Believe it or not, August is upon us. School begins in Spartanburg County for many on August 6 and Greenville County on August 11. Summer break for students, teachers, and families has officially ended as the routine of school days ramps back up into high speed. As this time of the year approaches, we are usually reminded to pray earnestly for those involved in the educational system, whether it be students, parents, or teachers. We ask the Lord for safety, for good times of instruction, for renewed friendships, and for strength for those leading the efforts in the classroom. Whether or not you have children or grandchildren in school, are a student in school, or are associated with education in some way, I want to encourage you to pray for all the usual requests we take to the Lord, but I would especially encourage you to pray for all of the brothers and sisters in Christ who are in public schools, private schools, homeschools, colleges, and universities. Ask the Lord to give them boldness in the gospel, compassion for the lost around them on campus, and especially for the conviction to open their mouth and share the good news of Jesus with each person around them. And, as you pray for those involved in the educational system, pray the same for yourself that you would have boldness in the gospel, compassion for unbelievers around you, and for the conviction to open your mouth to share the good news of Christ. Though there are plenty of points of conversation we can have with folks around us, the most important conversation you can have with another person revolves around the life, death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our look at 2 John finishes this month as we close the book studying verses 10-13. 2 John 10-11 are verses that are straightforward but can be easily misunderstood. John instructs his audience to refrain from entertaining those who believe and teach false doctrine because doing so associates the believer with the wicked, false teaching. This can easily be misunderstood to mean Christians should not associate at all with unbelievers and especially not in the context of inviting unbelievers into their homes. This sort of understanding could not be further from what John is saying. Jesus and Paul encouraged believers to show hospitality to unbelievers (Matt 9:10-13; Matt 11:19; 1 Cor 5:9-10). The point being made here by John is that Christians should not welcome into their homes those who claim Christ but are obviously heretical in their beliefs and teachings. Verse 11 is particularly helpful because the word translated “greets” is a Greek word associated with full approval of and assistance to the person being welcomed. So, John warns, Christians are not to give approval or assistance to those who are false teachers. It is one thing to show hospitality to an unbeliever. It is something wholly different to offer approval of false teaching and provide assistance for promoting false teaching. Thus the warning against “greeting” a false teacher. In other words, be kind and show the love of Christ, but do not promote or assist the heretic in his heresy. Finally, verses 12-13 close this second letter from John with personal remarks. First, in verse 12 John wants desperately to be face to face with those to whom he is writing in order to share the joy of Christian belief and fellowship with them. This shows a deep love John has for these believers. Second, in verse 13 John shares love sent from a sister Christian church with those to whom he is writing. This shows a deep love one church has for another. John’s second letter really is one focused on the truth of the gospel and the love from Christ to his people, between individual Christians, and between congregations of Christians. May each of us and our churches show fortitude in believing the truth of the gospel and express love among fellow believers in Christ.
As we have been doing, please continue praying for each other (1 Thess 5:17) and for the other churches in our Association. I want to encourage you strongly to pray for each other, other pastors, and sister congregations in our area as we work together to encourage pastors and equip churches to engage lostness for the sake of fulfilling our part of the Great Commission. Lift each of these pastors and congregations to the Father, asking for His providential care for them and for His mercy and grace to work mightily through them.
Cambodian, Wellford, Sam Duong
Camp Creek, Taylors, Danny Monroe
Christ Fellowship Cherrydale, Greenville, Johnny Touchet
Christ Fellowship Inman, Inman, Danny Seay
Christ Fellowship Northgate, Greenville, Matt Rogers
Christ Fellowship Northwest, Greenville, Daniel Barta
Church at the Mill Lake Cooley, Wellford, Dylan Baxter
Clearview, Travelers Rest, Michael Welch
Cleveland First, Cleveland, Bill Cashion (interim)
Cox Chapel, Marietta, Jerry Clark
Cross Plains, Travelers Rest, Dennis Jones
Cross Roads, Greer, Tyler Estes
My prayer for you for August is the same as always. May the Lord grant each of us opportunities to share the message of Christ with unbelievers and disciple believers in the message of Christ. As an association of churches, we partner together for the sake of encouraging and equipping each other in order to engage lostness for the sake of fulfilling the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20).
