People of the Bible: John

Who was John?

John the apostle was one of Jesus’s earliest followers. He was a part of the original twelve disciples that lived and traveled with Jesus during his earthly ministry. While these twelve were extremely close to Jesus, there were three men who were even closer. John was one of these men, alongside James and Peter. These three men were invited by Jesus to see things the others weren’t. We learn that Jesus had a special relationship with these men and wanted to teach them everything they needed to know.

Another aspect of John’s relationship with Jesus is made clear in the New Testament. John is often referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. John is often pictured sitting close to Jesus. John wanted to experience Jesus as much as he could because he knew he was the source of eternal life. Jesus loved that John sought this relationship and we see that he was often rewarded for it. We see how much Jesus trusted John when he was on the cross. One of Jesus’s last dying wishes was for John to take care of his mother Mary.

After Jesus’s resurrection and ascension, John emerged as one of the main pillars in the early church. There are five books in the New Testament that most people believe John wrote. These books are; the gospel of John, 1,2, & 3 John, and Revelation. Two of John’s main topics in these writings were truth and love. John made it his personal mission to share with everyone what the truth really was and how to live that out in a loving, godly way.

John was so effective in his teaching that many people urged him to stop. His teachings, along with those of his fellow disciples turned the first century world upside down. People were coming to faith in Jesus and becoming mature disciples. This angered those who were in charge at the time because it disrupted their life. Every single one of the disciples died as a martyr (dying for one’s faith), except for John.

It is believed that people tried to kill John by throwing him in a vat of boiling oil, but God saved him from death. Because they could not kill him, the people exiled John to the island of Patmos to live out the rest of his days. During this time, John wrote the book of Revelation where he explains a vision that was given to him from Jesus. In this vision, Jesus lines out what the end of the world will look like.

We learn a lot from John and his life. He teaches us about truth, and love, and what the end times will look like. But more than this, he teaches us what a relationship with Jesus should look like. We are all Jesus’s beloved. Jesus died for us so that we could have an everlasting relationship with him.

Key Takeaways:

John was…

• In Jesus’s inner circle

• The one whom Jesus loved

• A pillar of the Church

Parents, 3treesKIDS will also be learning about John this Sunday, both in-person and online.

Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.

To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.

People of the Bible: Timothy

Who was Timothy?

Timothy was an incredible young man. Like Silas, and others, Timothy accompanied Paul on at least one of his missionary journeys. Throughout the New Testament we learn about Timothy because of his close proximity to Paul and other important leaders in the first century. We get the most detail about him in the letters Paul wrote to him, 1 & 2 Timothy.

In these letters we find out about his family life. While Paul worked with Timothy it was clear that he was a very faithful person. Paul attributed this faith to Timothy’s mother and grandmother. It teaches us that the people who raise us have had a tremendous impact on our lives. Timothy’s family instilled in him a strong faith in Jesus Christ.

However, Timothy did not have it perfect. Timothy’s father was an unbeliever. He did not have a strong fatherly mentor in the faith. That is where Paul steps in. Paul took it upon himself to be a spiritual father to Timothy. We see this time and time again when Paul addresses Timothy as his son. Having parents to learn from is ideal, but others can step in and provide guidance at any time. It is important for us to be obedient and seek these wise mentors out because they help us in our faith.

In Paul’s letters to Timothy we learn many things, one is that Timothy was a very young leader. Timothy was the pastor of the church of Ephesus (one of the largest in the New Testament). Paul encourages him to not let people look down on him because he is young. Throughout the Bible, God uses all kinds of people with all kinds of ages. We are all supposed to be examples of what living a godly life looks like.

Another thing we learn from Timothy is it is okay to not have it all figured out. As a young pastor, Timothy still had a lot to learn. Paul was writing to Timothy to help guide and teach him in his ministry. Paul encouraged him to be a good leader. He told him to be someone who worked hard and taught people the right things.

Timothy teaches us that we do not have to wait until we are old enough or until we have it all figured out to make a difference for God. No matter how old we are, no matter what situation we find ourselves in, God can and will use us in incredible ways if we dedicate ourselves to him. We see this most clearly in the life of Jesus. Jesus who was the son of God made a continuous effort to build his relationship with his father. Jesus dedicated himself to God and it paved the way for God to use him. God used his son Jesus as an everlasting sacrifice for us sins.

After Jesus defeated death, he gave us the command to go and teach other people about him. This is what Paul was doing with Timothy, this is what Timothy was doing with his church, and this is what we are called to do with the people under our influence.

Key Takeaways:

• Family Faith is important

• Be a Good Leader

• Share your faith with others!

Parents, 3treesKIDS will also be learning about Timothy this Sunday, both in-person and online.

Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.

To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.

People of the Bible: Paul

Who was Paul?

Paul is one of the most prominent characters in the Bible, especially the New Testament. Paul wrote over two-thirds of the New Testament. Books like Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, and more are attributed to him. Through Paul’s writings, Christians gained a much better understanding of God. Paul celebrated, rebuked, disciplined, taught the people he was writing to in these letters. They were preserved and still hold the same value for us today.

Paul’s story is a great example of God changing and using someone. Originally, Paul who also went by the name of Saul was someone who persecuted Christians. Paul was trained as a Jew, and like the Pharisees, he did not like the movement that was centered around Jesus. In fact, he played a major role in sending Christians to jail and even having them killed.

Paul was a thorn in Christianity’s side, that is until he had an encounter with Jesus himself. Acts 9 gives us the details of this event. Jesus appeared to him as a bright light and the light blinded Paul. Jesus asked Paul why he was persecuting him, and Jesus sent him on a mission to see a man named Ananias. Ananias told Paul about Jesus and the Holy Spirit; and Paul was instantly able to see again. Paul put his faith in Jesus and his new life began.

Paul made it his mission to spread the good news of Jesus to as many people as he could. He traveled far and wide preaching to anyone who would listen. Many people were shocked because Paul was known to have previously hated Christians. When people saw him preaching about him in a good way they were curious and many came to faith through Paul’s witness. It is a clear example that God can and does do the unexpected through unexpected people. No one is too far from God to be used by him.

Paul started many churches and he discipled many people. He taught that people should put sin aside and live a life led by the Holy Spirit. He was a spark in the early church needed to spread the gospel beyond Israel. Paul took the great commission of going and making disciples throughout all the whole world seriously. Jesus grabbed a hold of Paul’s heart and Paul lived his life for Jesus through the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus died and gave us the opportunity to live eternal life, and it is the Spirit that helps guide us into applying that to our daily lives.

Key Takeaways:

• God can use anybody

• Paul: Persecutor to Missionary

• Be led by the Spirit

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Parents, 3treesKIDS will also be learning about Paul this Sunday, both in-person and online.

Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.

To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.