Standalone Sermons
A Lasting Gospel Influence
Scripture: 2 John
Every follower of Jesus Christ is called to be an influence for the Gospel. Whether that be in your family, your work, your school, your sports teams, your neighbourhoods, your church or in the variety of other relationships you have with people. Dr. John Neufeld correctly points out, “we know that the person who influences others, is a person who has the capacity to influence others. For this reason, the nature of the person who is influencing is as important as the gospel they are sharing.” So, what do we need to know, be and do in order to have a lasting Gospel influence?
Three priorities every follower of Jesus Christ must embrace, to have a lasting Gospel influence:
1. Know and love the truth (vs. 1-3)
- Truth = the Gospel of Jesus Christ as God’s self-revelation in the incarnation (cf. Jn. 1:14). All truth centres in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, with whom we shall live forever (cf. Jn. 14:1-6)
- God has given us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth (cf. (Jn. 16:13-15)
- Truth is the essential unifying component for the church on the move (cf. Phil. 1:27)
How well do you know and love the truth? Knowing and loving the truth is critical for having a lasting Gospel influence.
2. Live and walk in the truth (vs. 4-6)
- We must not only love the truth in our minds and hearts, but we must love to live the truth out in our lives (cf. 1 Jn. 3:18)
- To live and walk in the truth means to obey it (Jn. 13:34-35)
- God has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to live and walk in the truth (cf. Gal. 5:16, 25)
Are you living and walking in the truth? Living and walking in the truth is critical for having a lasting Gospel influence.
3. Hold fast to and abide in the truth (vs. 7-11)
- We must be continually on guard and not be lulled into spiritual apathy (cf.1 Thess. 5:6)
- Cling to the Word of God. Stand firm and hold fast to His words with all your heart (cf. Prov.4:4; 1 Cor. 15:2; 2 Thess. 2:13-15)
- The best way to guard yourself against false teaching is to know the truth (2 Tim. 2:15)
Are you holding fast to and abiding in the truth? Holding fast and abiding in the truth is critical for having a lasting Gospel influence.
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