Hey folks. Welcome back to another edition of the Daily Bible Podcast. Lemme just take care of it for you. Pastor Rod says, Merry Christmas. Indeed. I do. And a Holly Jolly Christmas to boot. Yeah. I am Post Scrooge, post Scrooge post events of the night, Scrooge Post. The one that's, you know, see he, he's wearing the red the red scar. Yeah. Is around singing and doing things. Yeah that's me. I'm that guy. You performed Scrooge? Well sure. Performed Scrooge. Okay. I think I've been called that before too, but for different reasons. Reformed at Scrooge? Yeah. Oh, okay. Being reformed and being a little bit more Scrooge. Oh, they mean it differently. I get what you're doing there. Theological joke. What was the best Christmas gift you got this year? I'd love, just tell us your favorite one. Thank you so much for asking me that question. I really appreciate that question. I, I could tell you one that I got that I loved. Yeah. What is that? I got a water bottle. Did you I did. What kind of a water bottle? So my daughters wanted to get me something and Kristen's like, know what do you need? Yeah. And I'm like, well, this would be good because I have this Yeti that I carry around. Yes. Ears. You do. It's massive. Well, I have two actually then if you're talking about the big red one, that's the gallon. The silver one is 64 ounces. So I have one for, both of them are massive half day like's. One one's for like a whole day, one's for a half day. Anyway the silver one I dropped multiple times. I broke the cap. It's just, it's beat up. So I'm like, I can use a new one of these. This would be fun. So they got it, of course. And. My daughters, they have no filter. And so I think maybe the day of that, Kristen got it. They're like, Hey, we got you a water bottle for Christmas. And Kristen's like, you're not supposed, I told you. Don't tell him. It's supposed to be a secret and a surprise. And then, yeah, it was cute. So I know. I enjoy that very much. It's blue, so it fits our compass colors, which I think is a great thing. That's great. That's great. I'm so glad that you have that. Yeah, that's awesome. I love it. So what did you get? I got so many things that I loved equally. I don't know that I could single one out right now and declare my open allegiance to this individual item that I got here. Yeah. On the podcast. At least not publicly. No. You, I don't wanna offend anybody. So Of course you don't wanna hurt anyone's feeling. Right. It'll come out at, at you the next episode probably. I'm sure it will come out some. It'll have to come out some point. People will wanna know. Yeah. Yeah, that's great. In one of those next episodes. That's one of the next episodes. Yeah. Although, so one thing we've appreciated speaking of Christmas is that people have dropped by the office and given us treats. It's been awesome. What a sweet thing to do. We don't expect it. We're not begging you to do that right now, but we accept it. But we do accept. Don't expect. We do accept and those have been so delicious and so much fun. They just add a little bit of joy to the office environment that we really do appreciate. And it's fun to see our people too as they come by. Yeah, it is. It is. Nice to see you all. So thank you for doing that. For those of who did, we appreciate that very much. And we, I'm already looking forward to next Christmas, so we can it all, you don't have to wait until next Christmas. You don't have to. That's true. Yeah. Any time of the day or night. Any reason you need any, yes, please come. Yeah, we'll say hi. Love for you to do that. Second and third, John. Yeah. So yeah. What day is today? Saturday, Sunday, Monday. We don't know what day it is. I have no idea what day it is here. Here's my point. You have so much time today. 'cause you only read second and third, John. It's Saturday, so you have all day to do whatever you want because second and third John Yeah. Take you. You blink your eyes and you're done reading the verse, boom. And the verse is, or the pitch of chapters. So maybe read a little more. Maybe read a little bit more, take another book, throw some more stuff in there. Or if you wanna do this, you could go deep in the second and third genre. That's always a fun option. It is a fun option. Yeah. You can read. Yep. Or read. What do you do read ahead on a day like this where it's super light? What do you end up doing? See, that's a hard question because I'm usually trying to read a little bit ahead to be ready for the podcast. Sure. You record ahead sometimes and things like that. So do you read two days at a time then when you have a day like this? Sometimes, yeah. Or recently. I read. All revelation in one sitting, which was wow. The first time I've done that. But it was really helpful. Helpful, yeah. And that's, you just notice different themes as you read through it, and that's super helpful. So on a time like that where you've got a little bit extra time on, on your hand, maybe you do something like that, and maybe it's not revelation, maybe you jump to an epistle and read the whole epistle in one sitting or something like that. Yeah. Or E Isaiah or Ezekiel one of those, or Psalms, you know, you make a good point when you read the whole thing. You see things you never see. Yeah. Otherwise, isn't that amazing? Yeah. It's like you, it's almost like you're meant to read it that way almost. It's a really helpful practice if you could throw it in your schedule somewhere. But, for a lot of people reading that much at any given time, it's really hard to do. And we understand that, which is why we break it up with you. Okay. Here's a question. Why do we do church the way we do it? Why do we preach and break out sections? Is there a biblical paradigm for that that we find. Where it's, this is why we do that. Yeah. Well, yes, yes. I think I could point out at least one, maybe two if I have a second more to think about it, but I think about Ezra. Yep. He's the one who we would say, he sets the example even from the Old Testament. He stands, he reads a text and he gives the sense of it. He gives the people a sense of what it means. And so he's breaking it down into pieces so that people can understand what it says. And then he, I think, applies it. And he does a really good job with that. So that would be my Old Testament example. Would you have anything in the old or the new? New, yeah. But what was your second example? I have to think about it. I'm still. Trying to think and speak at the same time. So New Testament. I would go to actually a letter that we were just in recently. We didn't highlight this, but second Timothy chapter four, Paul challenges Timothy. He says, I charge you in the presence of God, Christ Jesus, who's to judge the living in the dead by his spirit. Preach the word, his word. Preach the word, be ready. Ready in season and out of season. Then he says this. Reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching. Now, right before that he had just said all scripture is God. Breathe, then useful for all of those things. So I think implied there, Paul is telling Timothy, use the word of God in the appropriate ways to reprove, rebuke, teach, correct. As is appropriate and preach the word at all times. So I think that's one of the other evidences for that. I guess part of me was thinking about that passage that Paul utilizes in Galatians where he says, it does not say seeds but seed. So Paul is even pointing to the grammar of a passage to say, this is how you should understand it. So we apply the grammatical historical method to our scripture reading, which means we look at the grammar what does the grammar. Actually say, and then we look at the history. How did they understand it in a historical setting? What did the first and original audience understand it to say? And then we take it from there and say, okay, what does it mean to us today? We do a lot of work between those two things, but you get the idea. So I'd say Scripture is the best teacher of scripture, and it gives us a sense of how it wants us to understand it. Including even looking at some of the grammar, is it singular or plural? Is this in this particular case or this particular case? All those things matter. Yeah. Even Paul saying to Timothy accurately handling the word of truth that you from Yeah. Rightly dividing. Yeah, that's right. Yep. Well, let's get into this. We got second John and third John. Second John. It says the elder to the elect lady and her children whom I love and truth. Who is this now, there's a couple options there that it could be that this is an individual in a family that John is writing to, or it could be that this is a church and it seems probably likely that this is the church rather than some individual that he has in mind as he's addressing the letter. Yeah, he's not sliding into her dms. This is, I think he's talking to the church. Yeah. I don't think the singular later makes any sense. Yeah, I would agree with you. I've gone back and forth on that, but I'm with you. 'cause he doesn't identify a name. Like if we jumped on to third John, he's gonna address it to Gaas or Gaius, however you say his name there. And he's gonna call the name. He could've addressed the name of this lady. If this was a specific woman. Yeah. So then why be mysterious then? Why not just say to the church at Rome or something like that? What do you think he's doing here? I think it's just I don't wanna say artistic flourish, but it's not uncommon. We, we do that today. We refer to the church as the bride of Christ. Yeah. And we refer to the church as her and use those feminine pronouns and descriptors. And so I think that's what John is doing here as well. Yeah. So is the audience then given the fact that he's talking to whoever the church in general? Is he talking to the same audience? Are we talking Asia Minor again? Ephesus, because this is the same John from First John. At least that's our understanding. Some people think that this is a different John. I think maybe we haven't, I think it's the same John first, second, and third John, the same guy. So is he talking to the same group of people, do we think? Or what do you think? I've assumed so, but I guess I haven't. Gotten as deep into Second John as I would like to, to be able to know with certainty. Sure. I guess common commonly, we think that he's talking to the same people. Yeah. At least that's our best understanding. And it's not just an A lady, he's not sliding into her dms On Instagram. On Instagram, that's right. Yeah. He's gonna address the concept of loving one another again, that. Struck John in a unique way. 'cause here he's gonna command that. He's gonna say in verse five again, that we love one another. And this is love that we walk in accordance with his commandments. So John was big on love and obedience and those two things for him, one was the evidence of the other, the other was the evidence of the one. So he is going to encourage them and exhort them as the church to make sure that they're loving one another and obeying the Lord. He goes on in verse nine, he says, everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has. Both the father and the son. And so there again, the concept of abiding, which is present in John's Gospel and in one John as well. And then he says this interesting thing here. He says, if anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting for whoever greets him, takes part in his wicked works. Mm. And this is not saying that you shouldn't open the door to a Mormon and have a conversation with a Mormon evangelistically when they come and knock on your door. Rather, this is talking about welcoming in and fellowshipping with extending the right hand of fellowship giving the impression that everything is copacetic between the two of you. As you fellowship together this is similar concept to when we are charged not to eat with somebody who professes to be a Christian and yet pursues ungodliness. And I believe First Corinthians writes about that that we're not to ex express this concept that everything is fine and we're at peace with one another, and we can be in agreement with one another. Table Fellowship hospitality extends that. Communication to somebody that, hey we're one we're at peace with each other. And he's saying, don't do that with an unbeliever. Don't make sure that they understand what's at stake and you can't let them walk outta your house thinking that everything's great and there's no big deal when you know them to be a false teacher. Okay, so let's double click on this then. Does this mean if I, so if I can open the door to a Mormon, I shouldn't share a meal with them. 'cause I'm not to bring them into my house or give them a greeting. Don't do that. Should I, where's the line? I guess, let me ask you that question practically. Yeah. I think it's in your. The content of your conversation and the intent of your approach. So, for example, we can have our Hindu neighbors across the street over for dinner, and they can come into our house and sit down at our table and have fellowship with us. But our approach is gonna be, we are pursuing the fact that they need to hear the gospel. So we're going to be looking for ways to share the gospel. We're gonna be pursuing them with the gospel the whole time. We're not just gonna have dinner with them and then be like, well that was great. We had table fellowship with them and they went their way and we went our way and they believe one thing and we believe another thing. So that's fine. Who cares? So it's not so much about the legalistic element of whether or not you're eating with the person, but are you giving the impression that you are condoning what they're teaching by your presence with them? It sounds like you're applying some. Exegetical approach here because it literally says, don't receive him into your house or give him any greeting. Don't say hi. Hi neighbor. Don't bring him into the table. What we're saying though is that this is not meant to be applied in a wooden way, right? Because it didn't mean the same thing. To them that it means to us, correct to them. This would've meant and signaled to the community, I'm good with these people. These are my friends. Hospitality meant more than just you're having someone in your house. It meant to, there was a relationship there, right? It conveyed more than what it means today. Whereas if we do that today, no one's gonna think twice and say, oh these guys welcome the Mormons in. They must love Mormons. They must be all about that. No one does that. So there's a little more freedom here in application. Okay. That being the case in the application to be clear, would be to pursue evangelistically. Those that. You are gonna have any sort of relationship with and the intimacy of your closest friends. I think one thing that we can take away the closest friends that you have should be other believers and should be those that are part of the fellowship and part of the body of Christ. Yeah. You don't wanna give the impression of someone who's an unbeliever or a false believer that they're. That you guys are on the same page, right? I think the, you have to draw the line, so you have to make it clear that we were different and that's okay. Not that it's okay that they're not believers, but it's okay to be clear about that. Yes. That is a gift. Yep. Alright, well, let's talk about a third John. Also not a different John. Same John. And at this time, he's writing to Gais. We don't know a whole lot about this man other than he's the recipient of the letter, perhaps an elder in the church here that he's writing to, but he is going to encourage him that he is pleased by the fact that the people here in verse four are walking in the truth. He says, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth now. Paul was, or John rather, we don't know about John's marital status, and we know Paul was not married. We know Peter was married. We don't know about John, but I don't think he's talking about literal children in any way here. I think he's talking about spiritual children here. He's saying he's writing to somebody that he probably had a hand in leading to faith and saying, I'm encouraged by your perseverance. I'm con encouraged by your endurance, which when you consider First John, there's a lot that is. Underlying that the fact that these people are walking with the Lord and walking the light and not in darkness and putting off sin, and putting on righteousness. That John is seeing evidenced in their life here. And that is something that is encouraging him. In this, he goes on to talk about those. That should be supported and those that should be commended in the church. He says in verse eight, we ought to support people like these that we may be fellow workers for the truth. He go had defined them. He says in verse seven, they've gone out for the sake of the name accepting nothing from the Gentiles. So he's talking here about those that are going out as ambassadors, as missionaries for the church, for Christ. In talking about the church should support them, should encourage them as they are fellow. Fellow workers of the church and then he speaks to some opposition as well in this letter but really encourages them towards the end. And he says, beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God. Whoever does evil has not seen God. You. One thing I wanna point out to you for a second and third, John, take a look at this here. He says at the end of both letters, instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete. He says, I wanna write to you. Writing's good. It's helpful, but I wanna be with you face to face. And then in. And third John. He says, I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon and we will talk face to face. Okay, simple principle, especially important today as we interact in a highly digital age. Digital means are awesome. What a great tools that we have. We're able to do this because of our digital devices and things like that, but so much better. So to have physical. In-person relationships. Mm-hmm. This is why we would say to anybody, digital church, virtual church, don't do it. Nope. Don't do it. It's not gonna, it's not gonna work. It's not. It's not God's best for you. It's not God's design. People need to see you war to all. So that they can love you and so that you can love them. And this is why John says that I have a lot to say to you. I could text you all day, I could send you multiple emails, I could FaceTime you, but I wanna see you face to face. There are things that are happening in person that you do not get even over FaceTime. 'cause you could say FaceTime, you get probably 80% of it, but there's things that you're subconscious and your body is doing that just don't communicate over a FaceTime camera. You have to be in person. So please prioritize. In-person relationships, make that a part of your life. This is what's gonna matter to you. You're not gonna care about the Facebook friends that you have, however many thousands you got. What really are gonna matter are the real in-person relationships that you have. So if you value relationships as much as you're able to be in person. Yeah. I saw the other day a Roblox church. Oh. That was on like a reel where people were there and there was a Roblox band playing elevation worship on stage during this church, and I think they have somebody preach during it too. It was awful. It was not what church should be. Look, if you're gonna do that, I could see that being a great stepping stone and say, Hey, this isn't church. Welcome to our Roblox Church. Hey, this isn't really church. We'd love to invite you to an in-person gathering. Click on this link, right? TMS Finder or whatever. Find Mark Church Center. Yes, something like that. TMS on Roblox. Alright, that's pretty all. All right, God, thanks for reward and for our church and that we get to gather face to face with each other, week in and week out, and we know what a blessing that is, and we pray that you would continue to grow our church even as we think about this next year. Lord, bring more to our number and help us to love one another. Well as you do that. And so we thank you so much for this time, even as we approach the end of our time in the ward this year. What a joy that is. We still have the Book of Revelation in front of us, but God, we thank you so much for all that you've taught us so far. We pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Keep reading Bibles, tuning again tomorrow for another edition of the Daily Bible Podcast. We'll see that we're almost down to the very end. Almost keep going.

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Yeah. I would agree with everything that you said