River Valley Church Podcast

Episode: Message | Truth & Love Go Together
Date: August 24, 2025
Host/Speaker: Pastor Rob Ketterling

Overview

In this episode, Pastor Rob Ketterling unpacks the key themes of the brief but profound book of 2 John, emphasizing the powerful dynamic between truth and love in Christian living. Amidst today's polarized culture, especially regarding faith and politics, Pastor Rob discusses how believers are called to hold fast to core biblical truths while also living out radical, Christ-like love. He addresses practical challenges Christians face—such as when to speak up for convictions, set boundaries, or extend hospitality—and offers wisdom for navigating relationships with both believers and those outside the faith, without compromising core doctrine.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Context and Relevance

• 2 John’s Relevance (00:00–02:00):

  • Pastor Rob introduces the context: moving from 1 John to 2 John, which is often skipped but highly relevant.
  • Emphasizes that, contrary to some opinions, the book isn’t just about hospitality but is a case study in living out faith amidst cultural clashes.
  • “Second John is way bigger…It’s incredibly relevant for today…and we’re living in one of the most polarizing moments in recent history.” [00:58]

• Polarization in Society (02:00–04:00):

  • Cites Pew Research that shows political identity now divides people more than any other factor—including race and age.
  • Notes how Christians are increasingly insular, having fewer non-Christian friends as they age, reflecting societal polarization.

2. The Tension: Truth and Love

• Real-life Dilemmas (04:00–06:00):

  • Shares stories of university students in the congregation who stood up for their faith despite pressure, illustrating the real-life dilemma Christians face in a hostile or indifferent culture.

• Guardrails for the Church (06:00–09:00):

  • John’s message is not about political affiliation but about maintaining doctrinal purity and living out faith without being either disagreeable or compromising.
  • “We don’t want to be doormats, but we also don’t want to be jerks.” [08:39]

3. Breaking Down 2 John: Exegesis and Application

• Verses 1–3: Address to the Church (09:00–10:30):

  • “The elect lady” refers to the church as a whole, not an individual.
  • John writes as “the elder” for security reasons—names aren’t given in case of interception (similar to encrypted messages today).

• Verses 4–6: Walking in Truth and Love (10:30–13:00):

  • John commends some church members for “walking in the truth,” implying others have drifted.
  • Emphasizes the inseparability of truth and love. “If we just have truth and forget love, we’re in trouble. If we have love and forget truth, we’re in trouble.” [12:15]

• Legalism vs. License (13:00–14:30):

  • Truth without love leads to legalism, isolation, and an “us vs. them” mentality.
  • Love without truth leads to license—what Pastor Rob calls “sloppy agape,” or niceness that ignores biblical standards.

• Memorable Quote:

  • “You can’t abandon love if you have the truth. And you can’t abandon the truth if you have love. Both—truth and love.” [12:46]

4. Church History & Cultural Implications

• Early Church’s Example (14:30–16:30):
  • Early Christians didn’t hide with their beliefs—they lived truth and love in the marketplace and during crises.
  • Four virtues: charity, chastity, humility, and patience—countercultural then, foundational now.

5. Warning Against Deception

• Verses 7–9: Deceivers and the Antichrist (16:30–19:00):

  • John warns about “deceivers” denying Jesus’ incarnation and return.
  • Pastor Rob parallels this with today’s false teachings and cultural drift, emphasizing discipleship and staying grounded in core truths.

• Memorable Anecdote:

  • “I’ll never forget, we had a couple in our church…the wife got saved and the husband did not…He said, ‘It’s Jesus or me.’ And she walked out with him. It broke my heart.” [17:32]

• No “New and Improved” Christianity:

  • “It’s always been Jesus…it is Jesus…there is no go ahead, new and improved, better things, way beyond Jesus.” [19:18–19:19]

6. Hospitality, Endorsement, and Boundaries

• Verses 10–11: The Real Meaning of ‘Do Not Receive’ (19:20–24:40):

  • Context: To “welcome into your house” then meant public endorsement and providing a platform for a traveling teacher’s message, not simply inviting a neighbor for dinner.
  • Application: Christians must not give a platform or endorsement to those undermining core doctrine.

• Modern Parallel: Social Media (24:40–25:10):

  • Questions around whether online “likes” or “follows” are endorsements.
  • Encourages vigilance about what we platform, even digitally.

• Memorable Quote:

  • “Don’t host what heaven won’t host.” [23:38]

7. Practical Instructions for Today

• Navigating Differences (25:10–30:55):

  • Educate yourself on beliefs—yours and others’ [26:12].
  • Watch out for ‘cornering language’—e.g., “We both believe the same thing, don’t we?” [26:20]
  • Know when to speak up—consider the issue’s magnitude, the platform, and audience [27:32].
  • Prepared responses: “Nope.” “Not even close.” “I think our goal is similar, but we want to get there differently.” “Respectfully, I disagree.” [27:43]
  • Ask clarifying questions: “How do you think our beliefs are the same?” “How did you come to believe that?” [29:02]

• Boundaries in Relationships (30:00–31:05):

  • Homes are for relationships, not endorsements; it’s okay to be hospitable while upholding biblical standards—especially with children present.

8. Living the Tension: A Redemption Story

• Memorable Personal Story (31:05–33:00):
  • Pastor Rob shares about hosting relatives living together before marriage. He kindly but firmly upheld his convictions by asking them to sleep in separate rooms.
  • Result: The couple felt loved and respected, began attending church, gave their lives to Christ, and later married after choosing to live separately until their wedding.
  • “Thanks for being the first people to speak to us in truth and love like that.” [32:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Second John is really a guardrail…don’t let somebody tear down what Christ has built in you…There are people that are trying to steal your faith.” [06:45]
• “Truth without love can become legalism. Love without truth can become a license. Both are dangerous.” [11:46]
• On social media: “Is a like an endorsement or is a like a nod?…Are you platforming this with your like? Probably.” [24:59]
• “You can show love without sharing in the lies.” [23:52]
• “Our home can be open, and it should be open. Your home is not the endorsement anymore…” [29:32]
• “It was living in this tension of, how will I be hospitable? How will I have truth and love?” [33:00]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:55 — Setting up the context for 2 John
• 03:00–04:15 — The problem of polarization and isolation in today’s church
• 09:00–13:00 — Exegeting the opening verses: Truth & Love inseparable
• 14:30–16:30 — Early church’s countercultural virtues and their application
• 16:30–19:00 — Warning against deceivers, perseverance in faith
• 19:21–24:40 — The lesson about hospitality, platforming, and endorsement
• 25:10–30:55 — Practical guidance for engaging with differing beliefs
• 31:05–33:00 — Redemption story: Truth, love, and family boundaries

Conclusion

Pastor Rob challenges listeners to embrace and walk in the “tension” of truth and love—never sacrificing either. He urges believers to discern wisely, engage with the world compassionately, set boundaries where necessary, and to pattern their lives after Christ in both conviction and hospitality.

Final prayer and charge:

• For those lacking love, seek God to soften your heart.
• For those hesitant to speak truth, pray for boldness and a backbone.
• “Help us to walk this out—truth and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” [33:51]

Episode Summary by River Valley Church Podcast Summarizer