You’re invited to our new message series,
“Walk in the Truth” 1, 2, 3 John & Jude – 7 weeks
Description: The phrase “Walking in the Truth” is central to John’s letters. Walking in the truth is more than intellectual belief to the Bible; it is a daily, practical expression of faith in our words, thoughts, and actions. It means living in alignment with Christ allowing the Truth to shape every aspect of our lives.
Dates Titles Scriptures Events
Oct. 18 – Walking in the Truth (1 John 1) – Fall Fest Jarrell, Oct. 17
Oct 25 – Walking in Troubling Times (1 John 2) – Communion Fall Fest Leander, Oct. 31st
Nov 1 – Walking in Deceitful Times (1 John 4)
Nov. 8 – Walk as Overcomers (1 John 5) – Military Appreciation Banquet, Nov. 7, Jarrell
Nov. 15 – Walking with Balance (2 John) Philippines Mission Trip Nov. 17-24
Nov. 22 – Walking with Friends and Foes (3 John) Philippines Mission Trip Nov. 17-24
Nov. 29 – Walk in Faith (Jude) – Communion/Thanksgiving Weekend
Overview of the Books
The New Testament books of 1, 2, and 3 John are pastoral letters written to early Christian communities around Ephesus to defend core beliefs, warn against false teaching, and encourage Christian love.
1 John Overview
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- Type: A pastoral sermon or essay rather than a formal letter.
- Core Message: Reassures believers and reminds them to walk in the truth, righteousness, and love.
- Key Themes:
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- God is light and God is love.
- Jesus Christ is fully God and came “in the flesh”.
- Believers must test false teachers (the “antichrists” who deny the incarnation) and show genuine love to one another.
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- For a breakdown of the book, you can explore the BibleProject Guide to 1-3 John or read through the summary on GotQuestions.
2 John Overview
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- Type: A short, formal letter written by “the elder” to a specific house church (addressed as the “elect lady”).
- Core Message: Guard the truth and refuse hospitality or validation to wandering false teachers and deceivers.
- Key Themes: Balancing truth with love, and avoiding any association with those who deny Jesus Christ.
- You can read further commentary and analysis through the TGC Course on 2 John, GotQuestions Summary of 2 John, or the Enter the Bible Overview.
3 John Overview
- Type: A personal note written by “the elder” to a Christian man named Gaius.
- Core Message: Praise for Gaius’s hospitality toward traveling Christian missionaries, contrasted with a warning about Diotrephes, an arrogant church leader who rejects John’s associates.
- Key Themes: Faithfulness under opposition, godly hospitality, and proper church leadership.
- You can read a detailed breakdown or study notes via Enduring Word or The Gospel Coalition.
Jude Overview
- Author: Jude (Judah), identified as a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, which traditionally points to the half-brother of Jesus. Like his brother, he did not initially believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry but became a missionary and teacher after the resurrection. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
- Audience: Messianic Jewish Christian communities or general circular churches facing internal subversion. [1, 2, 3]
- Date: Written roughly between A.D. 60 and 80 (frequently dated to the mid-60s). [1, 2]
- Core Purpose: To urge believers to contend earnestly for the faith against ungodly false teachers who had secretly crept into the church and distorted God’s grace into a license for moral and sexual immorality. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
As we get to each book, I’ll post more information about each book and give a longer introduction and overview.
Darrell
Ps. I hope you can join us for this series!!
Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/leander-campus/watch-now-message-videos
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