Sermon: Restrictions to Fellowship

Restrictions to Fellowship
2 John 7-13
September 14, 2014

The first time I remember a Mormon coming by our house when I was a child was when we were living in Minnesota. I think it was January. My Dad answered the door, saw who they were, stepped outside, closed the door, and shared the gospel with them for what seemed to be about an hour. When he came in from the freezing temperatures I asked him why he didn’t invite them into our home and talk inside where it was warm, he said because 2 John prohibits bringing people into our home who are known false teachers as a sign of hospitality.

A few years ago it was the middle of summer and the Mormons came by my house and I did the same thing; and when I came inside from an hour-long visit in the 100°+ sunshine, the girls asked me the same question and I gave the same answer.

Well, I suppose we can understand the lack of fellowship we might have with people who are identified with known cults; but are there similar situations in “Christian” churches? Where do we draw the lines for broken fellowship? Are there times when we should not take a meal with those who hold different beliefs about Christianity? If so, how is that loving and how will those who are outside the church come to be inside the church if we don’t associate with those people?

Those are the kinds of questions that the second shortest book in the NT was written to answer.

As we look at the last few verses in that book we will find that John unequivocally says:

The believer should not participate in any way with any known false teaching or teacher.

1. Resist False Teaching (vv. 7-9)

• Love one another (not false teachers) (v. 7)
• Watch out for your own doctrine (v. 8)
• Continue in Christ’s teaching (v. 9)

2. Don’t Relate to False Teachers (vv. 10-11)

• Do not be generous to false teachers (v. 10a)
• Do not seek God’s blessing for false teachers (v. 10b-11)

3. Be Joyful in Standing for Truth (vv. 12-13)

Download the rest of this sermon on 2 John 7-13.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website later today.