Sermon Outline:
"Listening In On The Conversation" (James 5:1-6) 

A) Where Their Treasure Is (vv. 1-3)

B) Their Heart Will Be Also (vv. 4-6)

Sermon Outline:
"In the Wrong Roles" (James 4:11-17)

A)  Acting as Judge (vv. 11-12)

B)  Acting as Lord (vv. 13-17)

Sermon Outline:
"That the Word May Be Fulfilled" (Luke 24:1-48)
A) An Unexpected Meeting (vv. 1-12)

B) An Unexpected Lesson (vv. 13-48)
     I. On the Road  (vv. 13-32)
     II. Behind Shut Doors (vv. 36-48)

Sermon Outline:
"An Illness in the Church" (James 4:1-10)

A) The Symptoms (vv. 1-3)

B) The Diagnosis (vv. 4-6) 

C) The Remedy (vv. 7-10)

Sermon Outline:
"Who Among You Is Wise?" (James 3:13-18)

A) A Searching Question (v. 13)

B) A Wrong Direction (vv. 14-16)

C) The Right Location (vv. 17-18)

Sermon Outline:
"By Your Words" (James 3:1-12) 
A) A Word To Would-Be Teachers (vv. 1-2)

B) Understanding the Tongue (vv. 2-6)

C) How Then Should We Be? (vv. 7-12)

Sermon Outline:

I. Justified by Works - Explained (vv. 20-21)

II. Justified by Works - Proved.

     a. Abraham (vv. 21-24)

     b. Rahab (vv. 22-26)

Sermon Outline:
"Faith without Works - Part 1" (James 2:14-20) 

1. Objection 1: I Have Faith, But No Works (vv. 14-17)

2. Objection 2: You have Faith, I Have Works (vv. 18-20)

 Sermon Outline:

A) Reminder to the Church (vv. 1-7)

B) In Keeping with the Royal Law (vv. 8-13) 

Sermon Outline:
"The Right Response to God’s Word" (James 1:19-27)

A) A Putting Away of Sin (vv. 19-21)

B) A Doer of the Word (vv. 22-25)

C) A Right Religion (vv. 26-27)

Sermon Outline:
"Placing Blame Where It Doesn’t Belong" (James 1:12-18)

A. It’s Not God Who Is Tempting You (vv. 12-16)

B. Remember Who Your God Is (vv. 16-18)

Sermon Outline:
"Enduring the Trials" (James 1:1-12)

A. God’s Purpose in the Trial (vv. 1-4)

B. God’s Provision Through the Trial (vv. 5-8)

C. Only His Way Through the Trial (vv. 9-12)

Sermon Outline:
"Praise From God or From Men?" (John 5:1-44)

A) An Ill-timed Miracle (vv. 1-17)

B) The Father and the Son (vv. 18-32)

C) The Father’s Testimony of the Son (vv. 33-40)

D) Why to Seek Praise From God (vv. 41-44)

Sermon Outline:
"Awaiting a Future Kingdom" (Revelation 21:1-8)

A)  Immanuel: Worth Anticipating (vv. 1-4)

B)  Immanuel: A Certainty (vv. 5-6a)

C)  Immanuel: An Invitation (vv. 6b-8) 

Sermon Outline:
"Christmas in the Letters" (Philippians 2:1-8)

A) Make My Joy Complete (vv. 1-4)

B) Have This Attitude in Yourselves (vv. 5-8)

Sermon Outline:
"Christmas in the Gospels" (Matthew 1:18-25)

A) Now All This Took Place (vv. 18-23a)

B) Immanuel, God With Us (vv. 23b-25)

Sermon Outline:
"Christmas in View" (Luke 1:67-80) 
Dear Theophilus, it’s Important That You Know:

A) The Father Kept His Promises to His People (vv. 68-75)

B) The Promise is For You As Well (vv. 76-80)

Sermon Outline:

A) Hannah: Going to God When All Seems Like Darkness (vv. 1-11)

B) The Lord Remembers His Promise Through Hannah (vv. 12-20)

Sermon Outline:
"Christmas in the Beginning" (John 1:1-5)

A)  He Was in the Beginning as the Creator God (vv. 1-3)

B)  He Was in the Beginning as the Savior God (vv. 4-5)

Sermon Outline:
"A Reason to Give Thanks" (Psalm 138)

I) Recognizing What God Has Done (vv. 1-3)

    a) Gives Us Boldness to Tell Others (vv. 4-6)

    b) Gives Us Assurance of God’s Goodness for the Future (vv. 7-8)

Sermon Outline:
"Having Put on the New Self" (Ephesians 4:25-32)

I) A Change in Behavior (vv.25-29)

a. Speaking Truth (v. 25)

b. Angry, Yet Without Sin (vv. 26-27)

c. No Longer Stealing (v. 28)

d. No Unwholesome Words (v. 29)

e. Not Grieving the Holy Spirit (v. 30)

II) A Change in Heart (vv. 31-32)

A) Reminded of Who We Were - A Life of Sin (vv. 17-19)

B) Remembering What We Know (vv. 20-21)

a) We are to Lay Aside the Old Self (v.22)

b) We are to Put on the New Self (vv. 23-24)

Sermon Outline:
"Confidence in the Son” (1 John 5:18-21)

A) Confidence in the Son’s Keeping (vv. 18-19)

B) Confidence in the Son Who Gives Understanding (vv. 20)

C) Confidence to Stay the Course (vv. 21)

Sermon Notes:
"Confidence" (1 John 5:13-17)

A) Confidence before the Father (vv. 13-15)

B) Confidence in Difficult Circumstances (vv. 16-17)

Sermon Notes:
"Testimony" (1 John 5:6-12)

A) An Assurance of a Greater Testimony (vv. 6-9)

B) A Warning Toward Disbelief (vv. 10-12)

Sermon Outline:
"The Victorious Life of Faith" (1 John 5:1-5)
A) Faith, It’s Simple (v. 1a)

B) Faith Displayed (vv. 1b-3) 

- Loving the Child of God

- Loving His Commandments

C) Faith, Overcoming the World (vv. 4-5)

Sermon Outline:
“We Love Because He First Loved Us” (I John 4:15-21)

A) Love: A Work of Faith

B) Love: Casting Out Fear

C) Love: Because It’s Commanded

Owen's previous sermon on 1 John 4:7-14 was given off location and wasn't recorded. For your reference we've included his written sermon in this episode's description.

Sermon Outline: “A Love Like No Other” (1 John 4:7-14)
A) Love is from God - vv. 7-8
B) Love That Takes the Initiative - vv. 9-11
C) Love’s Assurance - vv. 12-13
D) Love’s Exhortation - vv. 14

A) Love is from God - vv. 7-8

L - Sabrina and I were married about two years, I had become saved, and as I started being in the Bible more, I came upon the verses concerning a woman honoring her husband. I never took into account the verses that told me to love my wife as Christ loved the church - which means total sacrifice. I never saw Peters writing that I should live with my wife in an understanding way - as the weaker vessel - so that my prayers would not be hindered. Instead - I saw my wife as the one who should honor me first - as I was the head, the…..boss. The bitterness turned anger, into arguments, into yelling. It reached it’s crescendo when I left work one day, not sure if I would return home again.

I ended up finding myself at Barney’s house. I explained in depth Sabrina’s lack of respect, Sabrina’s failings as a wife, how I had been praying for her to be a better wife….and how I could not put up with it anymore. After listening patiently, Barney gave me his counsel. He said to me, “I want you to stop praying for your wife. I want you pray that the Lord would give you His love for your wife."

I was dumbfounded, because that's why I married her right? Because I loved her, wasn't it?? So I prayed. I didn't add prerequisites that she would act better, or be more honoring - I only prayed that God would give me his love for her. In doing so, I realized, I didn't love her sacrificially. I loved her with a love that had expectations as to who she would be, and what she would do as my wife. It wasn't a love from God - It was a selfish love that came with expectations - mine.

S - John is reminding his readers of their love for one another - but it is a love from God - not from themselves.

P - 1 John 4:7-8 - 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

D - We left off last week with John directing his readers to test the spirits

• In doing so, John reminded them of that which he spoke about back in chapter 2 - the anti-christs that are in the world. In ending his thoughts concerning this issue of false teachers, John ends with this statement: 1 John 4:6 - 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

A powerful statement, full of apostolic authority aimed to remind his readers that right doctrine comes from the apostles Christ has ordained to teach the churches. But in light of such a direct statement - there very well may be a surge in the desire to get things right - and to be overly harsh in their examination of others.

• This could include arguments over secondary issues - and as fellow humans we can almost hear them say:
• “Does this person, or that person, truly know God?”

So John reminds them in verse 7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

So for those who seek false spirits under every rock and behind every tree, this would be a reminder of who they are to be in Christ.

• Because we can, at times, in our desire to get it right - or our desire for others to get it right - we forget that we are to love one another
• and not just in the testing of the spirits, but at all times

But whose love is John speaking about? Turn with me to Romans 5.

• Romans 5:1-5 - 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So the love that his readers are to have toward one another is not something they can produce or manufacture on our own.

• It is a love  - the very love of God - that is poured into them - by someone specific.
• The Holy Spirit - a person - sent by God - pours God’s love into, or within, them.

Hence why verse 7, John writes, “for love is from God”!

• He is correct, indeed it is!

The love of feelings, or affirmations of others in sin, is a human love.

• It has no eternal value.

So what does the love of God look like? We are going to look at several verses, so bear with me. Turn with me to Hebrews 6 -

I will not go into the full context of this verse, as it can stand on its own:

• 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

Notice how the writer of Hebrews encourages his readers, that God does see the work and love that they have shown toward His name…..How is that defined? - in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

His readers are loving other saints - and it is work and it is in love.

• Turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 - 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention [of you] in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

What do we think this means? Work of faith, labor of love, steadfastness of hope?

• Work (remember Hebrews 6:10) - toil (as an effort or occupation); or an act:
• We are to live and move by faith - trusting our Father in heaven.
• Labor - intense labour united with trouble and toil - (BLB)
• The love of God that is poured into you is not an easy love.
• It is a hard love, that needs to strive when things are difficult.
• Steadfastness - “the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings”"G5281 - hypomonē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95)." Blue Letter Bible. Web. 6 Sep, 2025. <

Sermon Outline:
“Passing the Exam” (1 John 4:1-6)

1. Don’t Believe Every Spirit - (v. 1)

2. The Correct Confession - (vv. 2-3)

3. Just the Facts - (vv. 4-6)

Sermon Outline:
“When in Doubt” (1 John 3:19-24)

1. Our Heart and our God (vv. 19-20)

2. Confidence before God (vv. 21-22)

3. An Assurance Checklist (vv. 23-24)

Sermon Outline:
“Why We Are Different” (1 John 3:10-18)

1. We love the brethren (vv. 10-11)

2. We are not of the evil one (vv. 12-15)

3. We follow Christ’s example (vv. 16-18)

Sermon Outline:
"John's Warning to His Children" (1 John 3:4-9)

1. Can I Practice Sin and Have a Relationship with Christ? (vv. 4-6)

2. Understanding the Truth About Who We Listen to (vv. 7-9)

Sermon Outline:
"Anticipating His Appearance" (1 John 2:28-3:3)

1. We Abide in Anticipation (v.28)

2. We Are Adopted and Anticipating (vv. 2:29-3:1)  

3. We Hope in Anticipation (vv. 3:2-3:3)

Sermon Outline:

"A Last Hour and God’s Provision for It" (1 John 2:18-27)
1. Don’t Be Surprised - What to Expect in this Hour (vv. 18-19, 22-23, 26)

2. God’s Provision - His Spirit and His Word (vv. 20-21)  

3. God’s Provision in Place - His Word and Spirit Abiding in You (vv. 24-25, 27)

Sermon Outline:
“A Warning Concerning the World” (1 John 2:15-17)
1. Not Out of Love For the Father - (v. 15)

2. Not of the Father’s Hand - (v. 16)

3. Not Part of the Father’s Will - (v. 17)  

Sermon Outline:
“Assurance Revisited” (1 John 2:7-14)

A) A Commandment, Old and New (vv. 7-8)

B) An Abiding, Dark and Light (vv. 9-11)

C) An Encouragement, For Now and Always (vv. 12-14)  

Sermon Outline:
"Assurance of Salvation" (1 John 2:1-6)

A) An Encourager of their Salvation (v. 1a)

B) The Encouragement of their Salvation (vv. 1b-2)

C) Assurance that is Known (vv. 3-5a)

D) Assurance that Walks (vv. 5b-6)

Sermon Outline:
"Concerning God, Sin, and a Savior" (1 John 1:5-2:2)

A. Concerning God (v. 5)

B. Concerning Sin

   1.  What Sin Is (vv. 6-7)

   2.  That We Have Sin (vv. 8-9)

   3.  How to Handle Our Sin (vv. 10 - 2:1)

C.  Concerning a Savior (2:2)

Sermon Outline:
"Christian Fellowship" (1 John 1:2-4)

A. The Basis of Fellowship (v. 2)

B. The Proclamation that Brings Fellowship (v. 3)

C. The Joy of Fellowship (v. 4)

D. With Whom Do You Have Fellowship? 

Sermon Outline:
"What Was From the Beginning (1 John 1:1)

A. The Beginning

B. Having Heard the Beginning

C. Having Seen the Beginning

D. Having Touched the Beginning

E. The Beginning Defined

Sermon Outine:
"Blasphemy" (Selected Scriptures)

I. What It Is

II. Who It Is Against

III. Hope for Blasphemers

Sermon Outline:

God Comes to Those Who Wait (Psalm 25)

I. Why to Wait (vv. 1-3)

II. How to Wait (vv. 4-11)

A. Follow (vv. 4-5)

B. Plead (vv. 6-7)

C. Meditate (vv. 8-10)

D. Confess (v. 11)

III. Who Waits (vv. 12-22)

Sermon Outline:
"Are You Welcome in God’s House?" (Psalm 24)

I. The LORD’s Hospitality (vv. 1-2)

II. The LORD’s House Rules (vv. 3-6)

III. The LORD’s Home (vv. 7-10)

Sermon Outline:

"The Open Secret of Life" (Psalm 23)

I. Having the LORD as Your Shepherd (v. 1)

II. This Shepherd Provides for Every Need (vv. 2-3)

III. This Shepherd Protects in Every Calamity (v. 4)

IV. The Shepherd Prepares in Every Moment (vv. 5-6)

Sermon Outline:
"The Antidote to Despair: Remembrance and Praise" (Psalm 22)

I. Remember the God of the Past (vv. 1-21)

 A. His Deliverance of the Fathers (vv. 1-5)

 B. His Deliverance of You (vv. 6-10)

 C. His Deliverance of Christ (vv. 11-21)

II. Praise the God of the Present and the Future (vv. 22-31)

Sermon Outline:
"Rejoice in Your Champion" (Psalm 21)

I. Rejoice in Your King Resurrected (vv. 1-7)

II. Rejoice in Your King Victorious (vv. 8-12)

III. Rejoice in Your God (v. 13)

Sermon Outline:

"Go Your Way to the End" (Daniel 12:4-13)

I. There Is an End (vv. 4-7)

II. The End Is Worthwhile (vv. 8-13)

 A. Refinement (v. 10)

 B. Reward (vv. 11-13)

Sermon Outline:
"Resurrection's Root" (Selected Scriptures)

I. Resurrection’s Result: New Creatures

II. Resurrection’s Rationale: Embodied Creatures

A. God’s Design of Man

B. God’s Desire for Man

C. God’s Decision regarding Man

D. God’s Display to Man

III. Resurrection’s Root: Christ’s Creatures

Sermon Outline:

"Believers Are the Freest People in the World - Part 2" (Daniel 11:36-12:3)

Last Week:

I. Because God Is Sovereign (11:36-39)

II. Because God Is Victorious (11:40-45)

This Week:

III. Because God Is Life-Giving (12:1-3)

A. He Provides Rescue (v. 1)

B. He Provides Resurrection (v. 2)

C. He Provides Resplendence (v. 3)

Sermon Outline:

"Believers Are the Freest People in the World - Part 1" (Daniel 11:36-12:3)

I. Because God Is Sovereign (11:36-39)

II. Because God Is Victorious (11:40-45)

Next week we'll learn about the third reason:

III. Because God Is Life-Giving (12:1-3)

Sermon Outline:

"A Plan That Can Handle Getting Punched in the Face" (Daniel 11:1-35)

I. Get Ready to Be Punched in the Face (vv. 1-20)

II. Don’t Stop and Freeze Like a Rat (vv. 21-35)

Sermon Outline:

"You Don’t Stand a Chance without Prayer - Part 2" (Daniel 10:15-21)

III. Pray, because Disciples Are Rickety (vv. 15-19)

IV. Pray, because of Our Daily Reality (vv. 20-21)

Sermon Outline:

"You Don’t Stand a Chance without Prayer - Part 1" (Daniel 10:1-14)

I. Pray, because Divinity Replies (vv. 1-9)

II. Pray, because Delay Has a Reason (vv. 10-14)

Sermon Outline: 

"The Anti-Messiah" (Daniel 9:27)

I. Deceiver (v. 27a)

II. Disrupter (v. 27b)

III. Desolator (v. 27c)

IV. Destroyed (v. 27d)

Sermon Outline:

“Our Only Hope” (Daniel 9:26)

I. Messiah’s Rejection

II. Rejection’s Judgment

III. Judgment’s Duration

Sermon Outline:

“Recognize the Time of Your Visitation” (Daniel 9:25)

I. Don’t Be Lazy!

II. Don’t Be Ignorant!

  A. Starting Point

  B. End Point

Sermon Outline:
"Seventy Sevens Show Sin's Severity" (Daniel 9:24)
I. 70 Sevens

II. 6 Goals

A. Goals 1-3: Ending Sin

B. Goals 4-6: Establishing the Kingdom

Sermon Outline: 

“Are You and God on Speaking Terms?” (Daniel 9)

I. Does God Hear You Speak to Him? (vv. 20-21)

II. Do You Hear God Speak to You? (vv. 22-23)

Sermon Outline:

“A Sinner’s Prayer of Repentance” (Daniel 9)

I. The Soil of Repentance: Convicted by the Word (vv. 1-3)

II. The Fruit of Repentance: Confession of Sin (vv. 4-14)
A. Confess God's Greatness
B. Confess Sin in Biblical Terms
C. Confess God's Justice

III. The Sunlight of Repentance: God’s Compassion and Celebrity (vv. 15-19)

Sermon Outline:

“Get up and Carry on the King’s Business” (Daniel 8)

I. The Small Horn (vv. 9-14)

II. The Interpreter (vv. 15-19)

III. The Interpretation (vv. 23-26)

IV. The Response (v. 27)

Sermon Outline:
"God Is in Charge of the Chargers” (Daniel 8)

I. The Chargers: the Ram and the Goat (Explanation of vv. 1-8, 20-22)

II. The One in Charge: God (Application)

A. Warning for the Proud

B. Comfort for the Weak

Sermon Outline:

“A Ruler for God and His People” (Micah 5:2-5a)

I. A Promised Ruler (v. 2)

A. Humble

B. Holy

C. Historic

II. A Scheduled Ruler (vv. 3-5a)

A. Personal

B. Provider/Protector

C. Permanent

D. Peace-Giving

Sermon Outline:
“The Gift That Cannot Disappoint” (Isaiah 9:1-7)

I. The Sun Shining in the Dark (vv. 1-5)

II. The Son Ruling over the World (vv. 6-7)

Sermon Outline:
“A Sign That God Can Be Trusted” (Isaiah 7:10-17)

I. A Sign of Deliverance Offered (vv. 10-12)

II. A Sign of Judgment Given (vv. 13-17)

Sermon Outline:

"Why Do We Need Christmas? (Genesis 3:15)
I. The Context: Paradise Given and Lost

II. The Promise: Paradise Regained

A. The War

B. The Incarnation

C. The Suffering

D. The Victory

Sermon Outline: 

“A Realistic Hope” (Daniel 7:15-28)

I. The Big Picture (vv. 15-18)

II. The Details (vv. 19-28)

A. More Questions (vv. 19-20)

B. More Vision (vv. 21-22)

C. More Answers (vv. 23-28)

Sermon Outline:
"God's Choice for King of the World" (Daniel 7:9-14)

I. The Ancient of Days (vv. 9-12)

A. Description (vv. 9-10)

B. Decision (vv. 11-12)

II. The Son of Man (vv. 13-14)

A. Description (v. 13)

B. Decision (v. 14)

Sermon Outline:
"It's a Jungle out There" (Daniel 7:1-8)
1. Interpretation
2. Application

Note: Pastor Josh references Romans 15:5, but the verse he is reading from is actually verse 4.

Sermon Outline:
"The Hallmarks of a Normal Faith" (Daniel 6)

I. Integrity (vv. 1-9)

II. Perseverance (vv. 10-18)

III. Vindication (vv. 19-24)

IV. Testimony (vv. 25-28)

Sermon Outline:

"Do You Know Who Holds Your Life’s Breath in His Hands?" (Daniel 5)

I. Pride Turns to Panic (vv. 1-9)

II. Trust Leads to Testimony (vv. 10-16)

III. Disregard Ends in Death (vv. 17-31)

Sermon Outline:

"The Most High Decides Who Rules” (Daniel 4)

I. A Persuaded King (vv. 1-3)

II. A Pointed Dream (vv. 4-18)

III. A Pleading Interpretation (vv. 19-27)

IV. A Punishing Fulfillment (vv. 28-33)

V. A Pious King (vv. 34-37)

Sermon Outline:
"A God Worth Standing For" (Daniel 3)
I. You Stand for Who’s Worth it to You (vv. 1-7)

II. A God Worth Your Stand (vv. 8-18)

III. A god Not Worth Your Stand (vv. 19-23)

IV. The Worthy God Stands above All (vv. 24-30)

Sermon Outline

“The Revealer of Mysteries” (Daniel 2)

I. The Ignorance of Man (vv. 1-13)

II. The Omniscience of God (vv. 14-30)

III. The Witness of God’s People (vv. 31-49)

Sermon Outline:

“The Extent of God’s Sovereignty” (Daniel 1)

I. God Is Sovereign over Our Tribulations (vv. 1-7)

II. God Is Sovereign over Our Temptations (vv. 8-16)

III. God Is Sovereign over Our Trades (vv. 17-21)

Sermon Outline:

“Trust in the One Who Governs History” (Overview of the Book of Daniel) 

I. Composer: Who Wrote It?

II. Context: When Was It Written?

III. Construction: How Was It Written?

IV. Content: What Was Written?

V. Cause: Why Was It Written?

Sermon Outline:
“A Warning to the Lady” (2 John 1:7-8)

1. A Warning Against Deceivers (v. 7a)

  a. They come from a specific location

  b. They come with a specific purpose

  c. They come with a specific motivation

2. A Specific Deception (v. 7b)

3. The Antichrist? (v. 7c)

4. The Cost of Being Deceived (v. 8)
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There is no audio for next Sunday's sermon since we'll be at the lake. You can find the sermon transcript below along with its outline.

9/22/2024 - "John Gets Practical " (2 John 1:9-13) by Elder Owen Simiele at New Woodstock Community Church.

Sermon Outline:
"John Gets Practical" (2 John 1:9-13)

A)To Abide or Not to Abide? (v. 9)
B)A Practical Response to Wrong Teaching (v. 10) 
C)A Practical Warning for a Wrong Response (v. 11) 
D)A Joy Made Full (vv. 12-13)

SERMON TRANSCRIPT FOR 9/22/24 by Elder Owen Simile
Introduction:

Week 1

-  Introduction of the Elder, the lady and her children.

-  What it is to love in truth

Week 2

-  We saw John request something of the lady.

-  This request involved a command that she heard from the beginning:

- That we love one another 

Week 3

- We did a deep dive into false teachers,
- For this was the concern of John, that out of love for the brethren, the lady

would be cautious of false teachers and false doctrine. This week we will see John continue his warning to the lady :
1) concerning those who do not abide in teachings of Christ,
2 ) and her reaction to their arrival.

READ 2 John
A)To Abide or Not to Abide?

9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

This week we see that our first verse contains a contrast between those who hold to the teachings of Christ, and those who don't.

“Anyone...”

Before we get any further, It is important to note that in John’s estimation, no one is exempt from this standard, No one's teaching is exempt from examination. John says “Anyone”. As Christians, and especially those of you who are my age, we get tired of seeing teachers who have reached a level of fame, or notoriety who have no accountability, no team of elders, or at least none who will tell them they have gone too far.

As we know, the Holy Spirit carried John along to write this, we can set this in stone that no man in God’s economy is above having their teaching examined by those who hear it.

Who goes too far...

John's use of this word here is unusual as it is the only time it is used in a negative sense. This word is normally used in the sense of something or someone going ahead, such as:

-  Matthew 2:9 - “......and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over [the place] where the Child was."

-  Matthew 14:22 - "Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side....."

-  Matthew 21:9 - “The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David.....”

Here John uses this word in the sense of those who go on ahead beyond what is correct teaching.

One example that came to mind when I was thinking on this was when I was hiring new employees as Stickley. I had three CNC machines, computerized machines that cut out parts and did all the routes and holes in one step versus multiple machines. I had no issue training new people on them, as they were terrified to go beyond what was taught as they could crash the machine into itself if they input a wrong command or setting. What I dreaded the most was when we hired someone with CNC experience, who did not know our standards or processes. They always felt they could run on ahead, they felt they knew enough and could figure it out on their own. These are the ones that invariably made major mistakes. They did not abide by the standards already put in place. This leads us to what John says next:

“(Who goes too far) and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God...”

What does this look like? Turn with me to 1 Tim 6:3-5.

- 1 Timothy 6:3-5 - "3 If anyone advocates and , 4 he is conceited [and] understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain."

It is like Paul is helping us understand by giving us a step by step playbook. Those who advocate for a different doctrine - that is a different teaching, do not agree with sound words.
Those sound words are 1) the very words of Christ - and 2) we might say are the words of those taught by the apostles, i.e. the gospels and epistles. This body of teaching together comprises a doctrine that conforms to godliness.

What does Websters 1828 define godliness as? Christian obedience.

I bring this up because I want us to see in 1 Tim 6 the result of those who advocate a different doctrine?, That person is:

- “....conceited [and] understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.”

This list of character traits lines up with John’s words - this person does not abide in the teachings of Christ- they are not living according to His teachings, thus - that person “...does not have God...”

- Following wrong doctrine will cause behavior in us not in line with the character of the Father.

Another way to look at it is:
Why does giving up the teachings of Christ automatically infer that we have given up on following God?

- First, It would be impossible to follow God alone when Christ said himself that the words he taught were not his own, but the Father’s:

- John 7:16 - "So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me."

- Thus to disobey the teachings of Christ is to turn away from the Father’s words.

a different doctrine does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

- Second, We might think that “well, those are Jesus’s words, that doesn't mean we know what the Father thinks.” But we DO have a testimony as to what the Father thinks of what Jesus said:

-  BACKGROUND - At the mount of transfiguration, Peter from “good intentions” desired to build booths to the three that appeared.

-  Luke 9:35 - "Then a voice came out of the cloud, sayi...

Sermon Outline:

"A Commandment from the Beginning" (2 John 1:4-6)

1.  A Reason to Be Glad (v. 4)

2.  A Reasonable Request (v. 5)

3.  A Reason to Obey It (v. 6)

Sermon Outline: 

“Love in Truth” (2 John 1:1-3)

A. An Elder, a Chosen Lady & Her Children (v. 1a)

B. Love in Truth (v. 1b)

C. The Reason to Love in Truth (v. 2)
D. God's Sufficiency to Love in Truth (v. 3)

Sermon Outline:
"Trusting in God Is a Team Effort" (Psalm 20)
I. A Faith-Filled Blessing for a Faith-Filled King (vv. 1-5)

II. A Faith-Filled Boast in a Faithful God (vv. 6-8)

III. A Final Begging of a Faithful Sovereign (v. 9)

Sermon Outline:
"God’s Revelation Requires a Response" (Psalm 19)
I. Awed by Creation (vv. 1-6)
General/Natural Revelation:
   A. Communicative (v. 1)
   B. Constant (v. 2)
   C. Close-lipped (v. 3)
   D. Common (v. 4ab)
   E. Case Study (vv. 4c-6)

II. Blessed by Scripture (vv. 7-11)
Special Revelation:
   A. Its Nature (vv. 7-9)
   B. Its Worth (vv. 10-11)

III. Compelled by Revelation (vv. 12-14)
   A. To Ask for Absolution (v. 12)
   B. To Ask for Preservation (v. 13)
   C. To Ask for Sanctification (v. 14)

Sermon Outline:

"Why We Love Our God" (Psalm 18)

I. For Who He Is to Us (vv. 1-3)

II. For Attentively Hearing Us (vv. 4-6)

III. For Powerfully Answering Us (vv. 7-19)

IV. For Faithfully Rewarding Us (vv. 20-29)

V. For Granting Victory to Us (vv. 30-50)

Sermon Outline:
"The Hopeful Prayer of the Persecuted" (Psalm 17)

I. The Plea of the Believer (vv. 1-2)

II. The Testimony of God (vv. 3-5)

III. The Confidence of the Believer (vv. 6-9)

IV. The Description of the Wicked (vv. 10-14)

V. The Hope of the Believer (v. 15)

Sermon Outline:
"Treasure and Trust" (Psalm 16)
I. David’s Supreme Treasure (vv. 1-7)

II. Christ’s Satisfied Trust (vv. 8-11)

Sermon Outline:
"Don’t Be Duped: You Need the Old Testament" (Selected Scriptures)

I. False Teaching’s Strategy

   A. The Goal

   B. The Plan

II. False Teaching’s Fallacy

III. False Teaching’s Duplicity

Sermon Outline:
"A Woman’s Role in the Home" (Selected Scriptures)

I. Grounded in Creation (Genesis 1 + 2)

II. Guided by the Gospel (Titus 2)

III. Governed through the Word (Titus 2)

Sermon Notes:
"The Eternal State: Our Happily Ever After"

I. The Bible's Expectation
    A. God’s Plan for Man Stated (Gen 1)
    B. God’s Plan for Man Reaffirmed (Ps 8; Heb 2)
    C. God’s Plan for Man Hoped for (Rom 8)

    D. God’s Plan for Man Purchased (Col 1)

    E. God’s Plan for Man Accomplished (2 Pet 3)

II. The Bible’s Description (Rev 21-22)

    A. Settled on Earth (21:1-4)

    B. For Believers (21:5-9)

    C. An Extraordinary Capital (21:10-21)

    D. No Temple (21:22-27)

    E. Paradise Regained (22:1-5)

Sermon Notes:
"What Happens to Our Bodies and Souls When We Die?"

I. Our Bodies

II. Our Souls

A. Where Do They Go?

B. What Do They Do When They Get There?

C. Can Their Destination Be Changed Once They’ve Arrived?

Sermon Outline:
"Why Was It Not Wrong for God to Include Children in the Destruction of the Canaanites?" 

I. It Was Not Wrong Because God Is God

II. It Was Not Wrong Because Man Is Sinful from Conception

A. We Are All Guilty Because Adam Became Guilty

B. We Are All Sinners Because Adam Became a Sinner

Sermon Outline:
"How Do We Reconcile God's Desire for Our Salvation with the Reality of Hell?" (2 Peter 3:9)
I. The Context of This Verse

II. The Meaning of This Verse

III. The Fit of This Verse

     A. God’s Revealed Will

     B. God’s Secret Will

     C. Examples

Sermon Outline:
"A Scribe Asks Jesus a Question" (Mark 12: 28-34)
- Introduction: Mark 12: 13-27

    1. A Right Question (v. 28)

    2. A Right Answer (vv. 29-31)

    3. A Right Response (vv. 32-33)

    4. A Qualified Commendation (v. 34)