant,' not 'Well done, good and successful servant.'" Faithfulness, friends. That's what matters. And you've been faithful. You've kept walking with God through all these years, through all the ups and downs, and that faithfulness matters deeply to Him.
Billy Graham, in his later years, said something beautiful: "For the believer, there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us." That door is open. It's open for you. Not because you've earned it, but because Jesus opened it and He's inviting you in.
As John closes his letter, he wants us to live with absolute confidence in these two great truths that become more precious with age: God's perfect love and eternal life. These aren't distant, theoretical concepts. They're daily realities that can fill your heart with peace right now.
God's love for you isn't diminished by your age, your physical limitations, or your past mistakes. It's not weakened by the days when you feel useless or forgotten. His love is perfect, which means it's complete, lacking nothing, and unchanging. You are loved by the Creator of the universe with the same intensity today as when you first believed, and that love will continue throughout eternity.
Until the day you step into His presence, your life still has tremendous purpose. Your prayers for family and friends have real power—more power than you probably realize. Your example of faithfulness encourages others who are watching how you handle the challenges of aging with grace and hope. Your love, even expressed in small ways, reflects God's love to a world that desperately needs to see it.
John's final words remind us that in Christ, we are not just surviving our final years. We are living with hope, with love, and with the absolute certainty that the best is yet to come. We don't hope in the dark. We hope with confidence. We rest. We rejoice. We keep loving, praying, and living with our eyes fixed not on fading days, but on forever.
In a world that often feels uncertain and full of worry, First John reminds us that God's perfect love gives us real rest and peace. Instead of living under anxiety about tomorrow, we can lean into His love and face each day with confidence shaped by eternity. This truth helps us stay calm and hopeful, even when life changes around us.
So as we close today, I want to leave you with this thought: You are loved. You are secure. You have eternal life right now. And until you see Jesus face to face, your life matters. Your prayers matter. Your faithfulness matters. Keep walking with Him. Keep resting in His perfect love. Keep looking forward with hope.
Thank you for joining me today. May the perfect love of God fill your heart with peace, and may the certainty of eternal life give you joy for every day ahead. God bless you, dear friends. Until next time, rest in His love.
——— 2 John ———
Session 8: “Rooted in Love, Firm in Truth” - Audio
Hello friends, and welcome back to our study together. Today we're looking at a short but powerful letter written by the apostle John—what we call Second John. It's just thirteen verses long, but don't let that fool you. This little letter packs a punch, especially for those of us in our later years who want to finish well and stay faithful.
Let me start by reading our passage from the NIV. This is Second John, verses one through six:
"The elder, to the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love. It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."
Now, before we dig into what this means for us today, let's set the scene a bit.
Who Wrote This and Why?
John simply calls himself "the elder" here. By the time he wrote this letter, he was probably in his eighties or nineties. Can you imagine? He was the last living apostle, the one who had walked with Jesus, leaned against Him at the Last Supper, and stood at the foot of the cross. He'd seen it all, and now in his old age, he's writing to encourage believers to stay true.
He's writing to "the lady chosen by God and to her children." Now, scholars debate whether this is an actual woman and her household, or if John is using feminine language to refer to a local church and its members. Either way works with what John is teaching. But I lean toward thinking this is a real woman—perhaps a widow who hosted a house church in her home. This was common in the first century. Churches met in homes, and often these homes were led by women of means who had the space and resources to host believers.
Think about it—by the time John wrote this, he was quite old. He couldn't travel as easily as he once did. The churches were scattered. Believers couldn't just hop in their cars and drive to a central church building. They gathered in homes, and they didn't see each other as often as they might have liked. Does that sound familiar? As we get older, we don't always get to see our brothers and sisters in Christ as much as we'd like. Health issues, distance, mobility—life changes.
But here's what John wants us to know: even when we can't be together physically as often, we're still connected by something far deeper.
The Truth That Holds Us Together
Look at how John starts this letter. He mentions "truth" five times in just the first four verses. "Whom I love in the truth... all who know the truth... because of the truth, which lives in us... will be with us in truth and love... walking in the truth."
What is this truth John keeps emphasizing?
It's not just facts or doctrine, though it includes those things. The truth John is talking about is the reality of who Jesus is and what He's done. It's the gospel message—that Jesus is God's Son who came in the flesh, died for our sins, and rose again. It's the truth that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works. It's the truth that transforms how we live.
And here's the beautiful part: John says this truth "lives in us and will be with us forever."
Think about that. As we age, a lot of things fade. Our strength fades. Our eyesight dims. Our memory isn't what it used to be. We lose friends and loved ones. But the truth of the gospel? That doesn't fade. It lives in us. It stays with us. It will be with us forever.
This is what anchors us in our later years. Not our accomplishments. Not our health. Not even our memories of better days. We're anchored by the unchanging truth of who God is and what He's done for us in Christ.
Love and Truth: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Now here's where it gets really practical. John doesn't separate truth from love. Notice verse three: "Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love."
Truth and love. Together.
In our world today—and this was true in John's day too—people want to separate these two. Some people say, "What matters is love. Truth is too rigid, too judgmental." Others say, "What matters is truth. Love just makes people soft and compromising."
But John says no. You can't have one without the other. Real love is rooted in truth. And real truth expresses itself in love.
Let me give you an example. If your grandchild was about to touch a hot stove, would you say nothing because you don't want to seem harsh? Of course not. You'd warn them—urgently. That's love based on truth. The truth is the stove will burn them. Your love compels you to speak that truth.
Or think about it another way. If someone told you they loved you but constantly lied to you, would you believe their love was real? No, because real love doesn't hide the truth or twist it. Real love speaks truth, even when it's difficult.
This is what John is getting at. The believers he's writing to are surrounded by false teachers—people claiming to follow Christ but denying essential truths about who He is. John's message is clear: don't sacrifice truth for the sake of appearing loving. But also, don't use truth as a weapon. Let truth and love work together.
Walking in Obedience
In verse four, John says something interesting: "It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us."
Notice he says "some" of your children. Not all. Some.
This must have been bittersweet for John. He's overjoyed that some are staying faithful, but the word "some" implies that others aren't. Maybe they've wandered. Maybe they've been influenced by false teaching. We don't know.
But here's what we do know: faithfulness in old age is a tremendous blessing, both to us and to those who see it.
When younger believers see older saints still walking in the truth, still loving Jesus, still serving faithfully even when it's hard—that's powerful. That's a testimony that says, "This faith is real. It lasts. It's worth holding onto."
And then in verses five and six, John gets to the heart of the matter: "And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."
Did you catch that? John says love isn't just a feeling. Love is action. Love is obedience.
"This is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands."
Jesus said the same thing in John chapter fourteen, verse fifteen: "If you love me, keep my commands." Love shows itself through obedience.
Now, this isn't about earning God's love. We're already loved. We're already accepted through Christ. But because we're loved, we respond by loving Him back, and we show that love through how we live.
What This Means for Us Today
So what does all this mean for us, here and now?
First, we need to stay rooted in the truth of Scripture. In our later years, when life slows down a bit, we have a wonderful opportunity to go deeper in God's Word. We've got decades of experience to bring to our Bible reading now. We can see patterns we missed before. We can connect dots we didn't see in our younger years.
Don't coast spiritually just because you've been a Christian for a long time. Stay in the Word. Let it continue to shape you. Let the truth that lives in you continue to grow and deepen.
Second, we need to love one another genuinely. And remember, love isn't just warm feelings. Love is showing up. Love is making the phone call. Love is sending the card. Love is praying for your brothers and sisters. Love is speaking truth when it's needed, even when it's uncomfortable.
Maybe you can't get to church every Sunday anymore. Maybe your mobility is limited. That's okay. You can still love. You can still encourage. You can still be part of the body of Christ.
Third, we need to let truth and love work together. Don't be so rigid in your pursuit of truth that you become harsh and critical. But also, don't be so mushy in your love that you compromise what Scripture clearly teaches.
The world needs to see Christians who are both loving and truthful. And you know what? Older believers are often best positioned to model this. You've lived long enough to have wisdom. You've made mistakes and learned from them. You've seen fads come and go, but you've watched God's truth remain constant.
A Word About Fellowship
Remember, John is writing to someone who probably isn't seeing her Christian friends as often as she'd like. The churches are scattered. Travel is difficult. Sound familiar?
Maybe you used to be at church every time the doors were open, and now you can't make it as often. Maybe your small group doesn't meet as regularly. Maybe friends have moved away or gone to be with the Lord.
John's message is this: you're still connected. The truth still lives in you. The love is still real. The fellowship is still there, even when you can't be together physically.
Stay connected however you can. Use the phone. Write letters or emails. Pray for one another. Encourage one another. And when you do gather—even if it's just two or three of you—make it count. Make it about truth and love.
Finishing Well
John wrote this letter when he was very old, but he was still passionately concerned about truth and love. He was still teaching. He was still encouraging. He was still faithful.
That's how we want to finish, isn't it? Not just coasting into heaven, but staying engaged, staying faithful, staying rooted in God's truth, and continuing to love well.
The years may change. Our circumstances may change. Our bodies certainly change. But the truth of the gospel doesn't change. The call to love doesn't change. And the grace of God that's carried us this far will carry us all the way home.
Closing Thoughts
Let me leave you with this: You are loved by God. That's the foundational truth. And because you're loved, you can love others. Because you've received grace, you can extend grace. Because you know the truth, you can stand firm in the truth.
You may not be able to do everything you once did. But you can still love. You can still pray. You can still encourage. You can still be rooted in love and firm in truth.
And that, friends, is a powerful way to live, no matter what season of life we're in.
Thanks for joining me today. Until next time, stay rooted in love, and stay firm in truth.
Session 9: “Preserving Our Spiritual Heritage” - Audio
Hello friends, and welcome back. Today we're finishing up our look at Second John, and we're going to tackle a topic that might feel a bit uncomfortable at first—but it's absolutely necessary. We're talking about spiritual discernment and setting boundaries to protect what we believe.
Let me read our passage from Second John, verses seven through thirteen:
"I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings."
Now, that's some strong language, isn't it? Don't take them into your house. Don't welcome them. Those words can sound harsh to our modern ears. But let's understand what John is really saying and why it matters for us today.
The Threat John is Addressing
John says there are "many deceivers" going around. What were they teaching that was so dangerous?
They were denying that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This might not sound like a big deal to us, but it struck at the very heart of the Christian faith. These false teachers—we call them Gnostics—believed that the physical world was evil and only the spiritual was good. So they said Jesus couldn't have actually had a real physical body. Maybe He just seemed to have one. Maybe the divine Christ spirit came upon the man Jesus temporarily but left before the crucifixion.
Why does this matter? Because if Jesus didn't really come in the flesh, then He didn't really die. And if He didn't really die, there's no real sacrifice for our sins. The whole gospel falls apart.
John calls these people deceivers and even uses the term "antichrist." That's serious language. But John isn't being mean—he's being protective. He's lived long enough to see what happens when churches compromise on core truths. They don't last. The gospel gets watered down until it's not the gospel anymore.
What We've Worked For
In verse eight, John says something that should catch our attention: "Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully."
Think about your own spiritual journey for a moment. How many years have you been following Jesus? Thirty years? Forty? Fifty? Maybe more? Think about all the sermons you've heard, all the Bible studies you've attended, all the prayers you've prayed, all the times you've gathered with God's people.
That's a spiritual heritage. That's what John means by "what we have worked for." It's not that we've earned our salvation—we know that's by grace. But we have invested our lives in knowing God, serving Him, and growing in faith. That's precious.
John's warning is this: don't throw it away by embracing teaching that contradicts what you know to be true. Don't let someone come along with smooth words and fresh ideas that sound appealing but actually undermine the foundation.
This is especially important for those of us who are older. We have a responsibility to pass on sound teaching to the next generation. What good is it if we've walked with Jesus for decades but then fail to guard the truth in our final years?
Running Ahead of Scripture
Verse nine is fascinating: "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."
The phrase "runs ahead" is interesting. It literally means to go too far, to go beyond what's been taught. These false teachers weren't denying Christianity outright—they were claiming to have advanced, superior knowledge. They were saying, "Yes, we believe in Jesus, but we've moved beyond the simple teaching. We have deeper insights."
Sound familiar? Every generation has people who claim the church needs to move beyond old-fashioned beliefs and embrace new understandings. Sometimes change is good—we should always be growing and learning. But when that "growth" means abandoning core truths about who Jesus is and what He's done, that's not progress. That's apostasy.
John's test is simple: does this teaching continue in what Christ and the apostles taught, or does it run ahead of it? If it contradicts clear biblical teaching, then no matter how appealing it sounds, it doesn't have God's stamp of approval.
Setting Boundaries with Love
Now we come to the verses that make many Christians squirm: "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work."
Does this mean we should slam doors in people's faces? Does it mean we can't be friendly with those who disagree with us? Let's think carefully about the context.
In the first century, traveling teachers depended on the hospitality of believers. Churches met in homes, and these teachers would stay in believers' homes, be fed, and receive support for their journeys. To welcome a teacher into your home and provide for them was to endorse their ministry. It was like giving them your platform and your recommendation.
John is saying, "Don't do that for false teachers. Don't give them your endorsement. Don't help spread their deceptive message."
This doesn't mean we can't have relationships with people who believe differently than we do. Jesus ate with sinners. Paul reasoned with unbelievers in the marketplace. But there's a difference between having a conversation with someone and giving them your platform to spread false teaching in the church.
Think of it this way: you can be kind and respectful to everyone, but you don't have to invite every teacher to speak at your church. You can love your neighbor who belongs to a different faith, but you don't have to fund their ministry. Boundaries aren't the opposite of love—sometimes they're an expression of love.
Guarding Without Becoming Hard
Here's the balance we need to find: we must guard the truth, but we can't become harsh, suspicious, or closed off to everyone.
I've seen this go wrong in both directions. Some churches are so open and accepting that they've lost any sense of what they actually believe. Anything goes. Every idea is equally valid. That's not biblical Christianity—that's just religious confusion.
But I've also seen churches become so defensive and suspicious that they're constantly fighting, constantly dividing, constantly looking for heresy under every rock. They've preserved their doctrine, but they've lost their love. They've become hard and cold.
John doesn't want either extreme. Remember, this is the same John who wrote "God is love" in his first letter. This is the apostle known for his emphasis on loving one another. But love doesn't mean accepting everything. Love protects. Love guards what's precious.
Think about how you protect your grandchildren. You let them play and explore, but you don't let them run into traffic. You're warm and affectionate, but you still have rules. That's not being mean—that's being loving and wise.
What This Means for Us
So how do we apply this today? Let me suggest three practical ways.
First, know what you believe and why. You can't spot false teaching if you don't know true teaching. This is why staying in God's Word is so important. This is why sound preaching and teaching matter. After all these years of following Jesus, you should have a good sense of what the Bible teaches about salvation, about Jesus, about how we're to live.
Second, be willing to ask hard questions. When you hear something new—whether it's from a book, a TV preacher, or even your own pastor—ask yourself: does this line up with Scripture? Does this contradict what I know to be true? It's okay to be discerning. It's okay to think critically.
Third, protect your church family without becoming suspicious of everyone. Yes, we need boundaries. Yes, we need discernment. But we also need to remain warm, hospitable, and loving. The goal isn't to build walls around ourselves—the goal is to preserve the truth while keeping our hearts open.
Joy in Fellowship
Notice how John ends this letter: "I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete."
Even after all these serious warnings, John's heart is warm. He wants to see them. He wants fellowship. He wants joy to be complete.
This tells us something important: guarding the truth isn't meant to make us joyless. It's meant to preserve the foundation for genuine, lasting joy. When we stand firm on truth and love one another well, that's when our joy is complete.
Our Legacy
Friends, we're not just guarding truth for ourselves. We're guarding it for those who come after us. Your grandchildren, your church family, the believers who will come along after you're gone—they need to inherit a faith that's both true and loving.
Imagine if the generation before us had compromised on essential truths. Where would we be? We owe it to them to stand firm. And we owe it to the next generation to do the same.
This doesn't mean being rigid about everything. There are matters of preference and matters of conviction. But when it comes to who Jesus is, what He did, and how we're saved—those aren't negotiable.
Closing Thoughts
Here's what I want you to remember: preserving our spiritual heritage isn't about being defensive or fearful. It's about being faithful stewards of what we've received. We've been given something precious—the truth of the gospel, the teaching of Christ. Let's guard it well. Let's pass it on intact. And let's do it with both conviction and compassion.
Thanks for joining me today. May God bless you as you continue walking in truth and love.
——— 3 John ———
Session 10: “Living Letters: Hospitality and Faith in Action” - Audio
Hello friends, and welcome back. Today we're looking at Third John, which is actually the shortest book in the entire Bible—just fourteen verses. But don't let that fool you. This little letter is packed with wisdom about something very practical: hospitality and supporting the work of the gospel.
Let me read our passage, Third John verses one through eight:
"The elder, to my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth."
This is such a warm, personal letter. You can feel John's affection for Gaius right from the start. Let's unpack what's happening here and what it means for us today.
Meeting Gaius
John addresses this letter to "my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth." We don't know a lot about Gaius. He's not famous like Peter or Paul. He didn't write any books of the Bible. He's just a faithful believer who was doing something important—opening his home to traveling gospel workers.
The phrase "whom I love in the truth" is significant. It's the same language John used in Second John. This isn't just emotional affection—it's love rooted in their shared faith in Christ. Their relationship is built on something solid and lasting.
Then John does something interesting. He prays for Gaius's physical health: "I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."
Think about that. John knows that Gaius is spiritually healthy—his soul is getting along well. But John also cares about his physical well-being. This tells us that God cares about the whole person. Our bodies matter. Our daily circumstances matter. It's not unspiritual to pray for someone's health or practical needs.
And isn't this how we naturally pray for one another? When we call a friend or fellow church member, we ask how they're feeling. We care about their doctor appointments, their aches and pains, their daily struggles. That's good and right. John does the same thing.
Walking in the Truth
In verses three and four, John expresses his deep joy: "It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
Some traveling believers had visited John and told him about Gaius. They reported that he was faithful, that he was walking in the truth. And this brought John tremendous joy.
Notice what brings John the greatest joy. It's not wealth or comfort or recognition. It's hearing that fellow believers—his spiritual children—are walking in the truth. For an old pastor or teacher, there's no greater satisfaction than seeing those you've influenced stay faithful to Jesus.
Maybe you can relate to this. Maybe you've taught Sunday school, or led a small group, or mentored younger believers. What brings you the most joy? Isn't it when you see them still following Jesus years later? When you hear they're serving in their church, raising their kids in the faith, staying true to what they learned?
That's the joy John is talking about. It never gets old.
Faithful in What You're Doing
Now John gets specific about what Gaius is doing: "Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you."
Gaius was showing hospitality to traveling Christian workers—people he'd never met before. In the first century, there were no church buildings, no conference centers, no hotels on every corner. When traveling missionaries and teachers came through town, they depended on the hospitality of believers.
And here's what made Gaius special: he welcomed strangers. These weren't old friends or family members. These were people he'd never met. But because they were fellow believers serving the gospel, Gaius opened his home to them.
Think about what that means practically. It means extra cooking. Extra laundry. Giving up your guest room or even your own bed. Rearranging your schedule. Spending your money. It's not easy, especially as we get older and our energy isn't what it used to be.
But Gaius did it faithfully. He made it a practice. And these traveling workers were so impressed by his kindness that they went back and told John about it. They testified to the church about Gaius's love.
That's a beautiful legacy, isn't it? To be known as someone who showed love in practical, tangible ways.
For the Sake of the Name
John explains why these workers deserve support: "It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans."
These traveling teachers had gone out for the sake of the Name—that's Jesus. They were spreading the gospel, teaching sound doctrine, strengthening churches. And they were doing it without accepting money from unbelievers. They didn't want anyone to think they were in it for profit or that the gospel could be bought.
So they depended entirely on the support of fellow believers. That's where people like Gaius came in. By providing food, shelter, and supplies, Gaius was partnering in their ministry. He might not have been preaching or teaching himself, but he was making it possible for others to do so.
This is a principle that still applies today. Not everyone is called to be a pastor or missionary. But all of us can support those who are. We can give financially. We can provide meals. We can offer encouragement. We can pray. And when we do these things, we become partners in the work of the gospel.
Working Together for the Truth
Verse eight captures this beautifully: "We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth."
Did you catch that phrase? "Work together for the truth." When Gaius showed hospitality, he wasn't just being nice. He was actively participating in spreading the gospel. He was working together with these teachers for the truth.
This is important for us to understand, especially if we feel like we can't do as much as we used to. Maybe you can't travel on mission trips anymore. Maybe you can't teach large classes or lead major programs. But you can still work together for the truth in countless ways.
Hospitality Today
Now, let's talk about what this looks like for us in our context. We're not usually hosting traveling missionaries in our homes—though some of you might be. But the principle of hospitality and supporting gospel work still applies.
Here are some practical ways we can live out Gaius's example:
First, we can support our pastors and church leaders. They've given their lives to ministry. A note of encouragement, a meal, an offer to help with yard work—these things matter more than you might think. Pastors and their families need to know they're appreciated.
Second, we can show hospitality to visitors at our church. When someone new walks in on Sunday morning, make them feel welcome. Introduce yourself. Invite them to sit with you. These simple acts can make all the difference to someone who's looking for a church home.
Third, we can open our homes for fellowship. Maybe you can't host big groups anymore, but you could invite one or two people over for coffee or lunch. You could host a small Bible study. You could have your Sunday school class over for dessert. Whatever your capacity, use it.
Fourth, we can support missionaries and ministries financially. Even small, regular gifts add up. When you give to support gospel work, you're partnering in that work just like Gaius did.
Fifth—and this is huge—we can use technology to stay connected and encourage one another. We may not travel as easily as we once did, but we can pick up the phone. We can send a text message or email. We can write cards and letters. These are modern forms of hospitality—reaching out to encourage, to check in, to remind someone they're loved and not forgotten.
Faith in Action
The title of our lesson today is "Living Letters: Hospitality and Faith in Action." That phrase "faith in action" is key. James tells us that faith without works is dead. It's not enough to say we love people—we have to show it.
Gaius showed his faith through action. He didn't just say, "I support gospel ministry." He actually supported it by opening his home and using his resources.
This is how faith becomes visible. When we show kindness, when we serve, when we give, when we encourage—that's our faith on display. We become living letters, as Paul put it, "known and read by everyone."
And here's the wonderful thing: you don't have to do big, dramatic things. Gaius wasn't famous. He wasn't wealthy or powerful. He was just faithful in what he could do. He used what he had—a home, some resources, a willing heart—and it made a difference.
You can do the same. Whatever season of life you're in, whatever your circumstances, you have something to offer. Your prayers matter. Your encouragement matters. Your hospitality—however you express it—matters.
The Joy of Partnership
One more thing I want you to notice: this kind of serving brings joy. Remember how John started this letter? "It gave me great joy." And he ends verse four with "I have no greater joy."
When we serve others, when we support gospel work, when we show hospitality—it brings joy. Not because we're earning anything, but because we're participating in something bigger than ourselves. We're part of God's work in the world.
Some of the most joyful people I know are those who've made serving others a way of life. They're not necessarily the healthiest or wealthiest. But they've discovered the joy of partnership—working together with others for the truth.
Closing Thoughts
Friends, you don't have to be an apostle like John or a famous teacher to make a difference. You can be like Gaius—faithful in what you're doing, showing love in practical ways, supporting the work of the gospel however you can.
Your phone calls matter. Your cards matter. Your prayers matter. Your hospitality—in whatever form it takes—matters. You're not just being nice. You're working together for the truth. You're partnering in gospel ministry. You're being a living letter that points others to Christ.
Thanks for joining me today. May you find joy in serving others and working together for the truth.
Session 11: “Servant Leadership: Humility Over Pride” - Audio
Hello friends, and welcome back. Today we're finishing up Third John, and we're going to meet two very different men. One is a cautionary tale. The other is an example to follow. Both have something important to teach us about leadership, influence, and how we treat others in the church.
Let me read our passage, Third John verses nine through fifteen:
"I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name."
Now, this passage introduces us to some real church conflict. It's not pretty, but it's honest. And it reminds us that the early church dealt with many of the same problems we face today.
The Problem with Diotrephes
John mentions that he wrote to the church, but there's a problem. A man named Diotrephes "who loves to be first, will not welcome us."
That phrase "loves to be first" tells us everything we need to know about Diotrephes. He loved being in charge. He loved the spotlight. He loved having authority. And apparently, he saw John as a threat to his position.
So what did Diotrephes do? John lists several things, and they get progressively worse.
First, he refused to welcome John and his representatives. This was a serious insult in that culture. Hospitality wasn't just being polite—it was a sacred duty. By refusing to welcome fellow believers, especially an apostle like John, Diotrephes was showing contempt.
Second, he was "spreading malicious nonsense" about John. He was gossiping. He was slandering. He was trying to damage John's reputation so he could maintain his own position.
Third, he refused to welcome other traveling believers—the kind of workers that Gaius was helping.
And fourth—and this is really troubling—he stopped others from showing hospitality, and if they tried anyway, he threw them out of the church.
Think about that. Diotrephes was so controlling that he would excommunicate people for showing basic Christian kindness. That's not leadership—that's tyranny.
The Root of the Problem
What was driving Diotrephes? John tells us plainly: he loved to be first. Pride was at the root of everything.
Pride makes us defensive. It makes us see others as threats rather than partners. It makes us more concerned about our position than about serving others. And when pride takes hold in a church leader, it causes all kinds of damage.
Now, here's what's important for us to understand: Diotrephes probably didn't think of himself as prideful. People rarely do. He probably thought he was protecting the church. He probably convinced himself that John and these other teachers were the problem, not him. He may have genuinely believed he was doing the right thing.
That's how pride works. It blinds us. It makes us think we're defending truth when we're really just protecting our turf.
A Warning for All of Us
Before we're too hard on Diotrephes, we need to look in the mirror. Most of us aren't church leaders with that kind of authority. But we all have some sphere of influence. We all have opportunities to either build others up or tear them down.
Maybe it's in your family. Maybe you're the matriarch or patriarch, and your opinions carry weight. How do you use that influence? Do you encourage others, or do you control them? Do you listen, or do you always have to have the last word?
Maybe it's in your Sunday school class or small group. Are you the one who always dominates the conversation? Do you get upset when someone disagrees with you or offers a different perspective?
Maybe it's just in casual conversations with friends. Do you gossip? Do you speak negatively about others? Do you try to make yourself look better by making others look worse?
These are all forms of loving to be first. They may not be as extreme as what Diotrephes did, but they come from the same root—pride.
What Jesus Taught About Leadership
This is a good time to remember what Jesus said about leadership and greatness. In Matthew chapter twenty, the disciples were arguing about who would be greatest in the kingdom. Jesus told them, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve."
That's the complete opposite of Diotrephes's approach. Jesus says true greatness comes through serving, not through dominating. True leadership means putting others first, not insisting on being first yourself.
And Jesus didn't just teach this—He lived it. He washed His disciples' feet. He welcomed children. He ate with outcasts. He gave His life on a cross. That's servant leadership.
The Example of Demetrius
Now John gives us a contrast. After warning us about Diotrephes, he points to Demetrius as a positive example: "Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him."
We don't know much about Demetrius. He may have been carrying this letter to Gaius. He may have been one of the traveling workers who needed hospitality. But here's what we do know: he had a good reputation.
Notice the threefold testimony John gives. First, everyone spoke well of Demetrius. Second, "the truth itself" spoke well of him—meaning his life matched up with the gospel he claimed to believe. And third, John personally vouched for him.
That's a powerful endorsement. Demetrius wasn't seeking recognition, but he earned it through faithful service and godly character. He didn't have to promote himself. His life spoke for itself.
The Difference Between the Two
Let's think about the contrast between these two men.
Diotrephes loved to be first. Demetrius served faithfully without demanding recognition.
Diotrephes spread malicious gossip. Demetrius had a reputation confirmed by everyone.
Diotrephes pushed people out. Demetrius welcomed people in.
Diotrephes was concerned about his position. Demetrius was concerned about living out the truth.
One was driven by pride. The other walked in humility.
And here's the interesting thing: we remember Diotrephes only because of his bad behavior. We remember Demetrius because of his good reputation. In the end, humble service leaves a better legacy than self-promotion ever could.
Do Not Imitate What Is Evil
Right in the middle of these two examples, John gives Gaius—and us—some direct instruction: "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God."
This is straightforward. We have choices to make. We can follow the example of people like Diotrephes, or we can follow the example of people like Demetrius. We can imitate evil, or we can imitate good.
John makes it even more serious: how we behave reveals our relationship with God. Those who consistently do good show they know God. Those who consistently do evil show they've never really seen God—never really known Him.
This doesn't mean Christians are perfect. We all stumble. We all have moments of pride or selfishness. But there's a difference between occasional failure and a pattern of self-centered, controlling behavior. There's a difference between someone who sins but repents, and someone like Diotrephes who persists in prideful behavior without remorse.
Our Sphere of Influence
So what does this mean for us practically? John's words are directed to Gaius, but they apply to all of us. We all have influence somewhere. The question is: how will we use it?
Let me suggest some questions for self-reflection:
When people talk about you after you're gone, what will they say? Will they remember someone who built others up or someone who always had to be right?
In your family, are you known for encouraging and supporting others, or for always criticizing and controlling?
In your church, do you support the leadership and help build unity, or do you complain and create division?
When you hear gossip, do you spread it or stop it?
When someone disagrees with you, can you listen with humility, or do you get defensive?
When someone else gets recognition, can you celebrate with them, or do you feel threatened?
These are hard questions, but they're important. Because at our age, we've had decades to develop patterns. Some of those patterns are good. Some may need to change.
The Beauty of Humble Service
Here's the good news: it's never too late to choose humility over pride. It's never too late to become more like Demetrius and less like Diotrephes.
And humble service brings such freedom. When you stop worrying about being first, you can relax and enjoy serving. When you stop comparing yourself to others, you can genuinely celebrate their successes. When you stop trying to control everything, you can trust God to work through others.
Some of the most joyful, peaceful people I know are those who've learned to serve without needing recognition. They're content to work behind the scenes. They're happy to let others get the credit. They've discovered that true fulfillment comes not from being first, but from faithfully serving wherever God has placed them.
Closing Thoughts
As we wrap up Third John, I want you to think about your legacy. What kind of influence are you having? Are you building others up or tearing them down? Are you serving humbly or demanding recognition?
You may not have the authority that Diotrephes had, but you have influence. Use it well. Use it humbly. Use it to point others to Jesus, not to yourself.
And if you realize you've been more like Diotrephes than Demetrius, it's not too late. Confess it to God. Ask for forgiveness. And start fresh today. Choose humility. Choose service. Choose to build others up.
Thanks for joining me today. May God help us all to serve with humility and love.