Lesson sequence
2 John 1: A Greeting from the Elder
2 John 1:1–3; 2 John 1:4–6; 2 John 1:7–11; 2 John 1:12–13
This short letter helps children see that Christian love is tied to truth. It teaches them to notice what the letter says about Jesus, to walk in God’s commands, and to be careful with false teaching.
Before you teach
In 2 John 1, the elder writes to the chosen lady and her children. He opens with love in truth and a blessing of grace, mercy and peace, then rejoices over walking in truth, urges love and obedience, warns against deceivers, and closes with plans to speak face to face.
Students will identify that 2 John 1 calls believers to walk in truth and love and to remain in the teaching of Christ.
Your lesson sequence
Use the teaching outline below for each session, with these reading and activity choices.
A greeting in truth and love
2 John 1:1–3
Notice how the greeting joins truth, love and blessing from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Try together: List repeated words in the greeting and name what the letter says will be with us.
Walking in the truth
2 John 1:4–6
See that the elder rejoices over walking in truth and connects love with obedience.
Try together: Make two headings, truth and love, and place words or ideas from verses 4 to 6 under each one.
Beware of deceivers
2 John 1:7–11
Identify the false teaching named in the passage and the warning to remain in the teaching of Christ.
Try together: Underline what the deceivers do not confess, then circle each warning command in the passage.
Conclusion and face-to-face joy
2 John 1:12–13
Observe that the writer hopes to speak face to face and sends greetings from the children of the chosen sister.
Try together: Find the two closing actions in these verses: the hoped-for face-to-face speaking and the greeting that is sent.
Welcome: Truth and love together
4 minWrite truth and love where everyone can see them. Ask children to listen for both as the letter is read. Explain that the opening joins love with truth and speaks of grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father.
2 John 1:1, 2 John 1:2, 2 John 1:3
Read and explain: Walking in truth
8 minRead verses 4 to 6. Show that the elder rejoices because some are walking in truth. He says this is not a new commandment here: they are to love one another. The passage also explains love as walking according to God’s commandments.
2 John 1:4, 2 John 1:5, 2 John 1:6
Discuss: Beware of deceivers
6 minRead verses 7 to 11. Explain that deceivers do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. The letter tells believers to watch themselves and to remain in the teaching of Christ. It also warns against welcoming someone who does not bring this teaching.
2 John 1:7, 2 John 1:8, 2 John 1:9, 2 John 1:10, 2 John 1:11
Make and respond: Reminder card
8 minChildren choose a phrase from the letter such as walking in truth, love one another, or watch yourselves. They make a small card and write one sentence explaining what that phrase means in this passage. Invite a few volunteers to read their sentence aloud.
2 John 1:4, 2 John 1:5, 2 John 1:8, 2 John 1:9
Closing: Face-to-face joy
4 minRead the final verses. Explain that the elder hopes to speak face to face instead of using only paper and ink, so that joy may be made full. Review the three main ideas from the letter: truth, love and remaining in Christ’s teaching.
2 John 1:12, 2 John 1:13, 2 John 1:9
Questions to explore
Why does the elder say he rejoices greatly?
Look at verse 4 and answer with what some of the children were doing.
2 John 1:4
According to verses 5 and 6, what does this letter say love looks like?
Notice the command to love one another and the explanation that love walks according to God’s commandments.
2 John 1:5, 2 John 1:6
What false teaching is named in verse 7, and what warning follows in verses 10 and 11?
Find the statement about Jesus Christ first, then read the instruction about not receiving or welcoming a person who does not bring this teaching.
2 John 1:7, 2 John 1:10, 2 John 1:11
Make, think or respond
Truth and Love Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- crayons or coloured pencils
- Bible text of 2 John 1
Try it together
- Read 2 John 1:4-6 and 2 John 1:7-9 again.
- Ask each child to choose one short phrase from the passage.
- Fold a small piece of card and write the phrase on the front.
- Inside, write one sentence explaining what the phrase means in this letter.
- Share the cards or take them home as reminders.
The card helps children remember the letter’s call to walk in truth and love and to remain in the teaching of Christ.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two phrase choices only and let them draw a simple symbol beside the words.
- For older or stronger readers, ask them to sort the verses under three headings: truth, love and warning.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: "Father, please help us walk in truth, love one another, and remain in the teaching of Christ. Amen."
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 John 1
1 The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth,
2 for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
5 Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.
8 Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,
11 for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.
12 Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
13 The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.