A. Jesus’ startling revelation (Matthew 26:21)
B. The fulfillment of prophecy (Psalm 41:9; cf. John 13:18)
II. THE REACTION OF THE DISCIPLES
A. The innocent eleven were “exceedingly sorrowful” (Matthew 26:22; cf. John 13:22; Luke 22:23)
1. Humble self-examination (Matthew 26:22; Mark 14:19)
2. Reaction to “this night” (Matthew 26:31, 33, 35)
B. Judas was neither innocent nor humble (Matthew 26:14-16, 25)
III. APPLICATION FOR TODAY
A. The duty of elders (Acts 20:28-30; Titus 1:10-11)
B. The preaching of sound doctrine (2 Timothy 2:3-4)
C. The obligation of the entire church (Matthew 28:19-20)
A. The Feast of the Tabernacles (Luke 9:51-52)
B. The refusal of the Samaritans (Luke 9:52-53; contrasted with John 4:39-41)
II. THE REACTION OF JAMES AND JOHN (Luke 9:54)
A. Their question shows their attitude (Luke 9:54; Proverbs 14:29; Mark 3:17)
B. Positives
1. They ask permission
2. They know their history (2 Kings 1:2-12)
C. However, they misapplied the history
1. The Samaritans were not idolatrous
2. The Samaritans still had potential (Acts 8:1,4-8,14-17)
III. THE RESPONSE OF JESUS (Luke 9:55-56)
A. The Lord’s mission (Luke 9:55-56 KJV/NKJV; John 3:16-17; Luke 19:1-10)
B. Our mission must be the same as Christ’s – whether face-to-face or on Facebook
C. When rejected, “they went to another village” (Luke 9:56)
D. Be prepared when someone comes around and is later ready to hear the truth (1 Peter 3:15)
A. “O faithless generation” (Mark 9:19; cf. Matthew 17:20)
B. True, Biblical faith is based on the Word of God (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17)
C. “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
II. THE POWER OF PRAYER
A. We can, by God’s will, reach more people with God’s truth, so long as we continue to kneel before God’s throne (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 3:6)
B. Do not ask God to answer a prayer that violates His Word or His character (1 John 5:14-15)
C. Exhibit humility in prayer (James 4:3,6)
III. THE HUMILITY OF FASTING
A. Old Testament examples (Ezra 8:21,23; Psalm 35:13)
B. New Testament examples (Acts 13:2-3; 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27)
C. Proper motivation (Matthew 6:16-18)
A. The temple would be destroyed (Matthew 24:2)
B. The troubled disciples ask, “When?” (Matthew 24:3)
II. “WHEN WILL THESE THINGS BE?” THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
A. A lot of things will happen that are not signs (Matthew 24:4-14)
B. There will be a sign to flee (Matthew 24:15-28; cf. Luke 21:20)
C. The fall of the Jewish state (Matthew 24:29-31)
D. The parable of the fig tree (Matthew 24:32-35)
III. WHAT ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD?
A. Of that day and hour – no signs or warnings (Matthew 24:36)
B. Similar to the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39)
C. Are you ready, or have you become distracted? (Matthew 24:40-44)
D. The faithful and wise servant (Matthew 24:45-47)
E. The evil servant (Matthew 24:48-51)
A. His confusion (John 1:46)
B. His character (John 1:47; cf. Matthew 3:8-9; Mark 7:20-23)
C. His question and Christ’s answer (John 1:48; cf. Matthew 6:3-4,6,17-18)
II. GOD KNOWS ALL HIS CHILDREN
A. In the Old Testament
1. He knows those who trust Him (Nahum 1:7)
2. “Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:1-10)
B. In the New Testament
1. God cares for His creation (Matthew 6:25-30; Hebrews 13:5-6)
2. Christ knows us; He knows what we are doing (Revelation 2:2,9,13,19; 3:8)
III. THE THINGS WE DO IN THIS LIFE MATTER — BOTH GOOD AND BAD
A. Do we really understand this? (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 3:15-17)
B. There are some that God will not know
1. “You who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:21-23)
2. “Workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27)
3. “The face of the LORD is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12)
[This is the first in a series of lessons focusing on “Questions the Disciples Asked.”]
A. John’s opinion of him
1. “Beloved…whom I love in the truth” (3 John 1; 2 Timothy 4:11; 1 Peter 5:12; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:2)
2. Prayer for wealth and health “just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2)
B. Gaius’ faithfulness caused John’s joy (3 John 3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:6)
C. Gaius’ support of missionaries (3 John 5-8)
II. DIOTREPHES
A. A heart dominated by pride and love for power (3 John 9; Romans 12:3)
B. Prating against John with malicious words (3 John 10; Ephesians 4:29)
C. Refusing to receive traveling brethren (3 John 10)
D. Forbidding the hospitality of others to the point of disfellowship (3 John 10)
III. DEMETRIUS
A. Good testimony from all (3 John 12; Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Timothy 3:7; Proverbs 22:1)
B. Good testimony from John and his fellow workers (3 John 12)
C. Good testimony from the truth (3 John 12; Romans 12:1-2)
A. Is “the doctrine of Christ” exclusively “the doctrine about Christ”? No!
B. Is “the doctrine of Christ” all that was taught by Christ? Yes! (John 12:48)
II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “TRANSGRESS”? (2 John 9)
A. “Goes on ahead” (ESV); “goes too far” (NASB); “runs ahead” (NIV); “so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ” (The Message)
B. Progressiveness is harmful to the church when it rejects, ignores, or contradicts revealed truth (Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:19-20)
C. We need dedicated, active, soul-seeking disciples to fill this house (Romans 12:1-2; 2 John 8)
III. WE MUST BE VIGILANT AGAINST ERROR (2 John 10-11)
A. A blessed promise from the Father to the faithful (1 John 5:13; Titus 1:2; John 17:3; 20:30-31)
B. Assurance of our relationship with the Almighty
1. Walking in the light (1 John 1:7)
2. Obeying God’s commands (1 John 2:3-5)
3. Loving the brethren (1 John 2:9-11)
4. Believing in Christ, the Son of God in the flesh (1 John 2:22-23; 4:1-3; 5:1-5)
5. Practicing righteousness (1 John 2:29-3:10)
II. CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER
A. God hears us (1 John 5:14-15; Luke 18:10-14; Hebrews 4:16)
B. Praying for the penitent (1 John 5:16-17; 1:9)
III. CONFIDENCE IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
A. Faithful Christians do not lead a life of sin (1 John 5:18-19; 3:6)
1. He who has been born of God keeps himself (1 John 5:18; Jude 1:21; Philippians 2:12; James 4:7)
2. Those who are outside Christ are under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19; Ephesians 2:1-2)
B. Knowing God is to have assurance of eternal life (1 John 5:20; 1:1-3)
C. Keep yourselves from idols (1 John 5:21; Colossians 3:5)
A. Who is my brother? (1 John 4:20-5:1)
B. Does John teach “faith only”? (1 John 5:1-2; Matthew 25:31-46; James 2:14-26; Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10)
C. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3; John 14:15,21,23,24; Romans 12:1)
II. FAITH IS THE VICTORY
A. We CAN overcome the world! We CAN be victorious! (1 John 5:4; 2:15-17; Hebrews 11:33-34)
B. Does it matter what one believes? (1 John 5:5; Romans 10:17)
III. FAITH ESTABLISHED BY THE TESTIMONY OF WITNESS
A. Three witnesses: Spirit, water, blood (1 John 5:6,8; John 16:13)
B. The witness of God is greater than the witness of man (1 John 5:9; John 5:33-36)
C. To have the Son is to have life (1 John 5:10-12)
A. Knowing God (1 John 4:7-8; Philippians 3:8-11; Titus 1:16)
B. Christ gives us life (1 John 4:9; John 14:6; 1:4; 11:25; 5:24) as the propitiation of our sins (1 John 4:10)
C. We have no excuse to not love the brethren (1 John 4:11)
II. CONFESSING GOD’S LOVE
A. The good confession (1 John 4:15; Acts 8:37-38; 1 Timothy 6:12)
B. More than mere lip service (Matthew 15:8; 7:21)
III. ABIDING IN GOD’S LOVE
A. A mutual spiritual indwelling, a reciprocal abiding, the closest fellowship and communion possible (1 John 4:12-16)
B. We can be bold by conforming our lives to His (1 John 4:17; 1 Timothy 6:11; Ephesians 5:1-2)
C. There is no fear in love (1 John 4:18; Psalm 111:10)
IV. PRACTICING GOD’S LOVE
A. Selflessly seeking the very best for another person (1 John 4:19)
B. Love for the brethren flows from a love for God (1 John 4:20)
C. You cannot love God if you do not love your Christian family (1 John 4:21)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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