A Fractured ChurchPart 1

II John 1-6

How do we respond to fractured and flawed church?

II John

• With much love

A fractured church

Who is the elect lady?

Much Love

• No personal references in the letter• Movement from 2nd to 3rd person• Exhortations are “churchy”• Cross references• Reference to “children”

The “elect lady” is a church

• The church will be imperfect till the day of Christ.

Principles

• The church will be imperfect till the day of Christ.

• It is God’s will that we commit to an imperfect church.

Principles

• With much love• With much truth

A fractured church

In the Gospel justice has never been so visibly upheld and love has never been so radically demonstrated.

Truth and Love

Very cold = big on truth, small on love

Very sentimental = big on love, small on truth

Two extremes

• With much love• With much truth• With a heart for walking in the

Gospel

A fractured church

“But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel…”

Galatians 2:14

Walking in the Gospel

• Encourages other believers

Walking in the Gospel

“Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too! I thought I was the only one.’”

C.S. Lewis

Walking in the Gospel

• Encourages other believers• Evidenced by obedience to His

Word

Walking in the Gospel

A New Beginning