Creekside Community Church
Performance is Reality
Creekside Community Church “The Forgotten Letters” 3 John August 5, 2018 John Bruce - Pastor
Locations & Times
Creekside Community Church
951 MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
“The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” (3 John 1:11)
1.What is the Truth We are to Walk in?
2.Why Walk in the Truth? (see also Joshua 1:8, Ezra 7:9-10, 2 Chron. 16:9, Psalm 1, Proverbs 3:1-2, Matthew 7:24-27, John 15:9-11, James 1:22-25)
3.How Do We Walk in the Truth?
For further thought and discussion:
Getting Started
1.What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
2.Can you think of one area where you practice what you preach? One area where you do not? What’s the difference between the two?
Getting Started
1.What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
2.Can you think of one area where you practice what you preach? One area where you do not? What’s the difference between the two?
Going Deeper
3.Please read 3 John 1:1-8. When John writes about the truth in these verses, to what truth is he referring? (1 John 1:5-10, 2:3-6, 2:21-24, 5:20) Why do we need to read the Bible through the lens of the gospel of who Jesus is, what He has done and what He is doing? How does Gaius illustrate walking in the truth? How does John?
4.According to 3 John 1:2, why should we walk in the truth? (see also Joshua 1:8, Ezra 7:9-10, 2 Chron. 16:9, Psalm 1, Proverbs 3:1-2, Matthew 7:24-27, John 15:9-11, James 1:22-25) In what area of your life do you need God’s blessing right now? What would walking in the truth in this area look like?
5.According to Col. 2:6, how do we walk in the truth? Here is a simple tool for applying the truth of the gospel. How would you apply this tool to one problem area in your life?
a.Define: What specifically do you need to repent of? How is your sin showing up in your behavior? What are some of the consequences?
b.Diagnose: Scripture is clear that our actions and attitudes are symptoms of unbelief which resides in the deepest area of our heart. False beliefs and false worship drive our bad behaviors. What lie about God is behind the action or attitude from which you need to repent? Who is your substitute Savior?
c.Detox: The core of repentance is not changing our actions, but changing our beliefs and turning from a false God to Christ in faith. How is Jesus and the gospel better than the god you’ve been believing in? How does Jesus exemplify the way God would want you to live?
d.Develop: Only habit can overcome habit. How will I behave if I believe that Jesus and the gospel are better than what I previously believed? How can I train myself to make this a habit? (reminder, routine, reward)
Application:
What is one thing you have learned from this passage and how will you apply it to your life?
3.Please read 3 John 1:1-8. When John writes about the truth in these verses, to what truth is he referring? (1 John 1:5-10, 2:3-6, 2:21-24, 5:20) Why do we need to read the Bible through the lens of the gospel of who Jesus is, what He has done and what He is doing? How does Gaius illustrate walking in the truth? How does John?
4.According to 3 John 1:2, why should we walk in the truth? (see also Joshua 1:8, Ezra 7:9-10, 2 Chron. 16:9, Psalm 1, Proverbs 3:1-2, Matthew 7:24-27, John 15:9-11, James 1:22-25) In what area of your life do you need God’s blessing right now? What would walking in the truth in this area look like?
5.According to Col. 2:6, how do we walk in the truth? Here is a simple tool for applying the truth of the gospel. How would you apply this tool to one problem area in your life?
a.Define: What specifically do you need to repent of? How is your sin showing up in your behavior? What are some of the consequences?
b.Diagnose: Scripture is clear that our actions and attitudes are symptoms of unbelief which resides in the deepest area of our heart. False beliefs and false worship drive our bad behaviors. What lie about God is behind the action or attitude from which you need to repent? Who is your substitute Savior?
c.Detox: The core of repentance is not changing our actions, but changing our beliefs and turning from a false God to Christ in faith. How is Jesus and the gospel better than the god you’ve been believing in? How does Jesus exemplify the way God would want you to live?
d.Develop: Only habit can overcome habit. How will I behave if I believe that Jesus and the gospel are better than what I previously believed? How can I train myself to make this a habit? (reminder, routine, reward)
Application:
What is one thing you have learned from this passage and how will you apply it to your life?